School Teacher
Guides and nurtures children in schools, teaching academic and practical knowledge.
Overview
A Teacher is an educator who guides and nurtures children in schools and equips them with knowledge in a variety of topics both academic and practical. A teacher can teach in preschool, kindergarten, primary school, middle or high school. Teachers can also be special educators with additional training.
Where they work
- Schools (government or private)
- Special needs schools
Work environment
Your working hours will depend on whether you are a primary, middle or high school teacher. You have to work for the duration of the school hours. Overtime might be applicable during exams.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have strong communication skills
- You like to help others learn
- You like to work with children
- You have a creative bent of mind
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in any discipline of choice and then pursue a B.Ed degree
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree in any discipline of choice, pursue a Master's degree in that discipline and then pursue a B.Ed. degree
Alternative route 3
- 1You would have to qualify Teacher Eligibility Tests such as CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) or TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) for employment in Government schools
Forms, exams and applications
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) or state TET is required for government-school employment. Check official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Education.
Government institutes
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- University of Delhi, New Delhi
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- SRM University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Loreto College, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana
- Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Primary School Teacher → Elementary School Teacher → Middle School Teacher → High School Teacher (growth within departments as a teacher)
- 2Teacher → Department Head → Section Head → Supervisor → School Principal (needs a master's degree in education administration)
Related careers to explore
Nurse
Health and Wellness
Trained to care for sick and infirm patients at hospitals or nursing homes.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Mimi Yhoshü — Head Teacher of Government Middle School (GMS) in Officers' Hill, Kohima, Nagaland, received the National Award to Teachers 2022 from the President of India. A graduate of Kohima Science College, with a B.Ed (2009) and Diploma in Education (2013), she has an 18-year career teaching Science and leading sustainability and fund-raising initiatives that helped her school grow from a few kaccha rooms to nine pucca classrooms.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 295 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3GcZXwg
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.