Teacher job description template: grade and subject, certification route, the school day and the teacher exemption
On this page
- Name the seat: grade band, subject and school type
- Certification lines, with sources
- The teacher exemption, and what it does not cover
- The teacher job description template
- Pay and EEO
- From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
- Common mistakes in teacher job descriptions
- Before you publish
- Questions people ask
"Teacher wanted, certification required, must love working with children" tells a candidate almost nothing. Is it seventh-grade math with five sections and 150 students, or a self-contained third-grade class? Is it a district school that needs a state certificate in the subject, a charter that hires career changers, or a private school that does not require a license? Is there a common planning period, a curriculum to follow or a blank page? A useful teacher job description names the grade band, the subject, the school type, the certificate and the routes you accept, the shape of the school day and the duties beyond teaching. Below are the seat types, the certification and classification lines with sources, a copy-ready template, screening and scorecard rows, and the mistakes that leave classrooms empty in August. For the interview rounds, see the interview guide for teachers.
Not legal advice. The certification and overtime points below were checked against the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Texas Education Agency, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and 29 CFR 541.303 as of October 2026. Certification rules change often and differ for charter and private schools; confirm them with your state education agency.
Name the seat: grade band, subject and school type
| Seat | What the day looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary classroom (self-contained) | One group of students all day, all core subjects, close family contact | Certificate for the grade band; early literacy and math instruction |
| Secondary subject teacher | Five or six sections, one or two preps, 120 to 180 students (example range) | Certificate in the subject; managing several classes and grading load |
| Special education | Resource, inclusion or self-contained settings, IEP meetings, aides to direct | Special education certificate; writing and following IEPs; see special education teacher screening questions |
| Career and technical education | Shop, lab or industry courses, equipment, industry certifications for students | Industry experience plus the CTE certificate the state uses |
| Private or independent school | Smaller classes, more advising, often coaching or boarding duties | Degree in the subject; the school's own expectations for licensure |
Then settle the facts candidates compare: class sizes, number of preps, planning periods, the curriculum (adopted, scripted or teacher-built), the contract days and hours, and the duties beyond teaching. Label any example numbers as typical for your school, not promises.
Certification lines, with sources
Public schools. BLS says all states require public school teachers to be licensed or certified for the grade level they teach, that requirements usually include a minimum GPA, student teaching, a background check and subject tests, that private school teachers typically are not required to be licensed, and that all states offer an alternative route to certification for people who already hold a bachelor's degree (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 27, 2026).
Texas, as an example. The Texas Education Agency lists five steps for classroom teachers: a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, an approved educator preparation program (a university program or, for degree holders, an alternative certification or post-baccalaureate program), passing the appropriate certification exams, the state application, and fingerprinting for a national criminal background check for first-time applicants (TEA, becoming a classroom teacher). Certificates can be checked with TEA certificate lookup.
California, as an example. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues Multiple Subject and Single Subject teaching credentials, special education credentials and a PK-3 early childhood specialist credential, and lists district intern, university intern and early completion intern options (CTC teaching credentials). A California posting should name the credential, not just "certified teacher."
What this means for the posting: name the certificate area and grade band, say whether you accept candidates in an alternative route or intern program, and say whether out-of-state certificates are welcome while the candidate applies for yours.
The teacher exemption, and what it does not cover
Federal overtime rules treat an employee whose primary duty is teaching, tutoring, instructing or lecturing in an educational establishment as an exempt professional, and the salary level and salary basis requirements do not apply to these teachers. A teaching certificate is a clear way to identify them, but an uncertified teacher can still qualify, and faculty who coach or advise activities such as drama, debate or journalism remain teachers (29 CFR 541.303; DOL Fact Sheet 17D). The rule covers teachers, not every school employee: aides, tutors employed by a company that is not an educational establishment and summer program staff need their own review. State law can differ.
The teacher job description template
[Grade / Subject] Teacher — [School], [District / Charter
Network / Private School], [city, state]
School year [YYYY–YY], [N]-day contract, [start date]
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per year on the [salary schedule, placement by
years of experience and degree], plus [stipends for (duties)].
[Benefits summary, if required.]
SUMMARY
You will teach [subject / grade] to about [N] students in [N]
sections ([N] preps), with an average class of about [N]. You will
have [N] planning periods a [day / week] and [common planning with
(team)]. We use [curriculum: adopted / district-built / teacher-
built]. You will report to [principal / department chair].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Plan and teach lessons from [curriculum] to [standards].
- Assess students, give feedback, and keep grades current in
[system] by [deadline].
- Adjust instruction for students with IEPs, 504 plans and
English learners, working with [support staff].
- Communicate with families [how often, how].
- Follow mandated reporting duties and student privacy rules.
- [Duties: (lunch / bus / hall) duty (frequency); (club / coach)
with stipend $N.]
YOU MUST HAVE
- Bachelor's degree.
- [State] [certificate area and grade band], [or enrollment in an
approved alternative route / intern program with (conditions)],
[or an out-of-state certificate with an application for ours].
- Ability to perform the duties above, with or without reasonable
accommodation.
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience teaching [subject / grade / population].
- [Bilingual certification / ESL endorsement / (language).]
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
FIXED CONDITIONS
- Offer subject to certification verification and [fingerprint-
based background check, other checks] required by [state].
HOW WE HIRE
[Screen; interview with (panel); a demo lesson of [N] minutes on
(topic) with (real students / adults); reference checks.]
[EEO STATEMENT]
Need an adjustment to apply or interview? Contact [address].Pay and EEO
Many public schools pay on a published salary schedule; link to it or state the placement rule, and list each stipend. Check pay transparency laws by state. BLS publishes teacher pay data in its Handbook profiles by grade level; this page does not quote figures. Close with a short EEO statement and an accommodation contact.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certification | "Which certificate areas and grade bands do you hold, in which state, or where are you in your program?" | Not scored: verified with the state agency | Exact area and grade band; dates for any exam or program step left |
| Planning and instruction | "Walk me through how you planned a unit you taught last year. How did you know students learned it?" | Instructional planning | Starts from the standard, plans assessments, adjusts after checking data |
| Classroom management | "Tell me about a class that was hard to manage. What did you change, and what happened?" | Classroom environment | Specific routines and relationships, measured change, no blame |
| Differentiation | "How did you adjust a lesson for a student with an IEP and an English learner in the same class?" | Meeting student needs | Follows the IEP, names concrete supports, works with specialists |
| Families | "Describe a difficult conversation with a parent or guardian. How did it end?" | Family communication | Listened, shared evidence, agreed a next step, followed up |
To find candidates, use Boolean search strings for teachers. The first months of a new hire are laid out in the 30-60-90 day plan for teachers.
Common mistakes in teacher job descriptions
"Certified teacher" with no area or grade band
Certificates are issued by subject and grade. A posting that does not name them brings applicants you cannot place.
Shutting out alternative routes by accident
If you hire career changers through an alternative route or intern program, say so. Many strong candidates assume they are not eligible.
No class size, preps or planning time
These numbers are how teachers judge workload. Leaving them out reads as a warning.
Hidden duties
Lunch, bus and hall duty, clubs and coaching are part of the job at many schools. List them with any stipend.
An unstructured demo lesson
A demo lesson works only if every candidate gets the same topic, time, audience and rubric. Tell candidates in advance.
Before you publish
- Grade band, subject, school type and contract dates are in the summary.
- The certificate line names the area and the routes you accept.
- Class sizes, preps, planning time and duties are stated.
- The salary schedule or range and stipends are clear.
- Required checks, the EEO statement and an accommodation contact close the posting.
Questions people ask
Does a teacher need to be certified to apply?
For public schools, BLS says all states require teachers to be licensed or certified for the grade level they teach, and every state offers an alternative route for people who already have a bachelor's degree. Private schools typically do not require a license. Say which certificate the seat needs and whether candidates enrolled in an alternative route or intern program can apply.
Are teachers exempt from overtime?
Under federal law, an employee whose primary duty is teaching in an educational establishment is an exempt professional, and the salary level and salary basis requirements do not apply to bona fide teachers (29 CFR 541.303). A certificate is a clear marker, but an uncertified teacher can still qualify. Other school staff, such as aides, are judged under their own duties. Check state law, which can differ.
Should the posting list extra duties like coaching or clubs?
Yes. State which duties are expected (bus, lunch or hall duty, clubs, coaching) and which are paid by stipend. The federal teacher exemption treats faculty who advise extracurricular activities as teachers, but candidates still want to know the time it takes and what it pays.
What background checks apply to teachers?
States set them. Texas, for example, requires first-time certification applicants to be fingerprinted for a national criminal background check. Districts often run their own checks for every employee. Name the checks in the posting as fixed conditions rather than writing a blanket line about criminal history.