There are no formal personality requirements for qualifying or registering as a teacher in South Africa. Admission to teacher education turns on academic results, and registration with the South African Council for Educators turns on your qualification and a police clearance.
What does exist is a professional code of conduct enforced by the council, and a set of attributes the work genuinely demands. Those are answerable questions, and worth understanding before committing to a four-year degree.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Applications are generally assessed on the following.
- A recognised initial teacher education qualification
- Registration with the South African Council for Educators
- A police clearance certificate, since the work involves children
- Compliance with the professional code of conduct enforced by the council
- Subject and phase specialisation matching the post
- No formal personality assessment at any stage
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Entry requires a bachelor pass for the Bachelor of Education, or an appropriate degree for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Neither route assesses personality.
The council enforces a code of conduct, and serious breaches can result in removal from the register, which ends your ability to teach. That is a conduct standard rather than a personality requirement.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
The attributes teaching consistently demands include patience, the ability to explain something several different ways, consistency in handling behaviour, organisation across many learners at once, and resilience across a long school year.
Communication ability matters most and is the closest thing to a screening criterion, since language results are weighted in admission to teacher education, particularly for foundation phase.
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
If you are weighing whether teaching suits you, spend time in a classroom before committing. Schools are generally open to prospective teachers observing, and it is the most reliable way to find out.
Different phases suit different temperaments. Foundation phase involves sustained attention to young children and early literacy; senior phase involves subject depth and adolescent behaviour management. Choose the phase deliberately. Registration with the South African Council for Educators is required to teach in a public school, and it is a separate process after qualifying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there personality requirements to become a teacher?
No formal ones. Admission turns on academic results and registration on your qualification and police clearance.
Is there a conduct standard?
Yes. SACE enforces a professional code of conduct, and serious breaches can result in removal from the register.
What attributes does teaching demand?
Patience, explaining things several ways, consistency, organisation and resilience. Communication ability matters most.
How do I know if teaching suits me?
Spend time in a classroom before committing. Schools are generally open to prospective teachers observing.
Confirm registration and conduct requirements with the South African Council for Educators. See requirements for teaching. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.