This study aimed to investigate the motivating factors for choosing the teaching profession by nontraditional, post-baccalaureate candidates who had returned to higher education to pursue an initial teaching license. The authors found that participants noted intrinsically motivated factors and more pragmatic motivators. The authors categorized the intrinsic motivators as noble causes, which included the opportunity to share their love for learning or to make a difference in society or students’ lives. The pragmatic motivators included the need for a career change or the perceived benefits of the teaching career.