High school students are in a sensitive period of their lives with a lot of worries, so someone who can treat them with deep love and patience is suitable for this position. They also need help in deciding their future career paths, so people with broad perspectives and leadership skills are in demand.

Since high school subjects are divided into more detailed categories than junior high school subjects, it is essential to have superior expertise and teaching skills. In addition to teaching subjects, teachers are also involved in club activities, school events, and, if they are homeroom teachers, they must also provide career guidance to individual students and consult with their parents. As each student is unique, so too is the way in which he or she is dealt with. It is necessary to be sensitive to social trends and to be mindful of giving appropriate advice.

The first step is to obtain a first-class license at a university or to obtain a specialized license through graduate school. Licenses are subject-specific, so when choosing a university to enter, it is necessary to check whether it has a teaching program in the subject you wish to teach. Once you have obtained your license, the examinations you will take will differ depending on whether you want to teach at a public or private high school. If you wish to teach at a public high school, you must take the employment candidate selection examination administered by the board of education of each prefecture. After passing the exam, your name will be registered on the candidate list and you will be interviewed to determine your employment. Although the competition rate (ratio of applicants to applicants) for public high schools has been decreasing year by year, the national average for 2020 was 6.1 times, making it a very competitive field. Some private high schools use the results of aptitude tests for private school teachers administered by the Association of Private Junior and Senior High Schools as a reference for employment selection.

The credits required for a teaching license can also be obtained through distance learning at universities. Note, however, that the types and subjects that can be earned are different from those of regular undergraduate courses.

In addition to the small number of students hired each year, the number of high schools has begun to decrease in recent years as the number of students declines, thus reducing the number of job opportunities in the first place. The number of students is expected to continue to decline in the future, and the employment situation is not encouraging. More and more schools are focusing on languages, computers, programming, etc., so students need to make an effort to have specialized knowledge.

In the case of public high schools, they follow the regulations set by each local government, which varies from region to region. Private high schools also vary by the governing body. The average annual salary for all high school teachers is approximately 5.3 million yen (average age 43.9 years).

Public high schools are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. In addition, there are paid vacations based on the number of years each employee has worked. However, many students are required to work on Saturdays and Sundays to prepare for classes, to be on duty, or to advise club activities. For this reason, it is possible to take a break during long school vacations, such as summer and winter vacations. Nevertheless, during long vacations such as summer vacation, students go to work as usual, just without classes. Private schools are basically the same as public schools, but the reality varies from school to school, such as having Saturday off every other week or only once a month.

Public or private high school.

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to a job as a high school teacher!