Teaching & education CV guide
State teaching registration or qualified status and child-safety checks. Give subjects, age ranges, curricula (e.g. IB, GCSE, Common Core) and results improvements.
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Sections to include
| Section (in this order) | How important |
|---|---|
| Profile | Recommended |
| Teaching registration & checks | Expected |
| Experience | Expected |
| Education | Expected |
| Skills | Recommended |
| Professional development | Recommended |
| References | Expected |
Key facts
- Teachers in state-maintained schools in England generally need qualified teacher status (QTS). Source: gov.uk
- Teachers in New Zealand must be registered with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and hold a current practising certificate. Source: teachingcouncil.nz
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
Tips
- State teaching registration or qualified status and child-safety checks.
- Give subjects, age ranges, curricula (e.g. IB, GCSE, Common Core) and results improvements.
- International schools: list curricula and extracurricular contributions.
Registration by country
Regulated jobs need the local registration or licence on the CV, or a note that the application is in progress. Confirm current requirements with the regulator.
| Country | Registration or licence |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Qualified teacher status (QTS) or registration with GTCS / EWC / GTCNI; enhanced DBS |
| United States | State teaching licence / certificate |
| Canada | Provincial teaching certificate (e.g. Ontario College of Teachers) |
| Australia | State teacher registration (e.g. NESA, VIT, QCT) and Working with Children Check |
| New Zealand | Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand registration |
| Ireland | Teaching Council registration; Garda vetting |
| United Arab Emirates | Teacher licence (MOE / KHDA / ADEK requirements) |
| Singapore | MOE teaching qualification (NIE) |
Teacher CVs by country
- Teacher CV for the United Kingdom
- Teacher CV for the United States
- Teacher CV for Canada
- Teacher CV for Australia
- Teacher CV for New Zealand
- Teacher CV for Ireland
- Teacher CV for Germany
- Teacher CV for Austria
- Teacher CV for Switzerland
- Teacher CV for the Netherlands
- Teacher CV for France
- Teacher CV for Sweden
- Teacher CV for Norway
- Teacher CV for the United Arab Emirates
- Teacher CV for Saudi Arabia
- Teacher CV for Qatar
- Teacher CV for Kuwait
- Teacher CV for Oman
- Teacher CV for Singapore
- Teacher CV for Japan
Questions
What should a teacher CV include?
A teacher CV needs your contact details, experience, education, teaching registration and checks and references, and usually profile, skills and professional development. Lead with what employers in this field check first, and back it up with specific examples. State teaching registration or qualified status and child-safety checks. The CV Atlas readiness check flags anything this field expects that your CV is missing.
What order should the sections of a teacher CV be in?
Use this order for a teacher CV: Profile, Teaching registration & checks, Experience, Education, Skills, Professional development and References. Put the most important evidence for this field near the top, and list entries within each section with the most recent first. Contact details and your name always come first, in the header. Some countries change the order, for example Japan lists history oldest first, and CV Atlas applies that automatically.
How long should a teacher CV be?
It depends on the country more than the job. A teacher CV in the United States should be 1–2 pages; in the United Kingdom, 2 pages; in Australia, 2–4 pages. Keep recent roles detailed and older ones brief, so your strongest evidence sits on the first page. Pick your target country in CV Atlas and it applies the local length and paper size.
Do teachers need to put their registration on their CV?
Yes. Teachers should show their teaching qualification or registration and child-safety checks near the top of the CV, in its own section, with the registering body and status. If you are still applying, list it with the status “In progress” so employers can see where you stand. The body depends on the country. Confirm current requirements with the regulator before applying; CV Atlas names the usual body for the main destination countries.
How do I make a teacher CV stand out?
Give subjects, age ranges, curricula (e.g. IB, GCSE, Common Core) and results improvements. International schools: list curricula and extracurricular contributions. Be specific: name the systems, settings and results, start each bullet with a verb, and keep it to one line where you can. Show the scale of your work with numbers where it helps. Tailor the first lines of your profile and each role to the job advert.
Which jobs does the teacher CV guide cover?
This guide covers 32 job titles, including Primary / elementary school teacher, Secondary / high school teacher, Mathematics teacher, English teacher, Science teacher, Special educational needs teacher, Physical education teacher and Music teacher. They share the same CV structure and checks. If your exact title is not listed, type it into CV Atlas and pick the closest field. Country rules such as photos, length and references are added on top when you choose where you are applying.
Jobs this guide covers
Primary / elementary school teacher · Secondary / high school teacher · Mathematics teacher · English teacher · Science teacher · Special educational needs teacher · Physical education teacher · Music teacher · Art teacher · Computer science teacher · Language teacher · English as a foreign language (ESL/TEFL) teacher · Head teacher / principal · Deputy head / vice principal · Head of department · Substitute / supply teacher · Teaching assistant · Learning support assistant · Tutor · Private tutor · School counsellor · Educational psychologist · Instructional designer · Curriculum developer · Exam invigilator · School administrator · Driving instructor · Further education / vocational lecturer · Corporate trainer · Education consultant · Librarian · Library assistant
Country guides
Photo, date of birth, length and paper size change by country. Start with United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, or see all 200 countries.
Open the builderYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.