So, you’re looking for a career change that inspires others? Because you want to be a role model for children or young people. Or you want to explore your creativity, enthusiasm and share your love for learning. Change careers and train to be a teacher.

Now, if the career you once wanted isn’t where you see yourself headed, that’s okay. It’s completely normal for your interests, goals and motivations to change as you go through life. What you need to know is that it’s important for you to do what’s right for you. When the time is right. Take that leap to write your next chapter.

So, if you’re ready, we’re ready. Follow your heart and become the teacher you want to be. We’re here to take you through the steps to make it happen. Charles Sturt’s graduate and industry entry teaching degrees are the perfect solution for your career change needs. Because your experience counts. And if you haven’t studied at university before – we’ve got courses for you too. Let’s explore how you get started.

First: decide on your teaching area

When you think about your future career in teaching, what do you see? Drawn to working with young people? Or maybe you’ve worked with infants or children previously? The first step when you decide to train to be a teacher is to take some time to think about what you would like to teach – whether it’s early education, primary or secondary teaching. If you’re not sure, that’s okay, because we offer courses that cover a broad range of teaching settings. Take, for instance, our K-12 course that allows you to teach in both primary and high school settings. You’ll have diverse career opportunities in a range of public, private and independent school settings.

Second: choose your teacher education course

Now, it’s time to look at your course options and find the best teacher education course for you. We’ve designed some courses for those who already have an undergraduate degree. Others are for those who haven’t been to uni before. If you have existing tertiary qualifications and/or relevant work experience you may be eligible for credit. And you know what that means? Finishing your degree and starting your career change sooner!

It’s also worth noting that the New South Wales Department of Education offers a number of programs for future teachers to get paid to study for high-demand subject areas. Make sure you check them out.

Next: apply to to train to be a teacher

So, once you’ve found the right course for your circumstances, apply to study with Charles Sturt. Depending on the course you’d like to study, you could start in February, July or November. Applying online only takes around 15 minutes, and if you have any questions about the process, we’re here the help. So make sure you reach out when you need to.

The real fun and adventure begin when you start your teacher education course. Our graduate-entry teacher education degrees are delivered online. So you can fit study into your normal routine – you can complete teacher training while working. You can expect to complete work-integrated learning (previously called workplace learning) experiences as part of your course. This is where you’ll get the chance to put all of your learning into practice in schools and other educational settings. Charles Sturt offers loads of support, so make sure you check out our vast range of support services.

Then: get teaching accreditation

Now, it’s time to get accredited. If you’re applying to teach in NSW schools, you’ll need approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education. Once you’re in your final year of study, you can start the process online with a graduate teacher application. This option lets you apply for a 12-month interim approval to teach. You’ll need to provide a range of professional experience/practicum reports and academic transcripts. You can also expect to undertake teacher suitability assessments and interviews online too. Check teach.NSW info on becoming a teacher for the latest approval requirements.

You’ll also need to apply for NESA accreditation. As a first-time teacher, you’ll need to be accredited to work in schools or centre-based early childhood services. You could be granted conditional or provisional accreditation. Apply for conditional accreditation if you’re in your last year of study and provisional if you’ve completed an approved teaching degree. Here’s some helpful information on the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) accreditation process.

Apply for teaching positions

The moment you’ve been waiting for is here. It’s time to apply for teaching positions! It’s a good idea to become familiar with the teach.NSW website so you can start job hunting as soon as you’re qualified. Here, you’ll find loads of job opportunities, from rural and remote jobs, to temporary, casual and permanent teaching positions. Further to positions in public education, you can also explore career opportunities in independent schools. Teachers On Net is another great resource for you to add to your bookmarks.

Train to be a teacher today

Ready to find out where a career in teaching could take you? Whether you want to study full-time or complete teacher training while working, Charles Sturt has teaching and education qualifications that will open the doors to where you want to go.

Our Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)¹ and Bachelor of Education (K-12) are the ideal courses if you are looking to become a Primary or Secondary teacher. Or, if you already hold an undergraduate degree and are looking at a career change – or may be working in the industry and want to upskill – our Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) or Bachelor of Education (Secondary) – Industry Entry could be your best fit.

Learn more about how you can inspire the next generation when you train to be a teacher.

¹Cricos: 017967E