How to Make a Second Income as a High School or College Tutor

If holiday spending has left you strapped for cash, or you simply need some extra money for even more purchases in the upcoming year, a second income could help you build up that savings account. Making a second income as a college tutor is a lucrative way to make the most of your skills and knowledge, and help someone in the process; today's college tutors can make anywhere from $20-$70+ per hour depending on the subject, and if you already have experience as a teacher or counselor, you can easily turn this into a part-time job. Still, many people can get started as a basic private tutor after a little planning and organization. Are you tutor material? Here's what you need to make a second income as a college tutor:

1. Find your favorite standardized test. Whether it's the SAT, GMAT, or ACT, you can specialize in a particular test to help students who want to sharpen their test prep skills.

2. Take the test yourself. You'll need to prove to potential clients that you've run through the challenge of the test-and succeeded, so be prepared to take the test and share your score as part of your marketing plan.

3. Attend a formal training program. The Princeton Review is one of the most popular test-prep programs in the country, and you can train with them to become a tutor in just a few weeks. Formal training will give you the official 'certificate' that classifies you as a tutor. This will also serve you well as marketing collateral.

4. Specialize in additional high school or college classes. If you excelled in Calculus during high school, then turned into an Java programming whiz in college, consider offering only a few of these specialized subjects. Specialization can make it easier to attract students, and you may even find groups of students who want to work with you on a regular basis.