The teaching requirements in South Africa come down to two things: a professional teaching qualification, such as a B.Ed. or a PGCE, and registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE). Registration is compulsory: no one may be employed as an educator by any employer unless registered with the council.
A qualified South African applicant also needs an ID, a Senior Certificate or NSC (or NCV level 4), and a police clearance that is not older than six months. The registration fee for South African professionally qualified educators is R200, per the SACE registration requirements (revised November 2024).
Entry Requirements at a Glance
For SACE registration as a professionally qualified South African applicant, you need:
- A professional teaching qualification (for example a B.Ed. or PGCE) with your academic record
- Your ID and your Senior Certificate, NSC or NCV level 4
- A valid police clearance certificate (a name clearance is not accepted)
- Proof of payment of the R200 registration fee
- Disclosure of any previous disciplinary action, criminal conviction or pending proceedings
Education and Subject Requirements
SACE names the B.Ed. and the PGCE as examples of professional teaching qualifications. Its registration criteria and procedures page states that the minimum entry level for full registration is a diploma in education at NQF level 6. Student educators are registered provisionally for four years.
If you studied towards a PGCE, you must also submit the certificate and academic record of your first (junior) qualification. Subject and phase requirements for a specific post are set in the advert, so check it with the employer.
Age, Fitness, Licence and Background Requirements
The registration requirements SACE publishes do not list an age limit, a fitness test or a driving licence; confirm any post-specific requirements with the employer. The background requirement is the police clearance: it must be valid, and it must not be older than six months when you submit it to SACE.
Every applicant must also disclose to the council any previous employer disciplinary action, any conviction for a criminal offence, and any pending proceedings.
Documents and Evidence Required
Have these ready for the online application:
- Your ID
- Senior Certificate/NSC or NCV level 4
- A valid police clearance, not a name clearance, issued within the last six months
- Your professional teaching qualification and academic record
- For a PGCE, the junior qualification certificate and academic record
- Proof of payment
- Copies certified within six months of submission
Foreign applicants submit a passport and a valid work, permanent residence, refugee or asylum permit that is valid for six months or more and allows teaching. They also need a SAQA evaluation, and professional teaching qualifications must be on NQF level 7 and aligned to the critical skills list in South Africa. The foreign applicant registration fee is R400.
Application and Selection Process
All applications for registration must be made online through the eservices registration portal. Register before you are appointed, because an employer may not employ you as an educator until you are registered.
Educators who are not paid through Persal pay an annual levy of R180 on application. Educators paid through Persal pay R15 per month. Post requirements, shortage subjects and how posts are advertised differ between employers, so confirm them with the school or provincial education department you want to work for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register with SACE?
Yes. No person may be employed as an educator by any employer unless registered with the council.
What qualification do I need to teach?
SACE lists professional teaching qualifications such as a B.Ed. or a PGCE. Its criteria page states that the minimum entry level for full registration is a diploma in education at NQF level 6.
What does SACE registration cost?
The registration fee is R200 for South African professionally qualified educators and R400 for foreign applicants. Educators not paid through Persal also pay an annual levy of R180, and Persal-paid educators pay R15 per month.
Can foreign-qualified teachers work in South Africa?
Foreign applicants need a passport, a valid work, permanent residence, refugee or asylum permit that allows teaching, a SAQA evaluation, and qualifications at NQF level 7 aligned to the critical skills list. Confirm the details with SACE.
Confirm registration with the South African Council for Educators through the eservices portal, and check post requirements with the employer. See job requirements and browse all career requirements.