Seoul to Issue New Electronic Teacher Certificates Without Written Exams Starting Next Year

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on December 31 that, starting in January next year, it will issue electronic teacher certificates for master's degree-linked qualification examinations without written tests.

The teacher qualification examination without a written test is a system that grants teacher certification without a separate exam. For example, teachers who already hold a Level 2 regular teacher certificate can obtain a Level 1 certificate if they acquire a master's degree and meet certain teaching experience requirements. More than 600 people apply for the master's degree-linked teacher certificate without a written test each year, and until now, these certificates have been issued in paper form.

The city education office decided to switch to electronic issuance after a preparation period in line with this year's "Teacher Qualification Electronic Management Plan." Applicants can apply for the teacher certificate without a written test directly through the Government24 website. The electronic certificate can be printed or saved as a PDF file. It can also be submitted online to third parties, which is expected to improve convenience for both application and use.

Superintendent Jeong Geunsik stated, "The methods for storing and using certificates will become more diverse, and administrative efficiency will also improve," adding, "We will continue to enhance administrative procedures to increase convenience for teachers and citizens in line with the changing times, including the rise of AI."