How to become a teacher

No doubt you can remember those teachers who inspired you at school, who opened up new worlds and made you want to learn more. We know people go in to teaching as a career for a range of reasons including wanting to:

• make a difference in the lives of young people 
• inspire a passion for learning 
• feel a real sense of achievement 
• be creative and have the opportunity to express themselves
• enjoy a job where every day is different.

Working in a public school offers you a career with:

• students from a variety of backgrounds
• a wide range of career opportunities
• flexible working arrangements and lifestyle balance
• professional development opportunities
• attractive salary with financial incentives for teaching in regional areas
• nine per cent employer contributions to superannuation
• 12 weeks vacation leave (school holidays)
• more than 20 days of other leave including sick leave and carers' leave
• subsidised accommodation where appropriate.

Study options

Undergraduate courses
Most people aspiring to become a teacher complete their Year 12 tertiary entrance examinations at the end of secondary schooling and apply for university.

Depending on the area of teaching in which you are interested, you will need to complete a four year Bachelor of Education (with a specialisation in a certain area such as early childhood education) or a three year degree in a relevant discipline followed by a one year Graduate Diploma in Education (again with a specialisation such as primary teaching).

Postgraduate courses
Universities offer a range of postgraduate courses in education which allow you to further your study in certain areas right through to a doctorate (PhD).

Other ways to become a teacher

TAFE
If you have not completed enough tertiary entrance examinations to apply to university there are other options through studying the required diploma at TAFE.

For example you could complete a Certificate III in Teacher Assistant, a Certificate IV Teacher Assistant then a Diploma of Teaching Assistant. This should then qualify you for admission to university. It is important to explore all your options with your TAFE college and university before enrolling.

Find out more:

W: TAFEWA

Mature aged students
If you are a mature aged student (over the age of 20 years) you may sit a tertiary admission test to qualify for admission to university. If you already have a degree and may be looking for a change of career you can become a teacher by completing a one year Graduate Diploma in Education.

For more information about universities in WA and to discover if there may be prerequisites for your course contact the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC):

W: TISC

Where to study

Universities
All universities in WA offer courses which will qualify you to become a teacher. It is important to research carefully to determine if there are any prerequisites for your preferred course. Also you need to check that the selected course meets your career aspirations. For example the length of supervised teaching practice will vary by university.

For further information and course details visit the university websites:

• Curtin University of Technology
• Edith Cowan University
• Murdoch University
• The University of Notre Dame Australia
• The University of Western Australia