How long does it take to become an Adjunct Professor?

It takes 9 years of professional experience to become an adjunct professor. That is the time it takes to learn specific adjunct professor skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a doctorate degree, then it takes 18 to 20 years years to become an adjunct professor.

How To Become An Adjunct Professor: What It Is and Career Path

What is an adjunct professor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

David McMahan Ph.D.

So if you're wondering if there's a difference between the adjunct professor that taught your chemistry I class and the professor who teaches the astronomy II class, there is. An adjunct professor is typically hired on a contractual basis.

While it may not be a permanent position, an adjunct professor does essentially the same things a regular professor does. From writing a syllabus to teaching the class, holding office hours and grading tests, an adjunct professor position really is a great starting point if you want to become a full-time professor in the future. Or, ya know, if you just need a little extra cash on the side.

What general advice would you give to an Adjunct Professor?

David McMahan Ph.D.

Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College

Keep open to possibilities beyond the narrow range of what your diploma lists as your major or minor. Whatever job you get trained for today, in 10-20 years, it may be very different. Or it may not exist. Focus on obtaining and maintaining flexibility, critical thinking, creativity, and passion for learning. Being an interesting person is as vital as any credential.

ScoreAdjunct ProfessorUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $98,821

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.8

Growth Rate 12%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.32%

Black or African American 7.05%

Hispanic or Latino 10.05%

Unknown 4.92%

White 66.39%

Gender

female 48.46%

male 51.54%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress Level

6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.0

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an adjunct professor

Explore adjunct professor education requirements

Most common adjunct professor degrees

Bachelor's

49.0 %

Master's

33.3 %

Doctorate

10.8 %

Start to develop specific adjunct professor skills

Skills	Percentages
Course Curriculum	11.41%
Syllabus	8.46%
Semester	6.07%
Blackboard	4.36%
Student Learning	4.29%

Complete relevant adjunct professor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New adjunct professors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an adjunct professor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real adjunct professor resumes.

Gain additional adjunct professor certifications

Adjunct professor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific adjunct professor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for adjunct professors include Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS) and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).

More About Certifications

Research adjunct professor duties and responsibilities

Lead outreach to community and statewide stakeholders in the PPCC entrepreneurship program.
Develop and prepare class syllabus and teaching materials for strategic management, business and government ethics, and organizational behavior classes.
Provide instruction/guidance for nursing students; deliver didactic lectures on human anatomy and physiology.
Identify course objectives, design syllabus, develop all instructional activities and materials, including written exams.

Prepare your adjunct professor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your adjunct professor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an adjunct professor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Adjunct Professor Resume templates

Build a professional Adjunct Professor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Adjunct Professor resume.

Apply for adjunct professor jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an adjunct professor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do adjunct professors rate their job?

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Adjunct Professor reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023

Pros

The transfer of knowledge and the joy on the student's face when they understand