Teacher training - basic and specialist teacher training - Latvia

Teachers are trained at the higher education level. To become a teacher a person should enter university or college and complete a full course of professional studies (4 -5 years). Teacher training comprises several components:

• general education studies;
• studies related to specific subject;
• professional studies.

The qualification of special teacher can be acquired in several ways:

• by completing 4 or 4.5 year professional study programme concerning  a specific disability;
• via a 2,5 year study programme (80-93 credits) for teachers who already have a teacher qualification;
• through masters study programmes;
• through in-service training courses for teachers with qualifications in some other subjects (72 study hours).