Teacher vs. Professional Teacher: 4 Key Differences

A person who conveys essential information, knowledge, and skills to a group of people is known as a teacher. While it might take some knowledge and communication to impart knowledge to another person, it takes elaborate training to become a professional teacher. So, what are the differences between a teacher and a professional teacher?

A teacher and a professional teacher differ in their level of training, degree of autonomy, salary, and teacher association membership. Teachers have a natural ability to pass information to students, while professional teachers specialize in complex topics, and are approved by an educational body.

This article will comprehensively cover the differences between professional and non-professional teachers. It will also discuss teaching and professionalism and will explore the origin and characteristics of the profession. Read on!

Table of Contents

1. Level of Training

To become a professional teacher, you must undergo formal preparation and exposure. A professional teacher must complete a specified teacher-training program followed by a period of exposure through induction or internship before obtaining a permanent certification.

In the US, for instance, a person must obtain a bachelor’s degree in elementary education to become a professional elementary teacher.

Some states may also require them to major in specific subjects like social studies, mathematics, or science. Those with a bachelor’s degree in a different discipline but aspiring to become professional teachers will need teaching certification, whose requirements vary from state to state.

Additionally, professional teachers must continuously undergo professional development training during practice to enhance their educational skills and maintain their licenses. This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean an advanced degree.

Certifications for short courses and training workshops also count. There are also paid tests depending on your state, that you can take to add to your certifications.

A professional teacher should have a deep knowledge of the content they teach as well as skills and know-how. On a more complex level, however, a professional teacher may mean one who has an exceptional comprehension of the subject matter and students’ interests at heart. They exemplify the best and set exceptional standards for best practices.

Non-professional teachers, on the other hand, do not have formal training in instruction. However, they may have other academic qualifications.

2. Degree of Autonomy

Autonomy refers to the freedom of practicing without intervention. Professional teachers enjoy a high degree of independence in the classroom, and they are free to deliver instruction as they see fit.

A professional teacher’s autonomy involves:

Choosing appropriate teaching methods
Lesson planning and preparation
Experimenting with new teaching strategies

Selecting the coursebook to use
Handling classroom budgets and purchases
Arranging the classroom as desired

Choosing learner assessment methods

Non-professional teachers, on the other hand, enjoy limited autonomy, and the school administration makes most decisions for them.

Both professional and non-professional teachers are subject to classroom observations from administrators to ensure good practices are followed.

3. Salary

In most countries, when it comes to public schools, the local or national government pays professional teachers. In the US, for example, local school districts are in charge of paying teachers. The districts receive funds from various sources, including the federal government and local taxes, and they decide how to spend it.

Each local school district has a distinct salary scale based on education level and years of experience. New teachers start at the low end of the salary schedule and receive annual raises according to their years of service and continued education.

On the flip side, non-professional teachers are not paid by the government. Instead, their salaries are determined by the parents or school authorities.

Salaries earned by professional teachers are more predictable and almost guaranteed to increase with more experience and tenure. The same cannot be said about the salaries of non-professional teachers.

4. Teacher Association Membership

Professional teachers belong to various teacher unions that oversee the proper functioning of the education system.

These unions are responsible for the following:

Negotiating with the government for better salaries and working conditions on behalf of members.
Protecting the rights of teachers.
Providing professional development opportunities to enhance the welfare or socio-economic status of its members.

Promoting teacher reforms.
Advocating for interests that bring about improvements in the education system of a country.
Providing professional and legal assistance to teachers.

Resolve discourse among its members, or between them and their employers.
Rendering financial benefits and perks to its members.

On the contrary, non-professional teachers do not belong to any teacher associations – they work as individuals. Therefore, all the benefits that come with being part of a teachers union are not available to them.

5. Working Method

Teachers and professional teachers also differ in their working methods:

Professional teachers typically operate in traditional schools and institutions of higher learning. Non-professional teachers can work in schools as assistants and substitute teachers, or in homes and tuition centers.
Professional teachers deliver instructions according to the syllabus laid out by the ministry of education. Non-professionals deliver content according to the client’s needs but within a curriculum’s framework.

Professional teachers are equipped with pedagogical knowledge. During their teacher-training program, professional teachers acquire the skills needed to deliver content to suit various learner needs. Non-professionals, however, will need to take voluntary courses and have years of first-hand experience to gain the equivalent level of pedagogical knowledge.
Professional teachers are governed by a code of conduct. This code of conduct is provided by the unions to ensure they practice with integrity. This is not the case with non-professional teachers.

In addition, a professional teacher understands the significance of working jointly with fellow teachers, the administration, non-teaching staff, parents, and community members.

Professional teachers are viewed as:

Effective communicators with parents, colleagues, and society at large
Participants in decision-making in and out of school

Active players in teacher organizations
Contributors to community developments

Some aspects of teacher professionalism may change over time. This YouTube video explains what teacher professionalism means in the 21st century:

6. Soft Skills

Teachers and professional teachers possess similar traits and a love for imparting knowledge. Virtues such as patience, dedication to work, and respect for learners describe both. Nevertheless, professional teachers are expected to have the following qualities:

Resilient
Friendly

Well-organized
Receptive to suggestions
Creative

Goal-oriented

It is a bonus for a non-professional teacher to possess such skills, but not often a requirement.

Teaching and Professionalism: What Does It Mean To Be a Professional Teacher?

To become a professional teacher, you must obtain a degree in education and be licensed to teach in your state. You must also specialize in an age group and subject.

For instance, you might specialize in the junior high school age group and teach English.

Some educators are teachers but aren’t considered professional teachers because they don’t have the necessary qualifications or licenses.

Also, the area in which they work might not require a qualification or license. Below are some common examples of “non-professional” teachers:

Student Tutors

Student tutors provide additional teaching and coaching to students struggling with certain subjects. They usually only work with a student for a short time and provide tutoring on a particular concept that the student is struggling with.

For example, if a student is struggling with variables in math, a tutor can step in by providing additional insight.

Student tutors typically have a degree specializing in the subject they tutor.

Daycare Teachers

While there are many daycare diplomas and certificates available, you don’t need a degree to become a daycare teacher.

Daycare teachers are also known as preschool teachers and work with children aged four or younger.

Many skills are required to become a daycare teacher, but you do not need to specialize in a certain subject or age group.

Teacher’s Assistants

Teacher’s assistants help professional teachers with various tasks:

Lesson planning
Grading tests

Gathering and distributing supplies
Helping students who need extra help during lessons
Setting up display boards

Assistant teachers can also fill in for professional teachers when they fall ill or cannot attend school due to sudden emergencies.

In many states, to work as a teacher’s assistant you’ll still need to have a bachelor’s degree.

How to Become a Professional Teacher

If you’re an educator, but not a professional teacher, you might consider studying further to become a professional teacher.

Here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

1. Determine If Professional Teaching Is the Right Career for You

Before dedicating time and money towards education and training, you should first decide if professional teaching is a good choice for you. Although you might already be involved in the education industry, it doesn’t necessarily mean that professional teaching is a suitable career choice.

You might ask yourself the following questions:

Why do you want to teach?
Do your personality, temperament, and mindset fit this profession?
Would this career path make you happy?

If you have no idea about the tasks and responsibilities of teaching, you should consider shadowing a teacher for a specific period (say one week) to witness firsthand what the profession involves. You can also volunteer at a school near you to get hands-on experience, and this will enable you to decide whether or not to pursue this career.

2. Assess your Teaching Preferences and Degree Options

The next step is to determine your preferred area of teaching. This could be any of the following:

Kindergarten

Elementary
Middle school
Junior high

Senior high
Special needs

You also need to decide which subjects you want to teach.

Once you’ve decided, you can make sound choices regarding your education options, and can identify the degree to pursue and the subject area to major in.

For instance, if you wish to teach at the kindergarten level, a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education will be the best option. On the other hand, a bachelor’s degree in special education will equip you with the skills needed to handle learners that require special attention.

There are numerous teaching degrees and concentration options that you can pursue depending on your education level, professional experience, and the subject of interest.

3. Identify Where and How to Learn

After determining the most suitable degree option, the next step is to find a reputable institution that provides the teaching program. This decision should be based on your preferred mode of learning:

Online
Campus-based

Part-time
Full-time

Upon settling on an institution, send your application. Make sure that you look into the institution’s application prerequisites to increase your chances of getting accepted.

You will also need to determine how you are going to finance your studies. A professional teaching qualification comes with significant financial burdens which can be difficult to handle. Fortunately, there are numerous options to lighten the burden, with some requiring future reimbursement while others are gift-based aid. You can learn more about educational funding opportunities here.

4. Complete the Degree Program and Obtain a Teaching License

Once you are accepted into a program, it’s up to you to complete and obtain the degree certificate.

In addition, you will also need to be certified to teach, and this involves obtaining a teaching license. Every state has its own stipulations for teacher licensing. Learn more about your state’s teacher certification requirements here.

5. Apply for Teaching Jobs

With your professional teaching qualification and license at hand, it’s time to put them to good use by applying for your first job.

Before doing so, consider where you want to work. Some examples can include:

A small, rural school where you have more opportunities to give your students one-on-one attention

An exclusive private school where you can earn a lucrative salary
A large urban school with the potential to have a positive influence on troubled or disadvantaged students

There are various ways in which you can apply for jobs. Using online job boards is an effective method, while word-of-mouth recommendations can also help you to secure the teaching job of your dreams.

Once you’ve settled on a couple of schools, send in your application and hope for the best.

6. Continue your Education

Having a professional teaching qualification and a teaching license is not enough for many states. You may also need to periodically renew your license, which involves proving that you have obtained certain professional development credits to further your teaching knowledge.

Without proof of continuous professional improvement, you might not be able to continue teaching.

Of course, continuing your education also benefits you because you can serve your students better and have the potential to earn more money, and apply for more senior positions.

Conclusion

The teaching profession is a comprehensive occupation. Specialist knowledge and delivery skills, among others, are the basic requirements of a professional teacher. It’s also clear that an untrained teacher and a professional teacher differ in many ways, with the only similarity being their goal, which is to teach.

Lastly, becoming a professional teacher is quite simple. Besides having a passion to teach, there are basic certification requirements that you must meet prior to stepping into a classroom.