Why am I NOT surprised about this?
I was hired this past March to teach computer courses in the continuing education/workforce development division at our local State Technical College. Because of my "teaching style" I've become the most popular professor there - my students actually learn something! However, because I don't have a master's degree I'm not eligible to teach any courses that are credit courses. Amazing isn't it? Your "professional" counterparts would rather have someone who has a degree "teaching" than someone who can actually do the job.
I teach at the grade school level. I don't teach at the college level. I will tell you that not all colleges require masters degrees. My cousin oversees the program for heating and air certification at the local technical college here. He has no college degree, but a lot of experience in the business.perhaps it's just the area of the country in which you live, or just the culture of the college. Maybe you should research the Internet. You could find a college that would accept you as you are. Also, you could take masters courses part time.