Teaching remains one of South Africa’s most important and resilient careers. This guide explains the formal qualification routes, mandatory registration steps, continuing professional development, career ladders (HOD → Deputy → Principal) and practical tips to advance — written for school leavers, career-changers and overseas-qualified teachers who want to work in South Africa.
Quick overview: the essentials
- You must hold a recognised teaching qualification (BEd, PGCE, diploma or approved ECD credential) to teach in the basic education system. Registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) is legally required before appointment in most schools. (gov.za)
- If your qualification was earned outside South Africa, SAQA evaluation is required before SACE will accept it for registration. (saqa.org.za)
- All registered educators are expected to participate in SACE’s Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD) system (PD points over multi-year cycles). (sace.org.za)
1. Which qualifications qualify you to teach?
There are two mainstream routes into school teaching in South Africa:
- Bachelor of Education (BEd) — a professional 4‑year degree designed for direct entry into teaching.
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) — a one‑year professional qualification taken after an appropriate undergraduate degree (e.g., BSc, BA). (humanities.uct.ac.za)
Other pathways:
- Three‑year Diploma in Education (where available) or Advanced Diplomas for specific phases.
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) certificates/diplomas (NQF‑aligned) for Grade R / preschool roles — there are provisional registration arrangements for ECD practitioners depending on NQF level. (sace.org.za)
Quick comparison (what to choose)
| Route | Typical length | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEd (4‑year) | 4 years | Straight-to-teaching school graduates | Professional degree covering pedagogy + subject methods. (studylib.net) |
| PGCE | 1 year (after degree) | Graduates who decide to teach later | Capping qualification; entry subject requirements vary by institution. (humanities.uct.ac.za) |
| Diploma (DipEd / 3‑yr) | 3 years | Foundation / intermediate phase teaching | May be accepted for registration (REQV/ NQF level varies). (sace.org.za) |
| ECD qualifications | Varies (NQF 4–6) | Grade R & preschool | SACE offers provisional registration pathways for ECD with specified NQF points. (sace.org.za) |
2. Registering to teach: SACE and the practical steps
Registration with SACE is mandatory for educators employed in public and many independent schools (Section 21 of the SACE Act). The registration process verifies qualifications, identity and fitness to teach. (gov.za)
What you will typically submit:
- Fully completed original SACE application form.
- Certified copies of qualification(s), academic record and matric/NSC certificate.
- Certified copy of South African ID (or passport + work permit for foreign nationals).
- Proof of payment of SACE fees (registration and annual levy). (sace.org.za)
Notes for special cases:
- Student educators may apply for provisional registration while completing teacher training.
- Foreign-qualified teachers must have their credentials evaluated by SAQA (and may need a separate DBE employment evaluation) before SACE issues full registration. (saqa.org.za)
3. Foreign qualifications: SAQA and timeline
If you studied outside South Africa:
- Apply for a SAQA foreign‑qualification evaluation (online). SAQA issues an electronic Certificate of Evaluation locating your qualification on the South African NQF. Typical turnaround times vary (standard/urgent) — check SAQA’s portal for the latest processing times and fees. (saqa.org.za)
Tip: SACE will ask for the SAQA outcome and sometimes for a DBE evaluation for employment-in-education decisions, so start SAQA early if you plan to apply for posts. (gov.za)
4. Keep growing: SACE CPTD and continuous professional development
SACE operates the CPTD (Continuing Professional Teacher Development) system. Registered educators are expected to earn professional development (PD) points — SACE sets minimum PD expectations over a three‑year cycle (commonly 150 PD points across specified activity types). Points are recorded via SACE’s CPTD management system and a teacher’s Professional Development Portfolio. (sace.org.za)
Why CPTD matters:
- Maintains professional standing with SACE.
- Strengthens promotion prospects (HOD, SMT, principal) and specialty recognition (e.g., subject specialist). (studylib.net)
5. Career ladder: how to advance (typical roadmap)
Most teachers follow two broad advancement pathways — Teaching & Learning (subject mastery, senior teacher) and Management & Leadership (HOD → Deputy → Principal).
Common steps and what employers look for:
- First 1–5 years: Build classroom experience, subject results, and evidence of continued learning.
- 3–8 years: Apply for Head of Department (HOD) roles — experience supervising colleagues and evidence of pedagogy improvements are key. (scribd.com)
- 5–10+ years: Deputy principal / post‑level 3 or 4 roles — many employers expect curriculum leadership, administration experience and managerial training. (scribd.com)
- Principal: experience (often 7+ years), leadership evidence and — while there is no single nationally mandated principal degree — many provinces and SGBs prefer candidates with a recognized leadership qualification (e.g., Advanced Certificate/Advanced Diploma in School Leadership & Management or national principalship standards). Universities and provincial training institutes offer ACE/AdvDip programs aimed at aspiring principals. (scribd.com)
Practical point: Appointment rules and advertised minimums vary by province and by school (public posts follow Departmental/ELRC adverts and SGB procedures). Always read the post advertisement carefully for REQV, experience and leadership requirements. (elrc.org.za)
6. What can you expect to earn? (broad ranges)
Salaries vary widely by province, school sector (public vs private), REQV level, and post (HOD/deputy/principal). Recent surveys and salary guides put typical ranges as follows:
| Role | Approx. annual (broad range) |
|---|---|
| Entry-level classroom teacher | R150,000 – R300,000 per year (≈R12k–R25k/mth). (careersportal.co.za) |
| Experienced / Senior teacher (HOD) | R300,000 – R520,000+ per year. (careersportal.co.za) |
| Deputy Principal / Principal | R450,000 – >R1,200,000 (wide variance by post-level, province and school). (joburgetc.com) |
Note: public sector packages often include pension, medical and occasional rural or scarcity allowances. Use provincial salary circulars and the post advert as your definitive source when applying. (vukamatric.co.za)
7. Practical checklist: applying and moving up
- If you studied overseas: lodge a SAQA evaluation early. (saqa.org.za)
- Apply to SACE with original/clearly certified documents and pay the fee; provisional student registration is possible while completing studies. (sace.org.za)
- Keep a CPD portfolio and actively log CPTD points (aim for 150 PD points per cycle). (sace.org.za)
- Take subject-specialist courses (mathematics, sciences, languages) — market demand for strong STEM teachers remains high, which accelerates progression and often leads to better pay. (careersportal.co.za)
- For leadership roles, consider ACE / Advanced Diploma in School Leadership & Management or institutional leadership programmes (UCT, provincial institutes, or accredited providers). (scribd.com)
8. Where this fits with other South African career guides
If you’re mapping a multi-sector plan or comparing options, these related guides in the Career Guidance South Africa cluster may help you decide whether to specialise further or pivot later:
- Career Guidance South Africa: Complete IT Career Path — Entry Roles to Senior Jobs
- Engineering Careers in South Africa: Qualifications, Professional Bodies and Salary Benchmarks
- Healthcare Career Guide South Africa: Nursing, Allied Health and Registration with HPCSA
- How to Build a Career Ladder in South Africa's Priority Sectors — Employers, Accreditations and Growth Paths
Final notes and next steps
- Start by confirming which qualification you have (or will study for): BEd or PGCE are the most direct professional routes. (humanities.uct.ac.za)
- If coming from abroad, lodge the SAQA evaluation immediately and then apply to SACE once you have the SAQA outcome. (saqa.org.za)
- Build your professional portfolio (lesson plans, learner outcomes, CPD certificates) — this remains core evidence when applying for HOD or senior posts.
If you want, I can:
- Draft a step-by-step SACE application checklist (with exact document wording and where to send posted originals), or
- Compare BEd vs PGCE entry requirements for specific universities (UCT, UNISA, Rhodes, Wits) and list current bursaries for teacher training.
Sources (selected):
- Department of Basic Education / South African Government — register as educator. (gov.za)
- South African Council for Educators — registration criteria & CPTD. (sace.org.za)
- SAQA — evaluation of foreign qualifications. (saqa.org.za)
- University and policy references on PGCE and teacher qualification minimums. (humanities.uct.ac.za)
- Recent salary and career guides (CareersPortal, JobUrGet, RateWeb) for salary ranges and market commentary. (careersportal.co.za)
Would you like a printable SACE checklist (one‑page PDF) with the exact document list and addresses for submission?