How do I become a teacher in the Netherlands?

Are you interested in becoming a teacher in the Netherlands? Then it might be helpful to familiarize yourself with the different teaching qualifications, teacher training programs and language requirements. In this article, we aim to inform you about the steps you need to undertake to become a teacher, depending on your personal situation.

In the Netherlands every education sector has an own collective agreement (CAO) and requirements related to teaching qualifications. If you want to become a teacher in the Netherlands it therefor is important to decide in which education sector you would like to work. The main education sectors are: primary education (po), secondary education (vo) and post-secondary vocational education and training (mbo).

This depends on what applies to your personal history in terms of prior education and teacher trainings. Below you can find a description and required steps per situation.

Situation 1: I do not have a foreign teaching qualification.

If you currently do not possess a (foreign) teaching qualification, you will need to obtain one in the Netherlands. In order to receive a teaching qualification, you have to follow a teacher training program. The following steps will be necessary:

1. Make sure to elevate your Dutch language proficiency to at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of References (CEFR). As teacher training programs are mainly offered in Dutch, you will need to demonstrate this level of Dutch upon applying to the program.
    
2. Have your foreign diploma(s) assessed by Nuffic or SBB. These institutions analyse the education level of foreign diplomas by comparing them to a Dutch equivalent. Nuffic assesses diplomas from secondary education and higher education, while SBB assesses diplomas on mbo level. In some cases, the university (of applied sciences) you apply to, can also provide this service. Be sure to inform about this possibility when you apply to the teacher training program.
    
3. Start your teaching training program. There are different qualifications for different age groups and levels, with different kinds of teacher training programs and admission requirements.
    
4. After having completed your teaching training program, you are qualified to teach in the Netherlands! You can start applying for teaching jobs. A vacancy website for the education sector to keep a close eye on is www.meesterbaan.nl.

Situation 2: I have a foreign teaching qualification.

If you have obtained a teaching qualification in another country, it does not automatically mean that you are qualified to teach in the Netherlands. These are the steps you will need to take:

1. Get your foreign teaching qualification certified by Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO). DUO is the only authority that can certify your foreign teaching qualification in the Netherlands. They will examine your qualification and determine what the Dutch equivalent of your qualification is.

There are three possible outcomes: your qualification is the equivalent to a Dutch teaching qualification or your qualification is the equivalent to a partial Dutch qualification or your qualification is not valid in the Netherlands. If your qualification is (partly) acknowledged, DUO will inform you of which age groups, levels and subject(s) you may teach in the Netherlands.

If you have a valid teaching qualification, these are the next steps:

1. Take Dutch classes. If you want to teach at a school that has Dutch as the main language of instruction (this goes for most schools), you will usually be required to demonstrate that your command of the Dutch language is at a minimum of level B2 of the Common European Framework of References (CEFR). If you want to teach only at international schools where the language of instruction is not Dutch, you will not be required to speak Dutch.
    
2. You can now look for a teaching job! You can start looking for vacancies, or send out emails to school boards in your neighbourhood to inquire about possibilities. It can be very insightful to a arrange a try-out day (meeloopdag) at several schools to get a bit of an impression of what different schools are like in terms of teaching methods and philosophy. Scholenopdekaart.nl offers a thorough overview of elementary schools and secondary schools per city.

If you have a teaching qualification that’s partially valid, these are the next steps:

1. Get in contact with the study advisors at the university or university of applied sciences where they offer the teacher training program you wish to follow. These advisors can inform you about possible exemptions and fast tracks for the program, based on your prior knowledge and experience.
    
2. Take Dutch classes. If you want to teach at a school that has Dutch as the main language of instruction (this goes for most schools), you will usually be required to demonstrate that your command of the Dutch language is at a minimum of level B2 of the Common European Framework of References (CEFR) . If you want to teach only at international schools where the language of instruction is not Dutch, you will not be required to speak Dutch. Moreover, teacher training programs in the Netherlands are mainly offered in Dutch and also require proficiency at this level upon applying to the program.
    
3. Start your (personalised / fast track) teaching training program. In the meantime you could apply for a teaching assistant job. For this role, you legally do not need any qualification, but schools do seek to hire people with relevant experience in the education sector . This might be a good way to become acquainted with the Dutch education system before you officially start teaching.
    
4. After having completed your teaching training program, you are qualified to teach! You can now applying for teaching jobs.

If your qualification is not valid in the Netherlands, the steps you need to take are the same as in situation 1.