How to Become a Teacher in India in 2024?

Becoming a teacher in India involves completing a bachelor's degree (in your desired subject) and a teaching qualification. You are also required to clear a TET such as CTET or SET/STET (depending on the state where you want to teach).

The bachelor's degree takes a minimum of three to four years to complete, while the teaching qualification typically takes anywhere between 10 months (like PgCTL) to 2 years (B.Ed) to complete. Qualifying for the TET(s) may additionally require 6 months of time from preparation to attempting the exam. Overall, the process of becoming a teacher in India can take anywhere from four to six years (after k-12 education), depending on the level of education you wish to teach and the requirements in your state. We hope this answers your question on how many years does it take to become a teacher. For more specific queries, we recommend you connect with a Suraasa mentor for FREE!

While a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree is mandatory for becoming a government school teacher in India, private schools may hire teachers without a B.Ed degree based on their subject knowledge, teaching skills, and ability to handle a classroom. Moreover, B.Ed is also not mandatory to teach abroad or to work as a teacher in a college. 

Remember, good teaching skills are crucial for building a good education system. And pursuing a B.Ed degree is only one option from several other options for developing those skills.

Yes, it is possible to teach in a school without a B.Ed degree or any specific teaching experience, provided that you have a genuine interest in teaching and possess teaching skills. Many private schools hire teachers without a B.Ed degree or teaching experience based on their subject knowledge, teaching skills, understanding of child psychology, and ability to handle a classroom. It is important to note that without any prior teaching experience, you may start with entry-level roles, but this can be a good start to your teaching career.

While taking a decent entry-level role, you can pursue a part-time diploma course like PgCTL. This can significantly increase your chances of getting a good job and raise your salary exponentially.

Yes, you can make a career shift to teaching even if you have no prior experience in teaching. Many private schools and international schools are open to hiring professionals from other fields who possess subject knowledge, a passion for teaching, and the ability to handle a classroom.

To make a successful transition to teaching, you may consider pursuing a part-time teaching course to acquire the necessary teaching skills. Top international schools hire teachers with teaching qualifications such as PgCTL. Read more about their success stories here. Additionally, you may consider taking up volunteer teaching positions or internships to gain practical experience and enhance your teaching skills. This can also help you build a network of contacts in the education industry and open up more job opportunities.

Teachers in India have promising career prospects. With the increasing emphasis on quality education and the demand for skilled educators, there are ample opportunities for career growth in the teaching profession. Experienced teachers can progress to leadership roles such as school principals, academic coordinators, curriculum developers, or education consultants. Additionally, there are opportunities to contribute to educational research, author textbooks, and pursue higher education in the field of education.