To teach in South Africa you need a recognised teaching qualification and registration with the South African Council for Educators. The two main routes are a four-year Bachelor of Education, or a three-year degree followed by a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
Which phase you intend to teach shapes the qualification you need. Foundation, intermediate, senior and further education and training phases each have their own specialisation, and you choose that at the point of study rather than afterwards.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Entry to teacher training is assessed on the following.
- A bachelor pass for the Bachelor of Education degree
- For the postgraduate route, an appropriate degree containing school teaching subjects at the required levels
- The institution APS for the education faculty
- A language at the level the institution requires
- Subject-specific requirements matching the phase and subjects you intend to teach
- Registration with the South African Council for Educators after qualifying
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The Bachelor of Education is a four-year professional degree entered directly from matric, with specialisation by phase. It is the most direct route into teaching.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year conversion for graduates who already hold an appropriate degree. It requires that your degree contains school teaching subjects, typically one to third-year level and a second to second-year level.
Both routes lead to registration with the South African Council for Educators, which is required to teach in a public school. Registration is a separate process from your qualification.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
For foundation phase teaching, institutions generally look for strong language results, since the phase involves teaching literacy and early numeracy.
For senior and further education and training phases, your subject specialisation must match subjects taught in schools. Intending to teach Mathematics or the sciences means having taken those subjects at the required level.
Points are calculated by each institution own method. Education faculties are generally less oversubscribed than health or engineering, though specific phases and subject combinations can be competitive.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- Your final matric results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Bursaries have historically been available for teacher training in exchange for a service commitment in a public school after qualifying. These schemes prioritise subjects and phases where there are shortages, particularly mathematics, science and African languages.
Choose your phase and subject specialisation deliberately, since changing later usually means additional study. Shortage subjects also improve employment prospects materially.
Confirm registration requirements with the South African Council for Educators, and confirm that any qualification you consider is recognised by the Department of Higher Education and Training for teaching purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualification do I need to teach?
A four-year Bachelor of Education, or a three-year degree followed by a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Both lead to SACE registration.
Do I have to register with SACE?
Yes. Registration with the South African Council for Educators is required to teach in a public school.
Can I choose my phase later?
Generally no. Phase specialisation is chosen at the point of study, and changing later usually requires additional study.
Are bursaries available?
Teacher training bursaries have historically been available in exchange for a service commitment, prioritising shortage subjects such as mathematics, science and African languages.
Confirm registration requirements with the South African Council for Educators and qualification recognition with the Department of Higher Education and Training. Confirm the exact APS, subject levels and closing dates with each institution for your intake year. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.