The requirements to become a teacher are so varied, that it is very difficult to comprise them in just a few words.

Geographical areas also set differences in requirements to become a teacher. People expect to have very well qualified teachers, no matter the size or the financial resources of the area where school is located. Even in the poorest or the smallest geographical areas, schools must be provided with extremely professional teachers that should understand that school has the same purpose for everyone, everywhere and for every student. Even though larger cities have more options regarding the future of the students that attend those institutions, students who attend smaller schools in poorer areas should have the same probability chances to continue their studies and qualify for complex professions.

The first thing in the requirements to become a teacher is that a teacher has to be able to connect conceptions, assumptions, processes of inquiry and ways of knowing to the discipline he teaches. He/She should understand that students’ misconceptions and conceptual frameworks may influence their learning. Consequently, among the first requirements to become a teacher is the use of multiple representations and explanations of concepts that link the taught discipline to students’ prior understandings. The cultural and educational background of the teacher makes a large difference in this ability. On the other hand, this should also be an opportunity for the teacher to support students’ intellectual, social and personal development. The teacher understands students’ physical, social, emotional, moral and cognitive development and how these aspects influence their learning. In this way, teachers will know how to address these factors when making instructional decisions.

Next thing on the list of the requirements to become a teacher is that a good teacher will need to use a variety of instructional methods ad strategies in order to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills. Teachers should value reciprocity in the learning process, so that student can develop the right form of critical thinking and problem solving. There is a wrong perception in some of the teachers’ approach to their profession, thinking that they should be some sort of masters for their students, an idea which is only partially true. Teaching is based on social interaction and on continuous practice. If students are always seen as undeveloped and teachers never give them credit for their thinking, teaching process will never reach its highest goals. Students will always be unsure of their knowledge and thinking capabilities. Instead, if teachers listen to students’ opinions and let them create their own solutions to problems, discussing each of these solutions in classes or other social environments, the teaching process will be a success and students will have the possibility to understand and to learn how to use their knowledge and intellect in their future profession.

There are many requirements to become a teacher. This is a short list with just a few of them, even though they are actually some of the most important requirements to become a teacher.