Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between Teacher and Professor

Teacher vs Professor
 

Though there is a definite difference between a Teacher and a Professor, the two terms are sometimes interchanged as they both belong to the teaching profession. A teacher is one who teaches various subjects at a school. On the other hand, a professor teaches at a college or in a university. This is the main difference between teacher and professor. Other than this difference, there are a number of other differences between a teacher and a professor with regard to tasks, educational qualifications, salaries, etc. However, what they do have in common is the fact that they are both engaged in the act of disseminating knowledge to others. Both are expected to guide their students.

Who is a Teacher?

A teacher is a person who is employed in a school to teach children. The number of subjects a teacher teaches can change. Usually, a teacher teaches a single subject. However, in Kindergarten, a single teacher usually teaches all the subjects. A teacher in a school is qualified with or without a research degree. Usually what a teacher needs is the teaching certificate to teach. Some private schools may not even ask for that qualification.

Without any differentiation, any person who teaches at school is called a teacher. A school teacher is either a trained graduate teacher or a post graduate teacher. A trained graduate teacher is called as a TGT, whereas a post graduate teacher is called as PGT. The salary drawn by a teacher in a school is lower.

When it comes to the tasks of the teacher, there are several important ones. The teacher is expected to provide adequate knowledge in his or her subject to the students. He or she is supposed to test the knowledge of the children using tests and exams. The teacher also has to pay special attention to slow learners and coach them. The teacher is also supposed to help a child grow morally too. The teacher is also expected to look out for children and help them if they are undergoing any personal or family problems.

Who is a Professor?

A professor is the highest ranking position in a university. To become a university professor, a person should have their PhD. For that matter, any person gets an appointment as a professor in a college only if he has a research degree to his credit. Otherwise, he is not eligible to apply for the post of lecturer or a professor in a college. Moreover, any person who has worked as a teacher in a school is eligible to earn a research degree studying part time and become a professor in a college. On the other hand, a professor who has retired from a college or a university can work in a school too, if he desires.

Sometimes, the word professor refers to a lecturer who teaches at the university only. This is special in Europe and even in Commonwealth countries. Any educator who teaches at a college is called by the name lecturer. Sometimes, the head of the department in a college alone is called a professor. All other educators who teach in the department are called as lecturers only. In US and Canada, people with doctorate degrees and teaches at four-year colleges and universities are called professors without a difference.You have to understand that these situations happen because of the different ideas people have about the position of professor in different countries. The salary drawn by a professor is higher than a teacher.

A professor has some special tasks to perform. He or she is expected to conduct lectures in his or her field of specialty. They must do research in their field of interest to improve the field. They have to mentor graduate students during their academic training period. If they are the head of a department, they should also manage all the tasks related to the department.

What is the difference between Teacher and Professor?

• Definition of Teacher and Professor:

• Teacher is a person who teaches at a school.

• On the other hand, a professor teaches at a college or in a university.

• Educational Qualifications:

• A teacher may only need to have the certificate of teaching that is awarded in every country.

• A professor should have a doctorate degree.

• Place of Teaching:

• A teacher is one who teaches various subjects in a school.

• On the other hand, a professor teaches at a college or in a university.

• Subjects:

• A teacher can be teaching one subject or multiple subjects as in a Kindergarten.

• A professor only teaches a single subject.

• Tasks:

• Teacher:

• Teacher provides adequate knowledge in his or her subject to the students.

• He or she is supposed to test the knowledge of the children using tests and exams.

• The teacher also has to pay special attention to slow learners and coach them.

• The teacher is also supposed to help a child grow morally too.

• The teacher is also expected to look out for children and help them if they are undergoing any personal or family problems.

• Professor:

• He or she is expected to conduct lectures in their field of specialty.

• They must do research in their field of interest to improve the field.

• They have to mentor graduate students during their academic training period.

• If they are the head of a department, they should also manage all the tasks related to the department.

• Salary:

• A professor gets a higher salary than a teacher.

These are the major differences between the two important words that are often confused, namely teacher and professor.

Images Courtesy:

  1. Teacher via Wikicommons (Public Domain)
  2. Professor by Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (CC BY-SA 2.0)