How to Get Into Teaching and Education Through VET
By
Year13
The usual path to becoming a teacher is to go to university and study education. But not every job in the education sector requires a degree and there is a whole range of different VET courses which provide practical training for jobs within the education sector that are slightly outside the box.
What is VET?
VET stands for Vocational Education and Training, which is an education pathway that’s focused on gaining practical skills and providing you with a nationally-recognised qualification, ranging from a Certificate I to Certificate IV, to a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate.
A VET course is similar to a university degree in that you spend a chunk of your time getting qualified for a real-world career, but it’s generally shorter, less theoretical and more hands-on, and more work-focused. You can complete a VET course at TAFE or another registered training organisation (RTO). Statistically, those who complete a VET course, have higher rates of employment and, on average, get paid slightly better than university graduates.
Why is VET relevant to the industry?
VET courses offer a whole bunch of very specific training for those who want to pursue a niche teaching area or teaching style. Whether it’s teaching English as a second language, teaching those with autism spectrum disorder or teaching dance, yoga or pilates, there are VET courses available. Undertaking a niche teaching degree could be a career in itself or it could serve as an entry point to a more traditional teaching career.
Universities offer bachelor’s degrees in education and diplomas of education but VET courses tend to be more specified to a niche skill or job title. VET courses also tend to have more variety in length, taking anywhere from a couple of weeks to four years for an apprenticeship. In considering VET, you want to ask yourself how long it will take, how much it will cost, how practical it is and the employment outcomes afterwards.
What are some courses that I can do?
One of the most appealing aspects of VET is that the courses are often shorter and cheaper than a bachelor’s degree. Rather than doing a 3- or 4-year degree, the tendency is to do a short course in order to get qualified and then learn more while on the job. As you progress through your career, you might upskill with more VET training or move onto a uni degree. Alternatively, many people turn to a VET course before or after they’ve completed a university degree in order to enhance their skills and gain more practical experience. Here are a few examples of VET teacher training courses, from entry level to advanced:
- Certificate III in Assistant Dance Teaching
This is a course for those who are passionate about dance and performing arts. Whether it’s an entry point to a more traditional teaching role, a side-gig to a career as a professional dancer or an intro to starting your own dance company, it’s a course that equips you to get employed teaching dance. With an 86% satisfaction rate and an option to follow up the course with a Certificate III in Education, it’s an attractive option for anyone with an interest in performing arts.
- Certificate IV in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
This course is specifically designed for teaching English to those who speak another language. It’s a great option for people who’d like to travel overseas and work as an English teacher or tutor. The program involves 120 hours of face-to-face teaching, plus prac, so it can be completed quite quickly. With an 86% rate of satisfaction, it’s an attractive training program for those who want to work while travelling.
- Advanced Diploma of Education (Paraprofessional Education Worker)
This course equips students to become a paraprofessional education worker or an education aide, which are roles that involve assisting staff in schools, supervising children in preschools and providing assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. These roles have good job prospects, with around 92,800 workers in the industry across Australia and strong growth expected over the next 5 years.
What are the career outcomes?
The job titles associated with tourism and hospitality are many and far reaching. Here are a couple of examples to kick start your imagination:
Tutor, paraprofessional education worker, education aide, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) teacher, English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, sports coach, swimming teacher, yoga teacher, pilates teacher, dance teacher, early childhood teacher, primary school teacher, high school teacher, teacher’s aide, VET teacher.
For more info on courses and career paths, check out the My Skills website.
Keen to know more about getting into teaching and education through VET? Lisa, who has completed a Certificate III in Aged Care, knows all about it, and you can head here to find out a bit more from her.
