Wondering how to become a teacher or professor? Here is a simple look at the paths for both school teaching and college teaching, and the degrees and exams each one needs.
Teaching is a respected and meaningful career, and there are two broad paths depending on whether you want to teach in schools or in colleges, so it helps to know them separately. Both reward people who genuinely enjoy explaining ideas and helping others learn, so if that describes you, this is a career worth serious thought.
To become a school teacher, you usually complete graduation followed by a teaching qualification like a B.Ed degree, and for government schools you often clear a teacher eligibility test such as the CTET or a state TET. For younger classes there are courses like D.El.Ed too. The exact requirement depends on the level and the board, so check what your target schools need. Private schools may have their own hiring, while government posts go through eligibility tests and recruitment.
To become a college professor, the path is longer and more research focused. You typically complete a master’s degree in your subject, then clear the UGC NET or SET exam to qualify as an assistant professor, and increasingly a PhD is expected or required for permanent college and university positions. From there you can grow into higher academic and research roles over time. Whichever path you choose, strong subject knowledge, patience, and clear communication matter most. Teaching also offers stability, respect, and the deep satisfaction of shaping students, which is why many find it a lifelong calling rather than just a job.
Example: A student who loves biology might do a BSc and MSc in it, clear UGC NET, and pursue a PhD to become a college professor, or do a BSc plus B.Ed and clear CTET to teach in schools.
One practical tip: Decide early whether you want school or college teaching, because the qualifications differ. School needs B.Ed and TET, while college needs a master’s, NET, and increasingly a PhD.