In Australia, anyone can apply for tutoring jobs. Legally, you do not need a qualification, either in teaching or in your specific field. In order to become a private tutor, you simply need a passion for the subject, some experience and the ability to build rapport with others.
To become a tutor in Australia, there are no mandatory qualifications required.
However, employers often prefer candidates who have relevant qualifications, experience, and memberships in professional associations.
First and foremost, it's important to note that the qualifications required to become a tutor in Australia can vary depending on the type of tutoring you'd like to do. For example, if you'd like to tutor primary school students, you'll likely need a different set of qualifications than if you'd like to tutor university students.
That being said, there are some qualifications that are commonly required for tutors in Australia. These include:
- A bachelor's degree in the subject you'd like to tutor. For example, if you want to tutor mathematics, you should have a bachelor's degree in mathematics.
- A teaching qualification, such as a Graduate Diploma in Education or a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
- A valid Working with Children Check, which is a mandatory check required for anyone working with children in Australia.
- A police check, which ensures that the tutor does not have any criminal history.
- A National Police Check, which is a background check to verify the person's police records.
- A current First Aid certificate.
What tutoring Qualifications do you Need?
While a degree is not compulsory, it will go a long way towards helping you obtain tutoring jobs in Brisbane and elsewhere in Australia – and it will make it easier for you to provide a great service.
To become a successful tutor, you need a sound, fundamental knowledge of your subject and you must be confident in your delivery; this can only come from a thorough understanding of your area of expertise.
A tutor who is not confidently operating at a higher level than the tutee cannot expect to be successful.
This does not mean you have to be at a significantly higher level than your student. First-year university undergraduates may undertake tutoring jobs with Year 12 students studying for their end-of-year exams. Year 12 students may tutor younger grade levels in specific subjects or general study skills.
There is no reason why teenagers cannot tutor their younger peers, although, you will need to consider the legal minimum age for part-time work. This age, and the allowed amount of work time, differs between Australian states but is generally between 13 and 15 years of age, and parent permission may be required in some states.
If you are considering a career in tutoring, you may wish to gain work with an existing tutoring agency as a first step.
Working with an agency will allow you to build a portfolio of student testimonials, which are an essential promotion tool when you start out in your own tutoring business.
The majority of tutoring agencies insist on their employees having a university degree – not necessarily in education, but a degree in or related to your chosen subject.
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First-hand, practical experience in skills-based subjects, such as languages and ICT, is also often required by tutoring agencies.
Tutoring, particularly in specialised fields, is one of the most logical jobs for teachers – particularly those who are after extra income or a career shift. Although not essential, certain fields do prefer the high-level knowledge and teaching experience afforded by former teachers.
Parents and carers will often look for tutors who have an academic qualification related to the subject(s) in which their child needs assistance. For example, if you are a first-year university student studying Business, your Year 12 certificate results should provide enough evidence you have the knowledge to tutor students up to Year 12.
In addition to subject knowledge, recent Year 12 graduates will also have more recent experience with specific curriculum content, assessment expectations and exam preparation techniques.
Equally, if you are tutoring a university-level subject, a related academic degree, showing a sound understanding of the content, will be of significant benefit to both parties.
There is more to learning than curriculum content.
Although higher education qualifications are often sought by people wanting a tutor, not all subjects involve academic knowledge. Such subjects include drawing, sewing, yoga, and singing.
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To become a tutor in a subject with highly specialised skills, such as ICT or media-based skills, you are more likely to need extensive academic and/or practical experience.
As stated at the beginning of this article, specific qualifications are not required to become a tutor. However, we don’t need to point out that students are likely to prefer tutors with experience in their subject of study. In addition, it is often preferable for tutors to have industry-specific experience and knowledge.
Alternatively, reviews or testimonials are usually more important than formal qualifications when it comes to vocational subjects, such as cooking or painting.
Put simply – there’s a need for all types of tutors to work with different students in different subjects, and who possess different skills and teaching strategies.
If you want to become a tutor – and you want to stand out – the best thing to do is start advertising. Promoting your skills and teaching style will attract students who have similar goals and learning styles.
Knowing where and how to advertise can be difficult, particularly for tutors of non-academic or vocational subjects.
Fortunately, Superprof has all areas covered – catering for all subjects and the requirements of both tutors and students. As a tutor, you have the opportunity to join a community of tutors and, at the same time, build your online presence and source new clients.
Does aLack of Qualifications Mean You Can’t Become a Tutor?
As mentioned previously, there are no legal requirements for one to one tutors to have professional qualifications, although they do help.
Not having to attain qualifications means becoming a tutor and sourcing tutoring jobs can be simple. However, it also presents certain problems.
Proving yourself to be efficient and effective as a tutor can be difficult without official qualifications or professional training.
If you’re not a qualified teacher, it can be difficult to show you are competent in what you offer and can deliver an outstanding supplemental instruction service.
However, determining your suitability to teach something you are passionate about only requires a little common sense.
Teaching the guitar when you know nothing about chord progression makes no sense. However, if you can show you have mastery of the guitar, and personal experience in playing, this might satisfy some potential clients.
How would you respond to these questions from a client?
- Why are you suitable to be a private tutor?
- What experience do you have in _____? Have you taught it before?
- What is the highest level you would be confident to teach?
If you understand and are honest about, your level of expertise, and if you can succinctly explain why you are suitable, you will be able to market your skills more effectively.
It’s important to be aware of the concerns and needs of your potential clients. If you can address these issues within your advertising leaflets, in your online tutor profile on Superprof (see below for instructions) or when you’re discussing your tutoring services in person, people will be encouraged to try your services.
Bear in mind, you will likely be scrutinised and ‘tested’ for longer than more experienced, or more qualified tutors, even once you’ve been employed.
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Is Teaching Experience Necessary to Become a Tutor?
Qualified teachers are highly sought-after as private tutors by school students and are often preferred to tutors who have no formal teaching experience as a registered teacher.
This does not mean you cannot become a tutor or run a successful tutoring business.
Many students respond more positively to tutors with different experiences and skills than what a traditional teacher can offer. Basically, a teaching qualification is not always necessary, and may sometimes even be a deterrent.
In fact, it is not always true that qualified teachers, despite their knowledge and skills, will be able to boost a student’s outcomes. Sometimes, a different approach or a non-teaching perspective is required to help students understand and progress.
The one-size-fits-all teaching approach does not ‘fit all’.
Multiple studies over the years assert that will fail a large proportion of students because of its lack of focus on individual needs. An individualised teaching approach would be expensive to implement and would require massive changes in curriculum and pedagogy.
Tutors of all types may be the solution to the education issues we face.
Students require tutors to not only help them understand the content being taught at school but to support them to build connections between ideas and understandings. Tutoring is not about regurgitating the same content in the same way. An effective tutor will identify issues in the student’s understanding and application of knowledge and find ways to help the student further this knowledge in real life.
Tutors who are not qualified teachers often provide a different approach to learning which is appreciated by students and their parents/carers.
A tutor without teaching credentials, but with industry-specific, practical experience and work-based knowledge may have an approach that resonates more with a student. For example, students who require one on one tutoring in Maths may experience more success with a tutor who works in accounting or economics.
University undergraduates can also gain tutoring jobs in conjunction with their study when students require a more theoretical understanding of academic subjects.
Many younger students, particularly those in secondary school, prefer a tutor who is closer to their own age and who they feel will have a better understanding of their learning styles or at least have similar interests. As such, completing your degree is not a prerequisite for starting a tutoring business.
Tutors who are undergraduates can also provide useful insights into exam technique and test preparation, because of their recent experiences with curriculum expectations, assessment conditions and mental preparation for testing to determine their ATAR.
Many students find it difficult to demonstrate the extent of their knowledge on paper. This alone makes test and assignment questions a nightmare for some.
An undergraduate in almost any field, or someone else whose work involves a lot of writing, can become a tutor in writing, assisting students to organise their ideas and communicate their knowledge as effectively as possible. Enhanced writing skills, and confidence, can be the difference between a pass and a fail for many students.
Depending on an individual student’s needs, there are advantages to having a tutor who has teaching experience, but there are also significant advantages to hiring tutors who have never taught in a classroom.
Tutoring Qualifications for Non-Academic Subjects
Academic tutoring is considered the bread and butter of the tutoring industry, which is why this article’s main focus has been on tutoring in school subjects.
However, man cannot live by bread alone – even if does have butter on it.
These days, however, there is also rising demand for tutoring in non-academic fields. A desire for work-life balance and life-enrichment has led people to seek tutoring in a diverse range of areas. Playing an instrument, baking, languages, fitness activities, and wellbeing and mindfulness are just a few of the non-academic skills being sought.
As with academic tutoring, no diplomas or extended education is needed to become a tutor in most of these fields; the lone exception is if you wish to work as a personal trainer.
It should be noted that, in Australia, all personal trainers, must hold, as a minimum, a Cert IV in Fitness, or a Diploma of Fitness.
Tutors in other fitness-related areas, including yoga and boxing for fitness, do not have specific certification requirements.
With the exception of personal training, the main thing you require to show your ability in tutoring the area of your choice is testimonials from former students.
Testimonials and reviews provide useful feedback, allowing you to see where you can improve your methodology, and they are often effective tools to advertise your tutoring business.
How to Protect Yourself and Increase Your Tutoring Clientele.
When they first commence working, independent tutors are often placed under intense scrutiny. Protecting yourself with personal and professional indemnity insurance is important, particularly if you have minimal or no credentials.
To build legitimacy, and protect yourself legally as a tutor, take the following official steps:
- Submit to a background check: although not required by law if you are only working with adults, it is a way of proving there is nothing illicit in your past
- If you will be working with children under 16, or with vulnerable adults, you may need to apply for a Working with Vulnerable People card
- Apply for an ABN if you are running a tutoring business. This is a requirement of Australian law. Seek advice if you are only tutoring casually, or through an agency
- Professional indemnity insurance will protect you against legal liability owing to perceived professional malpractice or misconduct. For example, if a client tries to sue you because of your teaching, your legal fees and compensation will be covered
- Advertise! Ensure all the information you provide, and the skills or qualifications you advertise, are honest and correct. You may be asked to provide proof of your qualifications at any time. Making false claims in advertising is illegal in Australia
Qualifications for Tutoring Exam-specific Subjects
To effectively tutor exam-specific subjects, such as those covered in Year 12 leaving certificates or International Baccalaureate courses, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of the subject matter and how it is assessed. Familiarizing yourself with the course structure, content, and assessment criteria can help you to better assist your students in achieving academic success.
To further enhance your knowledge of the syllabus, consider obtaining the main course texts for your subject, particularly if you specialize in tutoring at a specific academic level. This will allow you to better plan your lessons and increase your students' chances of improvement, resulting in positive reviews for you as a tutor.
It is also important to be familiar with the various course options available. For example, the curriculum and exams for Year 12 and International Baccalaureate courses can differ greatly. By understanding the assessment criteria and tailoring your lessons accordingly, you can ensure that you are teaching only what is required and avoid causing confusion for your students.
In addition, previous assessment papers and marking schemes can be a valuable resource in gaining familiarity with exam structures, allowing you to provide exam-focused and relevant assistance for your students. Specialized courses, such as ASbA, can also require adjusting teaching style, Therefore it is also important to have a general understanding of the course structure and any specific topics covered.
Being a Tutor with Superprof
Jumping headfirst into any business is daunting. Tips and advice are coming thick and fast, there are legal issues to consider, and ‘best practice’ sometimes seems unachievable.
Superprof makes becoming a tutor almost seem effortless!
Each Superprof tutor is provided with an online profile page that is used to connect students to the tutors they need.
Your profile page should have all the answers to client questions – from your teaching methodology and experience, through to your rates and the levels you cover.
You may also indicate where the tutoring will take place – in the student’s home, in yours, online or any other mutually agreed location.
You can upload any of your qualifications to Superprof and have them verified by our team. Once checked, you can advertise your qualifications and experience on your profile page to help attract potential clients.
As mentioned above, you may also choose to offer your first hour for free!
Webpages and advertisements are useful ways to promote your business, but they can be hard work. Superprof gives you both, with support, and there is also space for your students to post public testimonials.
You may also be interested in these articles - How to report your income as a home-tutor and whether you should obtain a DBS check.
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