Teaching qualifications.

Teacher primary education

With the teaching qualification for teacher of primary education, you can teach in primary education and special education. So at primary schools and special education schools. You teach children basic skills such as math and writing. You also teach them how to get along with each other.

You can get the diploma after a 4-year higher professional education course for primary education teachers. It is also possible to follow a teacher training course at academic level. After this course, you get 2 diplomas: one for education science and one for primary education teacher training.
There are extra rules for gym classes. Every teacher can give gym to groups 1 and 2, but to give gym to groups 3 to 8 a special qualification is needed. In special education, any teacher can give gym until children reach age 7. In emergencies and accidents, an unqualified teacher may stand in front of the class.

Teacher secondary education

The law states what teachers in secondary education must meet. Teachers with a secondary teaching qualification for secondary education can teach:

• the first 3 classes of havo and vwo
• preparatory middle-level vocational education
• vocational education and adult education
• practical education track

Teachers with a first degree teaching qualification in secondary education teach one subject. Or more if they have the right qualification. For example Dutch or history. With a first degree teaching qualification it is allowed to teach in:

• all classes of havo and vwo
• preparatory middle-level vocational education
• vocational education and adult education
• practical education track

Teacher special primary education

To teach in special education, teachers need a teaching qualification for primary education and a declaration of conduct.

Teacher secondary special education

At schools that take final exams themselves, teachers must have a teaching qualification and a declaration of conduct for secondary education. At schools that do not take final exams themselves, a teaching qualification for primary education is enough.
With a first or secondary teaching qualification and a declaration of conduct for secondary education, teachers may also teach in secondary special education in the subject for which they are qualified.

Practical education track

It is also allowed to teach in the practical education track with a diploma from primary education teacher training.

Unqualified in front of the class

The law allows exceptions to appoint a teacher who does not yet meet the qualification requirements (temporarily appointable). The use of these unqualified teachers is allowed only for a limited time and/or under specific conditions. Fully unqualified teachers must begin training after one year; those without the right qualification (different subject, different level) have two years to do so, a period that may be extended once under certain conditions.