5 Steps to Become A Teacher After 12th: A Complete Guide

Choosing to become a teacher could be a wise career choice if you are passionate about educating others. Here’s a comprehensive guide.

Are you confused about what next step you should take to become a teacher after 12th? Have you just passed your 12th and are interested in becoming a teacher? Or maybe you are just in your school and wondering how to become a teacher?

What is the most needed skill? What is the average salary and is this job secure? How long will it take to become a teacher? What UG and diploma courses should I choose after 12th in order to become A Full Fledged Teacher?

In this article, I am going to answer all of your questions briefly step-by-step. So, what are you waiting for, Let’s dive right into it!!

5 Steps to Become A Teacher After 12th

It usually takes 5-7 years of dedication and hard work to fulfill the requirements of the required degrees to become eligible for teaching in Government/Private schools.

So, here are the most crucial steps to becoming a teacher :

1. Know your interests and choose the right subjects
2. UG, Diploma, and B.Ed after 12th
3. Entrance exam preparation (TET, CTET, STET, NET, SLET)    
4. Master’s and Doctorate degrees (Professional teachers)
5. You are a full-fledged teacher!

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So let’s start and discuss each step briefly to give you a good understanding of each step.

Step 1: Know Your Interests and Choose the Right Subjects

The first and the most crucial step for anyone to become a teacher after 12th is to become aware of their interests. This is very important as you are going to spend most of your time in this job and so make sure that you don’t get bored in this job otherwise it will feel like a burden. 

Now coming to the second part of this step, this is to choose the right academic subject in which you want to become a teacher. Now, different subjects have different salary packages based on your experience.

For example, High school Physics, Chemistry, math, and English subjects have high demands for experienced teachers so their salaries are also high. But, choose the subject in which you are interested since all subjects become high paying when you are experienced.

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Step 2: UG Degree, Diploma and B.Ed After 12th

The next step is to understand the absolute need of the required Courses to become a teacher after 12th. To become a teacher, one has to graduate with a B.Ed Course after completing their undergraduate degree or a master’s degree.

It’s advisable to pursue a UG or PG degree from the relevant stream in which you want to become a teacher. There are also some Diploma degrees that will help you in improving your credentials. Let’s discuss some useful diplomas.

UG and Diploma courses after 12th

Candidates usually pursue BA, B.Sc, B.com or any other graduation degree to become eligible for the B.Ed Program. Apart from that, some of the Diploma/Bachelor’s courses are:-

• D.Ed

A diploma in education is an undergraduate diploma course with a duration of two years. It prepares a candidate to become a nursery school teacher, education counselor, or home tutor.

• D.El.Ed

A diploma in Elementary Education is a 2-year diploma course to prepare candidates for primary and upper primary level teaching. 

• NTT

Nursery Teacher Training is a 1-year Teacher diploma training program for candidates who want to teach at the nursery or pre-primary level.

• BTC

The basic Training certificate is a two-year diploma certificate that prepares a candidate to teach in government primary schools.

• B.El.Ed

A Bachelor of Elementary Education is a bachelor’s degree of 4 years. It prepares candidates to teach at elementary school.

Eligibility for diploma and UG degree

• Candidates who have completed 12th from a recognized educational board or equal qualification with at least 50% marks are eligible.
• Age limits for different diplomas and undergraduate courses may vary. Please check them on their respective sites.

B.Ed (Bachelor of Education)

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed ) is a 2 years professional undergraduate course that prepares a candidate to work as a teacher in secondary and senior secondary schools.

Eligibility for B.Ed

• The candidate must have completed a bachelor’s or post-graduation degree in any stream from a recognized university.
• The candidate must have secured a minimum of 50% marks at the bachelor’s level from a recognized university in any relevant stream.
• The candidate must have secured a minimum of 55% marks at the postgraduate level from a recognized university in any relevant stream.
• There is no age limit. However, some colleges may demand an age limit of 21.
• The candidate must have qualified for the relevant entrance exam ( IGNOU B.Ed, IPU CET, DU B.Ed, etc). Know more B.Ed Entrance Exam.

Top Colleges For B.Ed in India

1. IGNOU ( Indira Gandhi National Open University), Delhi
2. JMI (Jamia Millia Islamia), New Delhi
3. Christ University, Bangalore
4. BHU (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi
5. DU (Delhi University), Delhi
6. Lovely University, Punjab

It will usually take 5 years to complete a Bachelor’s Degree + B.Ed and 7 years to complete a Bachelor’s Degree + Master’s Degree + B.Ed.

These days integrated courses are more popular and effective than separate Graduation and B.Ed courses as it takes only 4 years to complete them. So let’s discuss them:-

Integration course for B.Ed

An Integration course for B.Ed is a combination of a bachelor’s degree (BA, B.Sc, B.Com) and a B.Ed course. It is a 4 years Undergraduate program that offers a candidate dual graduation at the end of the program. 

There are mainly three types of integrated programs for B.Ed :

1. BA – B.Ed
2. B.Sc – B.Ed
3. B.Com – B.Ed

Advantages of Integrated course

• Saves one year of your education
• Candidates receive two degrees at the end of the course
• Saves money and time for changing colleges and eliminates the cost of admission and other fees
• Ample amount of job opportunities as you are seen as a professional with having two degrees in a mere 4 years
• Gives you enough time for the preparation of Jobs and placements.

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Top Colleges for B.Ed integrated course

1. BA – B.Ed 

• Ahmadabad university
• Lady Irwin College, D.U
• Amity University, Noida
• Arunachal University Of Studies
• Lovely Professional University, Phagwara

2. B.Sc – B.Ed

• Chandigarh University
• Amrita Vishwapeetham University, Karnataka
• Arunachal university
• Goa University

3. B.Com – B.Ed

• Amity University, Noida
• Starex University, Gurugram

You can check the eligibility for integrated courses on the respective sites of the given colleges.

Step 3: Preparation For Entrance Exams(TET, CTET, STET, NET, SLET)

Now you have done your B.Ed and graduated, the next step to become eligible for government /private jobs is to prepare for entrance exams. Entrance exams like CTET, TET, STET …etc prepare a candidate for recruitment in Government schools/institutions and even private schools.

So let’s discuss these exams in detail:

• TET ( Teacher Eligibility Test)

According to RTE (Right to education), TET is the minimum required qualification exam in India to become eligible for teaching jobs for classes 1 to 8 in any school. 

It is conducted by the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) on two levels:-

Paper 1 – For candidates who want to teach classes 1-5

Paper 2 – For candidates who want to teach class 6-8

Candidates who wish to teach classes 1-8 need to take both exams.

• CTET ( Central Teacher Eligibility Test)

CTET is a national-level TET examination conducted by the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) twice every year. The exam is conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for teaching classes 1- 8 in the central government schools.

CTET 2022 will be conducted in December this year on two different levels :

Paper 1: For candidates who want to teach classes 1-5

Paper 2: For candidates who want to teach classes 6-8

Note: Candidates who wish to teach classes 1-8 need to take both exams.

• STET (State Teacher Eligibility Test)

STET is the state-level TET exam conducted by various states every year for candidates who wish to work as a teacher in their states. Every state government conducts its own TET exam every year to recruit candidates for teaching at the primary or secondary level.

 Some of the STETs are UPTET (Uttar Pradesh TET), Bihar STET, ATET (Assam TET), Gujarat TET, and many more. You can check the eligibility of State TETs on their respective sites.

• SLET( State Level Eligibility Test) or SET (State Eligibility test)

SET or SLET is the state-level entrance exam that is conducted by the state for the recruitment of lecturers or assistant professors in various state universities and colleges.

This exam is also divided into two parts:

Paper 1 – For the assessment of General Aptitude  

Paper 2 – Test a particular (chosen) subject 

Some of the SLET are Gujarat SET, Chhattisgarh SET, Kerala SET, and many more. You can check the eligibility of the State Level Eligibility Test at their respective sites.

• UGC NET (National Eligibility test)

UGC NET is the national-level examination conducted by the NTA( National Testing Agency) to determine the eligibility of Assistant Professors and JRF ( Junior Research Fellowship) in Indian Universities and Colleges. It is conducted twice every year.

This exam is also divided into two parts:

Paper 1 – Teaching/research aptitude, reasoning ability, and general awareness.

Paper 2 – Test on a particular (chosen) subject 

Step 4: Master’s and Doctorate Degree For Professional Teachers

Technically, at this step, you are a teacher who can easily get a teaching job at the primary, secondary, or higher secondary level. However, If you want to become a professional teacher having the highest experience and knowledge in this domain then go for a Doctorate Degree.

Doctoral Degree in Education

There are mainly two Doctoral degrees in the domain of education:

• Ph.D. in Education

A doctorate of philosophy in Education is an advanced degree that prepares a candidate for recruitment as a professor, an administrator, and a researcher at the postsecondary level.

A Ph.D. is more theoretically based and focuses on conducting research during courses that greatly enhance the educational system.

• EdD (Doctorate of education)

An EdD is a professional doctoral degree that prepares a candidate to take up the role of leadership and administrator in higher education institutions such as Universities and colleges.

An EdD is a leadership and strategy developing an oriented program to prepare a candidate who can bring productive changes to the organization.

Eligibility for doctoral degrees

• Some universities offer a minimum of 60% of master’s degrees. However, this may vary depending on the institution.
•  There is no specific age limit.

Advantages of A Doctorate Degree 

• A Doctorate degree in education is a terminal degree. This means it is the highest academic degree that can be achieved in this field.
• Gives a well-known prestigious and respected credential to your profile.  
• Since you are passionate about teaching, you can spend a lot of time researching and identifying problems in education.
• The salary of a Ph.D. or an EdD holder is much higher as compared to someone who has a master’s degree.
• You will earn respect in this field and earn endless opportunities to discover something new.

A doctorate is a highly respected field but it requires a lot of patience and time management as it takes 4-6 years to complete this. The time may vary up to 8 years depending upon the subject the area, the institution, and the program design. 

Master’s Degree in education

You can also pursue a Master’s degree in a relevant stream of education in which you want to become a lecturer at colleges. This will not only ensure decent pay but you will also gain a deeper understanding of efficient teaching methods.

• Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

This course helps candidates to improve their practice-based teaching knowledge and equip them with the skills needed to become effective in teaching. With this course, candidates can opt for teaching posts at elementary and secondary levels.

• Master of Education

This theory helps a candidate in developing a deeper understanding of teaching theories and strategies. This advanced degree helps you to become a school Principal, design a school curriculum or work as an administrator in schools.

• Master’s in English education

A master’s degree in English education prepares a candidate to develop a deeper understanding of how students learn the English language and how to develop the best strategies to make them learn in a faster and more interactive way.

• Master’s in mathematical Education

A master’s in mathematical Education is helpful for candidates seeking a job in middle and high school as a maths teacher. It develops the necessary skills needed to teach maths to make students succeed in their academics and future careers.

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Step 5: A Full-Fledged Teacher

Congrats!! After spending years of dedication and hard work, you are now a Full Fledged Teacher who can work as a teacher or a professor in Primary/ Secondary/ Senior Secondary/ colleges based on the Entrance exams and a Doctorate in education you have completed. 

We are now going to discuss about the types of teachers and their salaries:

Types of teachers and their salary

Pre- Primary School Teacher

A pre-primary School Teacher work in a preschool and deals with children of 3 years to 5 years. A pre-primary teacher’s main responsibility is to care for and help children explore and learn new things.

Eligibility	1) Should have passed 12th class with at least 50% marks from a recognized board. 2) Candidates holding an NTT degree or completed Pre-primary teacher training or any other degree/training in education.
Salary	Without experience         – ₹ 1.5-2 LPA With experience              – ₹ 3-4 LPA

Primary School Teacher

A primary school teacher educates children of 5-12 years. The main duty of a primary teacher is to lay the foundation of learning and knowledge by developing necessary skills and maintaining discipline.

Eligibility	1) Should have passed 12th class with at least 50% marks from a recognized board 2) Diploma or certificate in elementary teacher training such as D.Ed, D.El.Ed or NTT  OR  Graduation in B.El.Ed OR Graduation with Bachelor of Education(B.Ed) or its equivalent. 3)Should have cracked entrance exams such as TET and CTET.
Salary	Without experience         – ₹ 0.5 -2 LPA With experience              – ₹ 1.5 -4  LPA

Secondary School Teacher ( High school teacher)

A secondary school Teacher is responsible for teaching students of classes 9th to 12th. The main duty of the teacher is to provide them with quality high school education along with the development of necessary skills for the college or job market.

Eligibility	1) Graduate with Bachelor of Education(B.Ed) or its equivalent OR  Four years integrated BA+B.Ed, B.Sc + B.Ed or B.Com+B.Ed. 2)Graduate with a Master’s Degree (MA / M.Sc / M.Com etc.) 3)Crack entrance exams such as TET, CTET, STET or UGC NET(for higher secondary Posts).
Salary	Without experience         – ₹ 1.5-2 LPA With experience              – ₹ 3-4 LPA

University Lecturers

A lecturer is a teacher who provides quality academic lectures to students at colleges or Universities. They conduct classes and seminars as a part of their teaching course which facilitates students in the understanding of their academics.

Eligibility	1) Candidates must graduate with a Master’s degree with at least 55 percent. 2) Candidates should have passed entrance exams such as NET, SLET, GATE or UGC NET. 3) Candidates must have a Ph.D degree or Ed.D( Doctorate in education)
Salary	Without experience         – ₹ 25,800- 33,700 per month With experience              – ₹ 47,200 -66,500 per month

University Professor

A professor is the highest ranking senior academic teacher at colleges or universities who not only provides lectures but also participates in institution administration and committees. Professors get a higher salary as compared to lecturers as they have many years of experience in teaching.

Eligibility	1) Graduate with a bachelor’s degree with minimum 60% marks. 2) Graduate with a master’s degree with minimum 55% marks. 3) Candidates need to hold a PhD degree or EdD degree. 4)Candidates should have passed entrance exams such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE or SLET.
Salary	Without experience         – ₹ 4 – 5 LPA With experience              – ₹ 8- 24 LPA

Benefits of Becoming a Teacher

The benefits of becoming a teacher are several as it is a rewarding career that provides job security, an increment in salary with increasing experience, fixed working hours, and many more.

Here are some of the benefits of becoming a teacher:-

• High Pay: In Government schools/Colleges, teachers get higher pay than in many private Schools/colleges. However, some reputed private schools also pay a decent amount to their teachers.

• A fun career: Teaching is a fun career as one gets the opportunity to learn something new on a daily basis. Anyone who loves to learn or teaches others new things will enjoy this career. 

• Fixed Working Hours: A candidate in this profession has to work for fixed hours only at their educational institutions. However, a teacher has to work such as covering a huge syllabus or regularly taking assessment exams within a deadline which may create work pressure.

• Shaping the Future of the country: To become a motivator and inspiration for his students is the teacher’s main objective in his profession. The greatest achievement of a teacher is when his students start learning with joy and always stay motivated and curious to learn something new. So, particularly they are shaping the future of the country.

• Holidays and rewards: Teaching jobs also include long holidays (winter and summer vacation) and casual/earned leaves which can be applied by a candidate in case he is unable to present on working days.

• Respectable Job: Teaching is one of the most respectable jobs as they help in building disciplines and high moral values among the students. They helped children to lay the foundation of education and shape their future and job career.

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Conclusion

To conclude, becoming a Professional teacher requires a lot of dedication, Hard work, patience, and time management. You need to have many degrees and crack entrance exams to become a Full- Fledged Teacher. However, the result will be worth the effort as becoming a teacher has many benefits.

So which subject are you going to choose for teaching? What type of teacher are you going to be? Which entrance exam will you prepare for?  Will you challenge yourself with a Doctorate? If yes, then tell us in the comment box.

I hope this article helped you answer all your questions. If we left out any other topic, feel free to comment below. Have a nice day!

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