Complete Guide to Teaching & Professor Career

Your comprehensive roadmap to becoming a successful educator and shaping future generations

What is a Teaching Career?

Teaching is one of the most noble and impactful professions that involves educating, inspiring, and mentoring students across various levels - from primary school to university. Teachers and professors play a crucial role in knowledge dissemination, character building, and skill development of future generations.

Modern teaching combines traditional pedagogy with innovative educational technologies, research methodologies, and student-centered approaches to create effective learning environments and contribute to academic advancement.

Core Functions

  • Curriculum design and lesson planning
  • Student assessment and evaluation
  • Research and academic publishing
  • Student mentoring and guidance
  • Educational innovation and development

Entry Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree + B.Ed/M.Ed for teaching certification

Higher Studies

M.A/M.Sc + Ph.D for professorship

Knowledge

Subject expertise and continuous learning

Skills

Communication, patience, and leadership abilities

Key Teaching Eligibility Tests

CTET: Central Teacher Eligibility Test for central schools
State TET: State-level teacher eligibility tests
UGC-NET: National Eligibility Test for college/university teaching

Essential Skills

Teaching Skills

Curriculum Design
Lesson Planning
Classroom Management
Assessment Methods
Educational Technology
Student Counseling

Subject Expertise

Domain Knowledge
Research Skills
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Academic Writing
Subject Updates

Soft Skills

Communication
Patience
Empathy
Leadership
Time Management
Adaptability

Core Responsibilities

Plan and deliver effective lessons and curriculum
Assess student performance and provide feedback
Research and publish academic papers
Mentor and guide students in academic pursuits
Participate in academic committees and governance
Develop innovative teaching methodologies
Collaborate with educational institutions and peers
Conduct workshops and training sessions
Supervise student projects and thesis work
Stay updated with latest educational trends

Teaching Levels

Primary Education

Classes 1-5, foundation building, basic concepts

Requirements: B.Ed with primary specialization

Secondary Education

Classes 6-10, subject specialization begins

Requirements: Graduate + B.Ed in relevant subject

Senior Secondary

Classes 11-12, advanced subject knowledge

Requirements: Post-graduate + B.Ed

Undergraduate College

Bachelor's degree programs

Requirements: Master's degree + NET/Ph.D

Postgraduate University

Master's and Ph.D programs

Requirements: Ph.D + research experience

Professional Institutes

Technical and professional courses

Requirements: Industry experience + teaching qualification

Career Progression Path

Primary Teacher (PRT)

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
0-5 years
Salary Range
₹2.5-5 LPA
Level
Entry Level

Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT)

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
3-10 years
Salary Range
₹4-8 LPA
Level
Secondary

Post Graduate Teacher (PGT)

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
5-15 years
Salary Range
₹6-12 LPA
Level
Senior Secondary

Assistant Professor

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
Ph.D + 0-5 years
Salary Range
₹8-18 LPA
Level
Higher Education

Associate Professor

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
Ph.D + 5-12 years
Salary Range
₹15-30 LPA
Level
Senior Faculty

Professor

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
Ph.D + 12-20 years
Salary Range
₹25-50 LPA
Level
Senior Professor

Dean/Director

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
20-30 years
Salary Range
₹40-80 LPA
Level
Administrative

Vice Chancellor

Educational leadership and academic excellence responsibilities

Experience
25+ years
Salary Range
₹60 LPA - 1 Cr+
Level
Executive

Educational Pathway

Graduation

3-4 years
12th pass with 50% marks
Subject specialization in teaching area

B.Ed (Bachelor of Education)

2 years
Graduate with 50% marks
Teaching methodology and pedagogy

Post-Graduation

2 years
Graduate degree
Advanced subject knowledge for PGT/college level

M.Ed (Master of Education)

2 years
B.Ed with experience
Educational leadership and research

Ph.D

3-5 years
Master's + NET/GATE
Research and higher education teaching

Teaching Certification

6 months
UGC-NET/SET/Ph.D
Eligibility for college/university teaching

Popular Subject Areas

Mathematics

Very High Demand

Schools, colleges, coaching institutes, research

Science (Physics/Chemistry/Biology)

High Demand

Schools, medical/engineering coaching

English Literature

High Demand

Schools, colleges, content writing, media

Social Sciences

Medium Demand

Schools, colleges, civil services coaching

Computer Science

Very High Demand

Schools, colleges, IT training institutes

Commerce

High Demand

Schools, colleges, professional courses

Languages

Medium Demand

Schools, translation, cultural institutes

Arts & Crafts

Medium Demand

Schools, art institutes, hobby classes

Government Opportunities

Central Government

KVS, NVS, DSSSB teachers

Selection: CTET + Subject TET + Interview

State Government

State board school teachers

Selection: State TET + Recruitment exam

Universities

Assistant/Associate Professor

Selection: UGC-NET + Ph.D + Interview

Research Institutes

Research Fellow, Scientist

Selection: CSIR-NET/GATE + Research experience

Defense Services

Army/Navy/Air Force School teachers

Selection: Written exam + Interview

Public Sector

NTPC, ONGC, Railways training institutes

Selection: Company-specific exams

Top Educational Institutions

IITs
IIMs
NITs
AIIMS
JNU
DU
BHU
AMU
Jamia Millia
IISc Bangalore
TISS
ISI
Kendriya Vidyalaya
Navodaya Vidyalaya
Army Public School
DAV Schools
Private Universities
State Universities
Deemed Universities
Central Universities
CBSE Schools
ICSE Schools
State Board Schools
International Schools

Modern Teaching Tools

Digital Platforms

Google Classroom
Microsoft Teams
Zoom
Moodle
Blackboard

Content Creation

Canva
PowerPoint
Prezi
Adobe Creative Suite
OBS Studio

Assessment Tools

Google Forms
Kahoot
Quizlet
Socrative
Mentimeter

Communication

WhatsApp
Telegram
Slack
Discord
Email platforms

Learning Management

Edmodo
Schoology
Canvas
D2L Brightspace
ATutor

Keys to Teaching Excellence

Passion for Education

Genuine love for teaching and commitment to student success

Continuous Learning

Stay updated with subject knowledge and teaching methodologies

Student-Centric Approach

Adapt teaching methods to diverse learning styles and needs

Innovation in Teaching

Embrace technology and creative teaching methods