Become a school teacher

There are many ways to become a teacher in Queensland for both school leavers and those wishing to change to a career in teaching.

Enrolling in an initial teacher education program is the first step to becoming a teacher, and if you’re still at school, you may be able to start a teaching degree in Year 11 or 12 or enrol at university as soon as you finish school.

Read more about getting started in teaching.

Qualifications

School leavers or those without existing qualifications can study any of the following:

• 4-year teacher education degree (e.g. Bachelor of Education)
• a dual degree program (e.g. a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education)
• a general degree (e.g. Bachelor of Science) and a postgraduate teaching qualification (e.g. Graduate Diploma in Education).

To get a university place you may need an Overall Position (OP). This is a state ranking that students get; usually after Year 12.

There are other ways to apply for tertiary entry if you don’t have an OP.

Already have a qualification?

If you hold a non-teaching degree (e.g. engineering, science, arts) you can complete a postgraduate program (e.g. Graduate Diploma in Education) which will qualify you for teaching. These programs can currently be completed in 1 year.

If you hold a vocational qualification (have completed study at a college or TAFE), you may be eligible for credit at a university that offers education studies. Contact your university before enrolling to confirm.

Check the Queensland status of your qualifications if you studied:

• overseas
• interstate.

Choosing a course

• Consider what age group and subject areas you would like to teach. Search for courses and find out about entry requirements, study times and subject content.
• Choose an approved teaching course.
• Apply to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) for entry to your course.

Employment

To teach with the Department of Education, Training and Employment you must:

• have a teaching qualification
• apply for teacher registration with the Queensland College of Teachers
• submit an Application for Teacher Employment form to the department’s teacher applicant centre. The guide to completing the form will help you through the process, or contact the Teacher Applicant Centre on 1300 Teaching or email tac@dete.qld.gov.au for more information.

Applicants seeking permanent full time, part time or temporary (contract) work must also undertake a suitability ranking process.

Read more about the Teacher Applicant Centre.

Vacancies and applications

A statewide pool of applicants is managed by the teacher applicant centre, and regional offices seek likely candidates for permanent or temporary roles in Queensland state schools through that pool.

Offers of employment will depend on the number and nature of vacancies, and an individual’s:

• teaching capabilities
• location preferences
• availability to start (as indicated in the application form), and
• suitability ranking.

Vacancies may also be advertised on the Queensland Government Job Board.

Casual relief or supply teaching opportunities are coordinated by the department’s Teacher Relief and Contract Employment Register (TRACER) or managed by individual schools.

Join the TRACER system or contact a school directly to find out about these options.

Know your options

Read more about:

• upgrading your skills or transitioning to a different area of teaching
• specialist roles (e.g. languages or music).

Non-state schools

Jobs in non-state schools are usually advertised in newspapers or online. For more information visit:

• Independent Schools Queensland and search for a school by location
• Queensland Catholic Education Commission.