Music Education Degrees and Teaching Qualifications

People often search for "music education degrees" when they actually want to teach music. Two separate things are involved: the academic programme you study, and the official permission to teach in schools, which in many places is issued by a government or a teaching council. This guide explains the difference. It does not promise that any degree will qualify you to teach, and it cannot say what is required where you live.

Academic study is not the same as teacher qualification

A music education degree is awarded by a school or university. A teaching licence, certificate or status is a separate credential issued by an official body, and the conditions for it are set by that body, not by the school. A programme may be designed to meet those conditions, may meet them only in one jurisdiction, or may not meet them at all. The name of the degree does not settle the question.

An example from England: QTS

The UK government states that qualified teacher status (QTS) is a legal requirement to teach in many English schools: it is required in maintained schools and non-maintained special schools, while academies, free schools and independent schools can employ teachers without it, though many still value it. Your initial teacher training provider reports your results, and QTS is then recorded on your teacher record. Teachers trained in Wales receive QTS from the Education Workforce Council, and those trained in Northern Ireland or Scotland apply through a separate service for QTS in England. The same page directs people trained outside the UK to separate guidance.

Notice what this shows. In England, the qualification to teach is separate from a subject degree, and the rules differ across the UK nations. Other countries have their own systems; the principle that you must check the local authority is the same.

Examples from schools

Some music schools run education majors. Berklee lists Music Education as a Bachelor of Music major, and Eastman mentions a Music Education programme with an MA graduate in its profiles. Whether these programmes lead to licensure depends on the school's approval status and on the state, province or country where you want to teach. Ask the school directly: which licence or certificate does this programme lead to, in which places, and are further exams or placements needed? A programme page that says "prepares" is not enough; look for a statement naming the approving body and the jurisdiction.

How teacher education is organised in Europe

The European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) publishes national overviews for 30 countries. They cover higher music education cycles, qualification systems and entry requirements, and also "instrumental and vocal music teacher education" and the education of music teachers in general schools. The overviews were produced in 2010 and updated in 2016, so treat them as background and confirm current rules with national authorities. In some systems, teaching an instrument in a specialist school and teaching music in a general school involve different qualifications.

Types of teaching goals

Different goals may use different routes:

• Classroom music teacher in general schools. Usually regulated by a national or regional body.
• Instrumental or vocal teacher in a music school or privately. Requirements vary, and in many places private teaching is not regulated at all, though that is not true everywhere. Check local rules.
• Teaching in higher education. Often requires a higher degree or doctorate set by the institution; see DMA versus PhD.
• Early childhood or community music. May fall under separate rules.

Checklist before applying

1. Name the country, state or province where you want to teach.
2. Find the official body that issues the licence or status for that place (a ministry, teaching council, state education agency).
3. Read its requirements: degree level, approved programme, subject knowledge, placements, exams, background checks.
4. Ask each school whether the programme is approved or recognised by that body, and in writing where possible.
5. If you will study in one country and teach in another, ask that second body whether and how it recognises foreign study. This varies and cannot be assumed.
6. Plan for further steps that come after the degree.

Combining music study and teacher training

Some routes allow a first degree in music followed by postgraduate teacher training; others combine both in one programme. Which is available depends on the country. Compare BM versus BA and MM versus MA, and read music certificates, diplomas and degrees for the vocabulary. Awards named alike differ by country, and no equivalence is claimed.

Online options

Some music education programmes are delivered online, but practical placements in schools are usually local, and licence rules may restrict which online programmes count. See online music education programmes and online music study.

Using this site

Our listings show the award a school names and what we verified on its page; the methodology explains how. We do not state that a programme leads to licensure unless the school's page names the approving body. For the general framework, see choosing a music school, and for a related regulated field, music therapy education pathways.