- 2015Approved/Agreed
- 2019Pilot
- 2020Pilot
- 2021Pilot
- 2022Pilot
- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
Background
In the 2010s, a series of attempts to improve initial teacher training took place in Romania, aiming to ensure that teachers can cope with all the challenges and expectations of a rapidly changing society. Efforts have been made to implement the master qualification for the teaching profession as an alternative to the current psycho-pedagogical modules delivered by the teacher training departments within universities. It was introduced for enhancing the teacher's professional career in 2011.
Objectives
To raise teaching quality standards and implement a master programme for the teaching profession as part of initial teacher training.
Description
A master degree has been legally required as a condition for entering the teaching profession since 2011 (Education Law), but the implementation of this provision did not start in 2015-16 as planned, leaving it as an option.
The law was revised in May 2015, focusing on the organisation and implementation of a master of arts (MA) for the teaching profession: a 2-year programme including academic studies, practical training (throughout three semesters) and research (linked to the MA dissertation). A programme had been elaborated based on the professional standards for the teaching profession, but several attempts to implement it have been unfruitful.
Currently, teacher qualification requirements include a bachelor diploma and psycho-pedagogical training (30 credits); and, for upper secondary and postsecondary level, also master degree and additional psycho-pedagogical training. Alternative to psycho-pedagogical training modules and a subject-related master degree, is bachelor and master degrees in the teaching profession.
In 2019, a working group was established at the Ministry of Education and Research to find solutions for improving quality in education.
The master degree for the teaching profession was decided to be a part of the initial teacher training and will be introduced as a pilot programme supported by a few universities. Students who want to pursue a teaching career should acquire competences specific to the teaching profession, supported by the teaching practice.
The implementation of the degree, as a means to enrich the initial teacher training with skills and competences more appropriate for today's students, is to be piloted in 2020-21. 400 trainee teachers have enrolled in the relevant programmes in four universities.
The education ministry also appointed two expert working groups: one to define a model and the second to define the profile of the teacher; the latter group has already developed a questionnaire that has been made available to teachers, parents and students.
An extensive review of the way in which the training of teaching staff is organised in Romania was launched. The teacher's profile is to be elaborated based on the results of a public opinion questionnaire developed by the Ministry of Education and Research. The teacher profile stands as the basis for the development of a professional training programme.
The process of developing this skills profile comprises several activities, including a public consultation of interested parties, through a questionnaire available on the website.
In 2020, the education ministry launched the project Start in career through didactic master/ the master for the teaching career, which was a pilot for supporting the initial training of teachers for pre-university education. The project offered full-time programmes of didactic master studies in eight universities.
In October 2020, 400 bachelor degree holders seeking a teaching career enrolled in the university master degree teaching programme, in the form of full-time education. They received a monthly scholarship of approx. EUR 482 for the entire period of the programme.
The project aimed to improve the quality and efficiency of tertiary education, diversify education offer, and improve the level of teacher skills in tertiary education.
Eight universities offer the didactic master degree:
- Polytechnic University of Bucharest - 50 places,
- University of Bucharest - 50 places,
- Academy of Economic Studies from Bucharest - 50 places,
- Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca - 50 places,
- Ovidius University of Constanta - 50 places,
- University of Craiova - 50 places,
- Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi - 50 places,
- West University of Timisoara - 50 places.
The implementation of the pilot programme for the teaching career through the didactic master/master for the teaching career continued.
The implementation of the pilot programme for the teaching career through the didactic master/master for the teaching career continued.
In 2022/23, there were seven main universities which implemented a total of 41 accredited master programmes for the teaching profession.
The education ministry also updated and approved the methodology on necessary competences to be certified in the teaching profession by accredited teacher training departments in universities.
The implementation of the master programme for the teaching career/didactic master takes place in the university academic year 2023-24, at national level and registers 38 accredited programmes within universities in Romania, based on the Governmental Decision no. 651 from 2023.
Another way to access the teaching career, besides the didactic master, was by attending psycho-pedagogical training programmes in 2023/24 academic year in 56 universities certifying skills for the teaching profession (levels I and II). The list of universities is annually updated and approved by the education ministry.
The provisions of the new Higher Education Law (Art. 102) continues to consider that the initial training for teaching positions in pre-university education is to be carried out in higher education institutions, through the following types of programmes:
- the university psycho-pedagogical training programme for pre-university education of 30 ECTS/SECT transferable study credits;
- bachelor's degree programme in the specialisation Early education, respectively in the specialisation Pedagogy of primary education;
- the didactic master's university study programme of 60 ECTS/SECT transferable study credits;
- the didactic bachelor's degree programme with double specialisation;
- professional conversion postgraduate study programme for teaching staff;
- the integrated didactic master's degree programme of 90 ECTS/SECT transferable study credits;
- master's degree programme in special psycho-pedagogy, respectively master's degree programmes in school and career counselling.
Completion of undergraduate degree programmes with double specialisation, the psycho-pedagogical training programme and the didactic master's degree programme allowed graduates access, according to the legal provisions, to a teaching career in pre-university education for subjects from the specialisation/s pursued.
In 2024-25, 35 didactic master programmes were available for future teachers at national level. 57 universities offered psycho-pedagogical training programmes for teachers to certify their teaching skills (levels I and II). This is an increase from 55 in 2022 and 56 in 2023.
The psycho-pedagogical training programmes that are not included in Order of the Ministry of Education no. 6569/2024, were being liquidated.
To ensure coherence between the two education laws issued in 2023, the conditions to qualify for a teaching position were stipulated also in the Law on Pre-University Education (Law no.198/2003), Article 176.
Bodies responsible
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of National Education (until 2021)
Target groups
Learners
- Adult learners
Education professionals
- Teachers
- Trainers
- Adult educators
Thematic categories
Teachers, trainers and school leaders competences
Competent and motivated VET teachers in schools and trainers in companies are crucial to VET becoming innovative and relevant, agile, resilient, flexible, inclusive and lifelong.
This thematic category comprises policies and practices of initial training and continuing professional development approaches in a systemic and systematic manner. It also looks at measures aiming to update (entry) requirements and make teaching and training careers attractive and bring more young and talented individuals and business professionals into teaching and training. Supporting VET educators by equipping them with adequate competences, skills and tools for the green transition and digital teaching and learning are addressed in separate thematic sub-categories.
The measures in this category target teachers and school leaders, company trainers and mentors, adult educators and guidance practitioners.
This thematic sub-category refers to all kinds of initial and continuing professional development (CPD) for VET educators who work in vocational schools and in companies providing VET. VET educators include teachers and school leaders, trainers and company managers involved in VET, as well as adult educators and guidance practitioners – those who work in school- and work-based settings. The thematic sub-category includes national strategies, training programmes or individual courses to address the learning needs of VET educators and to develop their vocational (technical) skills, and pedagogical (teaching) skills and competences. Such programmes concern state-of-the-art vocational pedagogy, innovative teaching methods, and competences needed to address evolving teaching environments, e.g. teaching in multicultural settings, working with learners at risk of early leaving, etc.
This thematic sub-category refers to measures aimed at engaging more professionals into teaching and training careers, including career schemes or incentives. It includes measures enabling teaching and training of staff, managing VET provider and trainer teams in companies to act as multipliers and mediators, and supporting their peers and/or local communities.
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Master degree for the teaching profession: Romania. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/28519