Steps to become a History Teacher
Step 1: Complete a bachelor’s degree in History or a related Humanities field
Enrol in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of History at an Australian university, majoring in History. This degree takes three years full-time and covers key historical periods, research methods, and analytical writing. It builds the deep subject knowledge you need in the history classroom. Most Australian universities offer this degree on campus and online.
Step 2: Complete a Master of Teaching (Secondary) with a History specialisation
After your bachelor’s degree, enrol in a Master of Teaching (Secondary) with a History specialisation. This qualification takes two years full-time at an Australian university. It covers curriculum design, lesson planning, assessment, and classroom management. It also includes supervised professional experience placements in real secondary schools. Alternatively, you can complete a combined Bachelor of Education (Secondary) with a History major in four years full-time. This integrates the subject degree and the teaching qualification into one program.
Step 3: Apply for provisional teacher registration
Before you can teach, you must register with your state or territory teacher registration authority. In Australia, all teachers must meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers set by AITSL. Apply for provisional registration after completing your teaching qualification. The application includes background checks and a review of your qualifications. Each state has its own authority, such as NESA in NSW, VIT in Victoria, and QCT in Queensland.
Step 4: Complete the supervised teaching requirement for full registration
After receiving provisional registration, you must complete a minimum period of supervised teaching. This qualifies you for full registration. In NSW, this requires 80 days of teaching. In Victoria, you complete the Provisional to Full Registration assessment through VIT. Requirements vary by state, but most teachers reach full registration within two to three years of starting work.
Step 5: Join a professional body and commit to ongoing development
Join the History Teachers’ Association of Australia (HTAA) or your state body. This gives you access to professional development, curriculum resources, and peer networks. All registered teachers must complete professional development hours each year to maintain their registration. Staying current with historical scholarship and teaching practice is both a professional requirement and a mark of good teaching.
Every day, a history teacher plans and delivers lessons, marks student work, and helps young people engage with the past. They run classroom discussions, guide students through primary sources, and design assessment tasks that build essay and analytical skills. They communicate with parents, attend staff meetings, and contribute to curriculum planning. Outside the classroom, they may run a history club or organise visits to heritage sites and museums. It is a varied, hands-on role that is rarely the same two days running.
As a history teacher, you bring history to life for students every day. You guide them through major events, help them build their own arguments, and give them the tools to think critically about the world.
- Lesson planning — designing engaging lessons that meet the Australian Curriculum and state syllabus requirements.
- Classroom teaching — leading discussions, debates, and source analysis activities that build historical understanding.
- Assessment and grading — setting and marking essays, projects, and exams, then giving clear feedback to students.
- Student support — helping students who are struggling with content or essay writing through one-on-one guidance.
- Curriculum development — working with colleagues to review and improve the history program at your school.
- Professional development — attending workshops and events to stay up to date with history teaching practice.
- Parent communication — talking to parents about student progress at report time and during parent-teacher interviews.
- Classroom management — building a safe, respectful environment where students feel confident to speak up.
- Excursions and incursions — organising visits to museums, archives, and heritage sites to make history real.
- Resource development — finding and creating quality teaching materials to enrich your lessons each term.
To do well as a history teacher, you need to love the subject. You also need a talent for bringing it to life for others. You do not just need to know the facts. You need to help students understand why they matter. Clear, engaging talk and writing is the most important skill you can have.
Strong planning skills, patience, and the ability to run a classroom are also vital. You will work with students at very different levels, so being able to adapt your style is key. Keeping up with workshops and professional networks will keep your teaching sharp and fresh.
