To become a teacher, you’ll need a tertiary degree in education. Teaching degrees are often referred to as initial teacher education programs. There are a number of different pathways to obtaining a teaching degree, based on your current qualifications and experience, and the subject areas and year levels you want to teach.
There are a wide range of initial teacher education programs available in Australia, and these provide the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to start your teaching career and ensure your eligibility for teacher registration and
employment as a teacher.
If you are considering changing careers, our Turn to Teaching and Trade to Teach
internship programs can help get you into the classroom sooner than most teaching degrees.
Qualifications
Initial teacher education programs combine learning how to teach with practical teaching experiences in schools. There are many different programs offered by Queensland and interstate universities, and these often focus on the key learning phases within schools, such as a primary, secondary, special education and early childhood.
Undergraduate teaching degrees for secondary school graduates and people without tertiary qualifications generally require 4 years of study and include:
- Bachelor of Education or similar degree
- Dual/combined degree that includes a teaching qualification, such as Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education.
Postgraduate teaching degrees for people who already have a tertiary degree in another field, generally require 2 years of study (or equivalent) and include:
- Master of Teaching or similar degree.
A list of
approved initial teacher education programs is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website.
Information about entry requirements and application processes is available from university websites or through the
Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
University prerequisites
Secondary students interested in becoming a teacher need to ensure they complete the minimum prerequisite subjects to be eligible to start a teaching degree once they finish school. It's important they prepare early and choose the right senior subjects.
In Queensland, secondary students planning to commence an undergraduate initial teacher education program, such as a Bachelor of Education, are required to:
- complete Units 3 and 4 in English and Mathematics
- achieve a grade of C or higher, in a QCAA General Subject in English and Maths (or equivalent subject from another jurisdiction).
Senior English subjects:
- English
- English as an Additional Language (EAL)
- Literature
- English and literature extension
Senior Maths subjects:
- General Mathematics
- Mathematical methods
- Specialist Mathematics
Please note that completion of a science subject as a prerequisite for entry to primary and early childhood education degrees is no longer required.
We recommend contacting your preferred universities to confirm any additional prerequisite requirements or processes for entry to your initial teacher education programs.
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