Teaching in Israel generally requires an Israeli teaching certificate. If you have a teaching certificate or academic degree from another country, you can join an accelerated program for olim, in order to obtain an Israeli Teudat Horaah. In some cases, schools will hire you while you are studying or even before you begin, especially if they are a private school or have a severe shortage of teachers in a specific subject.
One of the advantages of working as a teacher in Israel is that there is a teacher shortage all over the country, so jobs are certainly available. These are the steps to take in order to find a job:
- Open a file at Misrad HaChinuch. Upload your documentation, so that as soon as you are offered a job, you’ll be ready to go.
- Join local and regional WhatsApp groups that publicize jobs in your location. Teachers who live in your area should be able to get you information on what’s out there and how to join.
- Join Facebook groups for educators that teach the subjects you’re qualified to teach. In these groups, you’ll find job postings alongside professional discussions.
- Consider applying for a maternity leave position. This is a great way to get your foot in the door. In a school where multiple teachers go on maternity leave at various times during the year, this type of position can end up being a year-long job.
- Check out job listings on the Misrad HaChinuch website, your city’s website and other job sites.
- Contact schools directly. Make a list of schools you would consider teaching at, call their offices and send your CV. Changes happen at the last minute, and you want the schools to have your information on file when they suddenly discover they have a need.
- As in any job search, networking will give you an edge. Reach out to friends, family and social media contacts. Let them know what kind of job you’re looking for and ask them to keep you in mind if they hear of anything relevant. Also ask them to connect you to teachers, principals, school secretaries and supervisors who might know of relevant positions.
Schools in Israel tend to follow a two-step process for hiring new teachers. They will conduct an interview and also ask the prospective teacher to teach a sample lesson. During the summer, when there are no students to teach, a new teacher might be hired based only on an interview.
Salaries in public schools are not negotiable and are set according to parameters like degrees, seniority, age of students, whether the students are special ed and other factors. All teachers are eligible to open a Keren Hishtalmut (study fund), which can be used for a sabbatical year or (with some restrictions) for other purposes. The responsibility for opening the fund is on the employee, so don’t forget to take care of this as soon as you are hired.
Wishing you luck in your job search and in your teaching career!
