How Many APS Points Do You Need for Teaching?

Choose the teaching phase first

A teaching qualification can prepare you for a particular phase of schooling. Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase and Further Education and Training routes are not interchangeable labels. Before looking for an APS number, identify the age group and subjects you want to teach. Then locate the exact qualification title and intake. A threshold copied from a Foundation Phase course should not be assumed to apply to a Senior Phase subject specialisation.

Language conditions can be central

Teaching programmes can specify a language of learning and teaching and another language requirement. Record which language must be at Home Language level and which can be First Additional Language. A total can be high while the required language mark is below its separate minimum. Keep both marks in the calculation and compare them individually. The language route can also affect which teaching specialisations are available.

The mathematics route still matters

Some teaching options accept Mathematical Literacy under a stated condition, while subject-specialist routes may require Mathematics. Do not assume that acceptance of Mathematical Literacy for one phase means it can be used for a Mathematics teaching specialisation. Keep the subject name and mark visible. A programme may also set a different score target depending on the mathematics route, so the total and the route must be checked together.

Life Orientation can have a specific exception

For WSU BEd Foundation Phase, the published calculation adds LO as a seventh subject after the language and other-subject calculation. That exception should not be described as a rule for every WSU Education programme. UMP’s BEd Foundation Phase page describes a half-weight LO level. These are different methods. Comparing their headline totals directly, or substituting a standard six-subject score, would miss an important part of the calculation.

What to record for each teaching option

Build a row with university, qualification code, phase, specialisation, intake and calculation method. Add the score condition, required language levels, accepted mathematics route and any subject-specific conditions. Where a requirement is unclear, leave the comparison unresolved until it is confirmed. Do not fill the gap with a number from a third-party summary or another teaching phase. This approach produces a more useful shortlist than a single national teaching-APS table.

Use worked examples responsibly

A calculator example explains how a method works; it is not a suggested minimum for teaching. For example, a group of academic marks can produce one result with LO excluded and a higher result when a particular programme adds LO. The changed total does not prove that the learner meets a language or Mathematics condition. Read the included-subject table and the programme checklist after each calculation.

Alternative study routes and previous learning

Applicants with a prior qualification or a different school certificate may need a route other than a school-leaver APS comparison. Recognition of prior learning, credit transfer and professional qualification requirements are separate matters. A higher certificate should not be described as automatic access to a BEd unless that pathway is confirmed. Identify the exact route that applies to your background rather than forcing every application into the same matric form.

Plan the practical side of teacher education

Consider the learning schedule, travel and other costs associated with the programme you select, including any practical placement arrangements described by the institution. A points calculator cannot budget for those commitments or secure a placement. Keep the academic entry check and the financial plan separate. After submission, follow the university process for application updates and use the official outcome to establish whether an offer has been made.

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