What Is a Teacher Training School Also Called? Normal School, Teachers College, ITE/ITT Explained

You clicked because you want the short, straight answer: a teacher training school is often called a normal school (historically), a teachers college, a school or faculty of education, a college of education, an institute of education, or-especially in the UK and Australia-an ITE/ITT provider (Initial Teacher Education/Initial Teacher Training). The exact label changes by country and by era, which is why search results can feel messy. I’ll give you the names, the regional quirks, and a simple way to find the right program fast-and verify it’s legit.

TL;DR: What a Teacher Training School Is Also Called

If you only need the names, here’s the quick list you can copy into your search bar, depending on where you are:

• Normal School (historical term; still in some university names worldwide-e.g., Beijing Normal University, Philippine Normal University)
• Teachers College / College of Education / School or Faculty of Education (common across North America, Africa, Asia)
• Institute of Education (used in several countries; example: University of London’s Institute of Education historically)
• Teacher Preparation Program or Teacher Prep Program (USA)
• Initial Teacher Training (ITT) or Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Provider (UK, Australia, New Zealand)
• SCITT (School-Centered Initial Teacher Training, UK), PGCE/PGDE Provider (UK and some Commonwealth contexts)
• DIET (District Institute of Education and Training, India-primary/elementary focus); B.Ed College (India)
• College of Education with NCE (Nigeria-National Certificate in Education), TRCN-registered provider

Want a one-line rule of thumb? In North America, you’ll usually see “Faculty/School of Education” or “Teachers College.” In the UK/Australia, you’ll see ITT/ITE providers (PGCE/PGDE, BA/BSc with QTS, etc.). In India, look for B.Ed colleges, DIETs, and NCTE recognition. In many countries, “normal school” is now a legacy name attached to modern universities.

Step-by-step: Find the Right Term and Program

I live in Vancouver, and even here the names vary by province and level. Here’s a simple flow that works anywhere.

1. Pick your country first. Names change with the regulator. For example, in Canada you’ll search “Faculty of Education B.Ed,” in the UK “PGCE/PGDE provider” or “SCITT,” in India “NCTE approved B.Ed college,” and in the US “teacher preparation program + state name.”
2. Choose your teaching level. Primary/elementary vs. secondary vs. early childhood vs. special education. Providers often specialize or run different tracks. Add that to your query: “elementary B.Ed,” “secondary PGCE physics,” “ECE certificate.”
3. Use the local keywords.
   • USA: “school of education,” “teacher preparation program,” “CAEP accredited,” “credential program.”
   • Canada: “faculty of education,” “B.Ed,” “teacher education program,” “practicum.”
   • UK: “ITT provider,” “PGCE/PGDE,” “QTS,” “SCITT,” “Ofsted rating.”
   • Australia/NZ: “ITE provider,” “AITSL accredited,” “Bachelor of Teaching/Education,” “practicum.”
   • India: “NCTE recognized B.Ed college,” “DIET” (elementary), “CTE” (College of Teacher Education).
   • Nigeria: “College of Education,” “NCE,” “TRCN accredited.”
4. Verify accreditation/approval first, not last. Look for the national or state body named explicitly:
   • USA: CAEP/State Education Department approval (e.g., New York State Education Department).
   • Canada: Provincial teacher regulator or ministry (e.g., British Columbia Teacher Regulation Branch).
   • UK: Department for Education (DfE) accreditation; Ofsted inspection grades for providers.
   • Australia: AITSL framework via state/territory teacher regulatory authorities.
   • India: NCTE recognition; state university affiliation.
   • Nigeria: TRCN/NERDC frameworks; NCCE standards for Colleges of Education.
5. Decide your pathway. Undergraduate (B.Ed, B.A./B.Sc. with QTS), postgraduate (PGCE/PGDE, MAT, M.Ed with certification), or alternative routes (e.g., residencies, SCITT in the UK, district-led programs in the US). Each has different timelines and practicum intensity.
6. Check the practicum details. Hours, setting, mentor support, and assessment model matter more than the brand name. Good programs are explicit about supervised classroom hours and mentor criteria.
7. Shortlist using two filters: (1) employment outcomes in your target region; (2) fit with your life-schedule, location, cost, specialization. If the info is vague, that’s a red flag.

Practical search strings you can paste right now:

• “PGCE provider Ofsted outstanding secondary English”
• “B.Ed elementary site:edu faculty of education practicum Canada”
• “CAEP accredited teacher preparation program California”
• “NCTE recognized B.Ed college list 2025 state name”
• “AITSL accredited ITE provider Bachelor of Teaching NSW”
• “College of Education NCE TRCN Nigeria list”

Examples and Country-specific Names

Names aren’t just labels; they signal the route to licensure and the kind of award you’ll earn. A few grounded examples, so you can map what you see on a website to what it actually means.

United States. You’ll find “School/College of Education” offering teacher preparation programs. Licensure is state-based. Programs should be approved by the state’s education department and often accredited by CAEP. Common awards: BA/BS with certification, post-bacc certification, MAT, or M.Ed with certification. You might also see “teacher residency” models run with a district partner. If a provider can’t name the state approval or the licensure exam sequence (Praxis or state-specific), walk away.

Canada. Universities run “Faculties of Education” with B.Ed programs for initial certification; post-degree B.Ed is common if you already have a bachelor’s. Provinces regulate certification (e.g., in British Columbia, the Teacher Regulation Branch). Practicum is a big deal here-expect clear hour counts and school placements. If you’re in Vancouver like me, a typical search is “B.Ed Faculty of Education BC practicum.”

United Kingdom. The terms to watch are ITT/ITE provider, PGCE/PGDE, QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), and SCITT (school-centered). University-led and school-led routes both exist. Providers have Ofsted grades; an “Outstanding” rating is a strong signal, but look at subject-specific outcomes too. A PGCE adds a postgraduate academic award on top of QTS; some routes award QTS without a PGCE.

Australia and New Zealand. Providers are “ITE” providers. Programs align to AITSL standards. Typical awards include Bachelor of Education/Teaching for undergrad and Graduate Diplomas or Master of Teaching for postgrad. Check state regulatory authority recognition (e.g., NSW Education Standards Authority).

India. For elementary, DIETs and CTEs are common; for secondary, look for B.Ed colleges affiliated with a recognized university and approved by NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education). You may also see D.El.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education). Always confirm NCTE recognition and state affiliation.

Nigeria. “Colleges of Education” grant the NCE (National Certificate in Education) for teaching in basic education. Universities offer B.Ed/PGDE for higher levels. Verify alignment with TRCN (Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria) requirements.

Europe (selected notes). In France, the historic label was “École normale,” now replaced by modern structures (INSPEs) inside universities. In Germany, teacher education is university-based with state examinations (Referendariat follows). Names emphasize “Lehramt” programs rather than “teacher training school.”

Latin America and the Philippines. “Normal” remains visible in institutional names (e.g., Philippine Normal University). In practice these are fully fledged universities or teacher education institutions, not legacy normal schools.

Cheat Sheet and Quick Checks

Quick glossary you’ll see in listings:

• Normal School: 19th/early 20th century label for teacher training institutions. Survives in some university names.
• Teachers College / College of Education / Faculty of Education: The unit that runs teacher education programs at a university.
• ITT/ITE Provider: The UK/Aus/NZ term for organizations authorized to deliver initial teacher training/education.
• SCITT: School-Centered Initial Teacher Training (UK). Training is delivered mainly by schools with university partners.
• PGCE/PGDE: Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Education often paired with QTS or local teaching status.
• QTS/QTLS: Qualified Teacher Status (schools) / Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (post-16) in England.
• B.Ed, MAT, M.Ed: Common awards used for initial or advanced teacher education depending on region.
• DIET/CTE (India): District Institute/College of Teacher Education, usually for primary teacher preparation.
• NCE (Nigeria): National Certificate in Education from Colleges of Education.

Five-minute validation routine:

1. Is the provider named on the official regulator’s list (DfE, CAEP/state board, AITSL/state authority, NCTE, TRCN)? If you can’t find it, pause.
2. Do they publish practicum requirements (hours, settings, supervision, assessment)? Good providers brag about this.
3. Do they state the exact license/status you’ll be eligible for (QTS, state teaching certificate, NCE, PRC eligibility)? Vague = risk.
4. Are employment outcomes transparent (placement rates, first-year support, induction/mentoring)?
5. Does the pathway match your background (undergrad vs. postgrad vs. alternative route)?

Heuristics and pro tips:

• If the site leans on inspirational language but hides accreditation, assume it’s not approved.
• UK: Ofsted “Outstanding/Good” is helpful, but scan recent subject reports too; they can differ by discipline.
• US: District partnerships and residency models often boost classroom readiness; check mentor selection criteria.
• India: Cross-check NCTE recognition by state and course intake; compare university affiliation codes.
• Nigeria: Confirm TRCN registration pathway; ask how the program helps you prep for TRCN exams.
• Everywhere: Practicum quality beats brand prestige. A clear, mentored, assessed placement is the best predictor of confidence in year one.

Decision path (no diagram needed):

• 1) Choose location → 2) Pick level/subject → 3) Pick route (undergrad/postgrad/alt) → 4) Verify regulator recognition → 5) Compare practicum + outcomes → 6) Pick the best fit you can realistically complete.

Mini-FAQ

Is “normal school” still a thing?
Mostly as a historical term or in legacy names (e.g., Beijing Normal University). In contemporary usage, training now happens in universities or accredited providers with modern titles like Faculty of Education or ITE provider.

What’s the difference between a teachers college and a school/faculty of education?
Functionally similar. It’s about the university’s branding. Both run teacher education programs that lead to licensure, assuming accreditation is in place.

Is a PGCE the same as a provider?
No. PGCE is the academic award. The provider is the university or SCITT delivering the training and helping you earn QTS (in England) alongside the PGCE.

ITT vs. ITE-what’s the difference?
They’re used interchangeably. “Training” vs. “Education” signals emphasis, but both refer to initial preparation of new teachers.

In India, are “teacher training institutes” real colleges?
Some are; the key is NCTE recognition and university affiliation. Without those, your B.Ed or D.El.Ed may not be valid for government teaching jobs.

How do I verify a provider quickly?
Check the country’s primary body: DfE and Ofsted (UK), CAEP/state board (US), AITSL/state authority (Australia), NCTE (India), TRCN/NCCE (Nigeria), provincial regulators (Canada). Use their official lists or directories.

Do alternative routes count?
Yes, if they are formally approved and lead to the same licensure. Examples: UK SCITT, US teacher residencies or state-approved alternative certification.

What about continuing professional development (CPD)?
Different animal. CPD is for already-licensed teachers. You’re looking for initial teacher education/training (pre-service).

Next steps:

• Career changer? Search your state/province + “post-bacc teacher certification” or “PGCE/PGDE,” then verify accreditation.
• New grad? Search “B.Ed + province” (Canada) or “QTS + PGCE subject” (UK) or “teacher prep program + your state” (US).
• International applicant? Start with the regulator where you want to teach and work backwards to approved providers.
• Paraeducator/TA moving up? Look for residency routes or part-time ITE/ITT with paid placements.
• Rural candidate? Prioritize programs with local school partnerships and guaranteed placements in your district.

Credibility note: The terms and accreditation bodies referenced are the current labels used by primary authorities such as the UK Department for Education/Ofsted, CAEP and state education departments in the US, AITSL and state regulators in Australia, India’s NCTE, Nigeria’s TRCN/NCCE, and provincial teacher regulators in Canada. Always cross-check with the specific regulator where you plan to teach.