Teacher

:For university teachers, see professor.

Qualification and registration

Teachers are usually educated in a university or college. Often they must be certified by a government body before they can teach in a school.

Related Topics:
University - College - Government - School

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Australia

Certification in Australia differs from state to state; however as a general rule all teachers must possess a tertiary certification - either a Bachellor of Education, BA (Education), Bachellor of Teaching or Graduate Diploma of Education (DipEd) - awarded by a Australian certified University or an equivilant award from overseas plus experience in the classsroom. Many states now have Teacher Registration Boards or are soon to institute them. These organisations are charged with certifying potential teacher's qualification and ensure constant Professional Development.

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Canada

Canadian teachers must receive certification from a provincial College of Teachers in order to be able to teach elementary and secondary school. The process for certification is somewhat different in Quebec relative to English Canada.

Related Topics:
Quebec - English Canada

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England and Wales

In England and Wales teachers must have gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There are many paths in which a person can work towards gaining their QTS, the most popular of which is to have completed a first degree program (such as a BA or BSc) and then a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). Other methods include a specific teaching degree (BEd) or on-the-job training at a school. All qualified teachers in England must serve, after training, a statutory one year induction period that must be passed in order to remain a registered teacher. In Wales this period lasts for two years. During this period a teacher is known as an NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher). Schools are obliged to provide guidance, support and training to facilitate the NQT's success during this year. Local education authorities are also obliged to provide professional development opportunities.

Related Topics:
England and Wales - Qualified Teacher Status - BA - BSc - Post-Graduate Certificate of Education - BEd - Training - England - Wales

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Scotland

In Scotland teachers must hold a valid teaching qualification (TQ) and be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Following initial teacher education and gaining a teaching qualification a Scottish teacher is deemed to be provisionaly registered with the GTCS and must undergo a year of probation supported through the Scottish Executive's induction programme.

Related Topics:
Scotland - General Teaching Council for Scotland - Probation - Scottish Executive

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There are several possible to routes to a TQ, including a Bachelor of Education in Music, Physical Education or Technological Education for secondary school or a general BEd for primary school, a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or a concurrent undergraduate degree combining a Bachelor of Science or Scottish MA with the initial teacher education elements of a PGDE. Concurrent degrees are only avaible from the University of Stirling.

Related Topics:
Bachelor of Education - Music - Physical Education - Technological Education - Secondary school - Primary school - Professional Graduate Diploma in Education - Undergraduate - Bachelor of Science - Scottish MA - University of Stirling

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A Scottish teacher may only qualify in a subject directly related to their undergraduate or graduate studies.

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For teachers qualified outside of Scotland an application must be made to the GTCS for exceptional registration.

Related Topics:
Scotland - Exceptional registration

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United States

In the United States, each state determines the requirements for getting a license to teach. Typical requirements include a bachelor's degree, education coursework, licensing exams, a criminal background check, and payment of a fee.

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Until recently, a person could not teach unless he or she had completed a year or more of specific teaching training at a normal school. In the past two decades, normal school courses have been made optional through the promotion of Alternate Route teacher certification. New Jersey was the first state to establish an Alternate Route program, doing so in 1984. Since then, most states have established their own programs.

Related Topics:
Normal school - Alternate Route

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Teachers in New York State must have a Bachelor's degree and complete a Master's degree within five years. Additionally, to be permanently certified, teachers must pass three state exams on pedagogy, general knowledge and knowledge of a content area. In order to work in a public school a candidate must be fingerprinted.

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are 1.4 million elementary school teachers, 600,000 middle school teachers, and 1 million secondary school teachers employed in the U.S.

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