What Is a Teacher in Training? Understanding the Path to Becoming a Classroom Educator

Ever watched a student teacher nervously stand in front of a class, whiteboard marker in hand, trying to explain fractions to a room full of ten-year-olds? That’s a teacher in training - not yet certified, but already doing the work. They’re not interns. They’re not volunteers. They’re future educators, getting their hands dirty before they ever get a permanent contract.

What Exactly Is a Teacher in Training?

A teacher in training is someone enrolled in a formal program to become a certified educator. This usually happens after completing a bachelor’s degree, though some countries allow entry straight from high school into integrated teaching programs. In Australia, most teacher in training roles fall under the pre-service teacher category - meaning they’re still studying but spending significant time in real classrooms.

They’re not just observing. They’re planning lessons, grading assignments, managing behavior, and sometimes even leading full classes under supervision. By the end of their training, they’ll have logged at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice - sometimes more, depending on the state and level they’re training for (primary, secondary, or special education).

How Does Teacher Training Work?

Teacher training isn’t a single course. It’s a mix of theory and practice, spread over one to two years after a bachelor’s degree. In Australia, this usually means a Master of Teaching or a Bachelor of Education. Here’s how it breaks down:

• University coursework: You learn child development, curriculum design, classroom management, and educational psychology. No fluff - every topic ties directly to what you’ll face on Monday morning in a real school.
• Teaching practicum: This is the core. You’re placed in a school for blocks of 4-8 weeks at a time. You start by shadowing, then co-teach, then take over full lessons. By the final placement, you’re expected to run a class like a pro.
• Supervision and feedback: Each trainee has a mentor teacher at the school and a university supervisor who observes them at least twice per placement. Feedback is detailed, often recorded, and always focused on improvement.
• Assessments: You don’t just pass exams. You submit lesson plans, video recordings of your teaching, reflective journals, and student progress reports. Failure here means repeating the placement - no second chances.

It’s intense. One trainee in Sydney told me she spent 60 hours a week during her final practicum: 30 in school, 20 planning lessons, and 10 writing reflections. She didn’t see her partner for three weeks.

Who Becomes a Teacher in Training?

People come into teacher training from all walks of life. Some are fresh out of university with a degree in history or biology. Others are career changers - former nurses, retail managers, IT professionals. A surprising number are parents who’ve spent years volunteering in school libraries or helping with homework and realized they love guiding learning.

There’s no single profile. But there are common traits: patience, adaptability, and a deep discomfort with watching kids fall behind. Many trainees say they chose this path because they saw a teacher change a student’s life - and they wanted to be that person.

In Australia, about 40% of new teachers are career changers. The government actively encourages this through scholarships and fast-track programs, especially in subjects like maths, science, and special education where shortages are worst.

What’s the Difference Between a Teacher in Training and a Substitute Teacher?

They both stand in front of a class. But that’s where the similarity ends.

A substitute teacher fills in for a day or two when the regular teacher is sick. They follow a lesson plan left behind. They don’t plan, they don’t assess, and they rarely build relationships with students.

A teacher in training is building their entire professional identity. They’re learning how to design a unit on climate change for Year 8, how to support a student with dyslexia during reading time, how to talk to a parent about behavioral concerns. They’re being evaluated on their growth - not just their ability to keep order.

Substitute teaching can be a way to test the waters. But teacher training is the real deal - a structured, supervised, high-stakes apprenticeship.

What Do Teacher Trainees Actually Do in Class?

It’s not just lecturing. Here’s a snapshot of a typical week for a trainee in a Sydney primary school:

• Monday: Plans a literacy lesson using a new reading strategy learned in class. Prepares differentiated worksheets for students reading at different levels.
• Tuesday: Co-teaches a math lesson with their mentor. Takes the lead on small-group rotations while the mentor observes and takes notes.
• Wednesday: Runs a 40-minute independent lesson on Australian geography. Records the lesson for feedback.
• Thursday: Marks spelling tests and writes individual feedback for each student. Talks to the school’s learning support officer about two kids who are falling behind.
• Friday: Attends a staff meeting, observes a specialist teacher running a social-emotional learning circle, and writes a 1,500-word reflection on what worked and what didn’t.

They’re doing the same work as a qualified teacher - just with more oversight, more feedback, and less autonomy.

Why Is Teacher Training So Rigorous?

Because teaching is one of the most complex jobs in the world.

You’re not just delivering content. You’re reading a room of 25 kids - noticing who’s zoning out, who’s angry, who’s hiding a bruise, who’s quietly brilliant. You’re adjusting your tone, your pace, your materials - all in real time. You’re managing emotions, conflicts, and learning gaps while keeping everyone on task.

Research from the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) shows that teachers who complete full, supervised training are twice as likely to stay in the profession after five years compared to those who take shortcuts. Schools don’t want teachers who can lecture. They want teachers who can adapt, connect, and grow.

That’s why training can’t be rushed. You can’t learn to teach by watching YouTube videos or reading a textbook. You have to do it - with real kids, real mistakes, and real consequences.

What Happens After Teacher Training?

When the final placement ends and all assessments are passed, the trainee applies for provisional registration with the state teaching authority - in NSW, that’s the NESA. Once approved, they become a fully registered teacher and can apply for permanent positions.

But the learning doesn’t stop. New teachers spend their first year under a formal induction program. They’re paired with an experienced mentor, given reduced teaching loads, and given time for professional development. The first year is still tough - but now they’re not alone.

And here’s the kicker: most new teachers say their training year was harder than their first year on the job. Why? Because during training, every misstep is recorded, analyzed, and critiqued. On the job, you’re expected to just figure it out.

Is Teacher Training Worth It?

It’s not glamorous. The pay during training is usually minimal - sometimes just a stipend or a scholarship. The hours are brutal. The emotional toll is real. Many trainees quit before finishing.

But for those who stick with it? The reward is unmatched. A teacher in training who finally sees a student who used to hate reading suddenly pick up a book on their own? That moment doesn’t come from a textbook. It comes from months of trial, feedback, and persistence.

Teaching isn’t a job you get into for the money. It’s a calling you earn through hard work. And the teacher in training? They’re not waiting to become a teacher. They’re already one - just not yet officially signed on the dotted line.