How to become a teacher
As a teacher, you have the opportunity to shape the minds of the next generation of Australians — making it an extremely rewarding career path. Learn how to become a teacher and succeed in the education industry.
Key career takeaways
- Median rates of pay per week:
- Over the next 5 years, it is expected there will be 93,000 job openings for primary school teachers and 71,000 for secondary teachers
- There is low unemployment among qualified early childhood, primary and secondary school teachers.
There are few careers where the impact you make on people’s lives can be so profound. From the crucial early childhood years to primary school and high school — as a teacher, you’ll educate, inspire and shape future generations.
Although teaching can be an extremely satisfying and rewarding career choice, it can throw up some tough situations. Patience, a caring and kind personality, and the ability to engage and connect with students (and parents) are all key attributes of teachers.
*Data sourced from JobOutlook.gov.au
Did you know?
All of our initial teacher education courses are recognised by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) which enables graduates to register as a teacher Australia-wide. Plus, the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) also meets the requirements for the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECOA).
What it takes to become a teacher
1. Working with Children and Police check
All students looking to study a Bachelor of Education must complete a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check. These checks will need to be current throughout your entire course and from the appropriate state authority.
2. Complete the CASPer Test
At Swinburne, we require you to complete the CASPer test before you can begin your course. CASPer is a requirement for many of the initial training courses in Victoria and it assesses your personal and professional attributes. It covers items such as collaboration, communication, empathy, motivation, resilience and self-awareness; all of which add up to make you a great teacher.
To ensure you don’t miss the CASPer test deadlines, check the test dates and times.
3. Study the course that’s right for you
To qualify as a teacher, you’ll need to study a qualification that meets the relevant academic requirements for Initial Teaching Education (ITE). No surprises here - Swinburne has courses that meet these requirements.
At Swinburne, we offer flexible study options and our courses are able to be completed full-time or part-time depending on your degree and your situation.
We offer a variety of teaching degrees and courses for you to choose from, including:
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care - This is a Free TAFE course. Check and see if you’re eligible
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)
- Bachelor of Education (Primary)
- Master of Teaching (Primary)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary).
If you’re after a course to help strengthen your academic skills before you start your Initial Teacher Education course, or maybe you need more preparation for the LANTITE test, then take a look at:
Secondary Teaching (Bachelor + Masters)
Think of your favourite secondary teachers. They were the ones who really loved what they taught and enjoyed passing that knowledge onto you, right?
That’s why we recommend that if you are interested in being a secondary teacher, you should first complete a Swinburne bachelor degree where you can develop your passion and knowledge in at least two disciplines taught in secondary schools. We can help you choose what to study or have a look at the guidelines from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. Then you can progress into the Master of Teaching (Secondary) to complete your Initial Teacher Education.
Thinking of a Career Change?
If you are looking for a career change into teaching, and already have a bachelor degree, then our postgraduate courses might be right for you.
At Swinburne, we offer the Master of Teaching (Primary) and the Master of Teaching (Secondary).
Prerequisites for teaching degrees vary between courses and educational institutions, make sure you check your course requirements for early childhood, primary and high school focused degrees.
4. Pass the LANTITE test
The Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is a course requirement for all undergraduate and postgraduate ITE students who aim to become primary and secondary teachers (so you won’t need it to study early childhood education). You must pass this test in order to graduate from your degree.
LANTITE is also a requirement to register as a teacher in Australia. Read our LANTITE page for more information.
5. Register as a teacher
Before you can apply for teaching jobs, you’ll need to register with the appropriate teaching body in your state or territory. In Victoria, you can register to be a teacher through the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
You’ll need to provide documents such as proof of qualifications and a national police check during the application process.
Once registered, it’s time to apply for jobs and kickstart your rewarding career as a teacher.
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“I re-discovered my passion for teaching whilst working in media. The first day flew by and I remember thinking ‘this is where I was always meant to be’. The lecturers create opportunities for us to build on our theory through interactive classes that have us creating lessons with our classmates. Swinburne’s course goes above and beyond.”
Jessie , Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Interested in studying Teaching?
Search all our teaching courses available for you to study.