Education
How to become a Secondary School Teacher
Secondary school teachers teach a specialist subject to students aged roughly 11–18 and prepare them for exams.
Qualifications
- A degree in or related to the subject plus teacher training (e.g. PGCE)
- Subject knowledge enhancement courses are available in some countries
Licences & registration
| United Kingdom | QTS in England and Wales; GTCS registration in Scotland; enhanced DBS check. |
|---|---|
| United States | State certification with subject endorsement. |
| Canada | Provincial certification. |
| Australia | State or territory teacher registration; Working With Children Check. |
| United Arab Emirates | Licence/approval from MOE, KHDA or ADEK. |
| European Union | Regulated; recognition required. |
Key skills
- Subject expertise
- Behaviour management
- Assessment
- Differentiation
- Communication
Experience
Induction period for new teachers; shortage subjects (e.g. maths, physics) are in high demand in many countries.
Indicative pay
- UK: £34,000 (starter) to £53,000 (experienced) a year — National Careers Service
- US: median $72,040 a year; 10th–90th percentile $48,780–$107,600 (SOC 25-2031) — BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates
- Canada: varies by province — see Job Bank wage data.
- Australia: see Your Career (Australian Government) occupation profiles.
- UAE & EU: varies widely by employer and country; check current listings.
Pay figures retrieved 2026-10-29 from the cited official sources; they are averages/estimates, not offers.
Working in this job abroad: visa notes
United Kingdom
Qualified teachers can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa where the role is eligible and meets salary rules. To teach in state schools in England you normally need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS); overseas-trained teachers can apply for QTS through the Teaching Regulation Agency.
Official sources: GOV.UK – Skilled Worker visa · GOV.UK – Skilled Worker eligible occupations · GOV.UK – Check if you need a UK visa
United States
Teachers need a state teaching certificate for public schools. Routes include H-1B (degree-level roles), the J-1 Teacher exchange program, and employer-sponsored green cards.
Official sources: USCIS – H-1B specialty occupations · USCIS – Employment-based green cards · USCIS – H-2B temporary non-agricultural workers
Canada
Teaching is regulated provincially: you need certification from the province’s teacher regulator (for example, the Ontario College of Teachers) before working in public schools. Express Entry and provincial nominee programs are common routes.
Official sources: Canada.ca – Work in Canada · Canada.ca – Express Entry
Australia
Teachers must be registered with the teacher regulatory authority in the state or territory, and migrants usually need an AITSL skills assessment. School teachers have appeared on Australian skilled occupation lists; check the current list.
Official sources: Home Affairs – Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) · Home Affairs – Skilled occupation list · Home Affairs – Skills assessment
United Arab Emirates
Teachers need an employer-sponsored work permit and, depending on emirate and school type, a teaching licence or approval from the Ministry of Education, KHDA (Dubai) or ADEK (Abu Dhabi). Degree and teaching-qualification attestation is usually required.
Official sources: u.ae – Jobs and work in the UAE · MOHRE – Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation · u.ae – Golden Visa
European Union
Teaching is a regulated profession in most EU countries, so you need recognition of your teaching qualification and usually strong local-language skills. International schools may hire in English; non-EU nationals need a national work permit or Blue Card.
Official sources: EU Immigration Portal · EU Regulated Professions Database · Make it in Germany (example national portal)
Useful official links
This guide is general information, reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules and licensing change often — always confirm with the official sources above. Not legal advice.