Have you ever thought of giving a lecture to a vast class and explaining interesting topics to students? Becoming an Assistant Professor can be a rewarding career.
However, it requires dedication, patience and hard work to become a subject matter expert. Many give up on their dreams of becoming a professor because they are not clear about the path they need to follow.
Did you know that you can become an assistant professor without a PhD? Yes, it is possible. However, you need to clear specific exams and have a decent academic background and teaching experience.
This article will provide you with a step by step guide on How to Become Professor in India. But, first, understand the role of a professor. A professor is responsible for teaching and guiding students pursuing higher education in universities and colleges.
They are usually a PhD holder with a deep understanding and expertise in a specific subject. They teach students; however, their role is more of a facilitator who guides students towards self-study and clears their doubts.
They also attend relevant seminars and workshops on their specialization and help define and improve the syllabus.
How to Become Professor In India
There are three types of professors.
1. Assistant Professor – Entry-level faculty with a minimum master's degree and some exposure to teaching. You can either apply to universities directly or appear for the NET (National Eligibility Test) conducted by University Grants Commission(UGC) and the Public Service Commission interviews.
2. Associate Professor – The tenured Assistant professors with at least three published journals can apply for this position. However, those with a PhD can apply with only one publication in a reputed journal. Direct entry to this level is only possible for a PhD holder.
3. Professor – Associate professors with PhD are eligible to be promoted to this senior rank. There is no direct entry at this level; one has to gain experience at the associate professor level to become a Professor.
Step By Step Guide On How To Become An Assistant Professor
If someone wants to become a professor, they should decide at the earliest possible time and choose the respective stream in 10+2 (Science, Arts or Commerce).
In addition, they need to maintain an excellent academic record throughout Graduation and Post Graduation. Let us look at different eligibility criteria, skills, and professors' salaries in India.
1. Eligibility Criteria To Become a Professor
If you want to become a Professor, you need to understand and meet the minimum eligibility criteria. such as educational qualifications, the age limit at the time of application and performance in university
And national entrance exams. Remember, you can't directly become a professor. Hence, you need to either apply for an associate professor role or become an assistant professor.
Your overall academic track records, including marks in 10+2, graduation, post-graduation, research work, doctorate, and teaching experience, are crucial.
You also need to make it to the merit list of various competitive exams and perform well in the selection interview rounds.
2. Educational Qualification
The candidate aspiring for an assistant professor role must have completed their master's degree in relevant subjects with a minimum percentage. Depending on their category, they may get a concession of 5%.
General Category – Post graduation degree with a recognized college/university with a minimum of 55% marks.
SC/ST/PWD/OBC/Transgender people – Post-graduation degree with a recognized college/university minimum 50% marks.
The above educational qualification is also applicable for applying for a PhD program in a specialized field.
3. Age Limit Criteria
Candidates may choose different ways to become assistant professors; they may apply directly to universities or sit for entrance exams.
The Union Grants Commission has not set any age limit for the role of assistant professor. Most candidates prefer to gain experience before applying for the entry-level faculty role.
Hence, it makes sense not to have any age limit criteria.
Needs to Crack Competitive Exams for Becoming a Professor
There are limited seats for assistant professors. Hence direct entries can be difficult. The best way is to crack government approved state level and national level exams. Here are the competitive exams:
National Eligibility Test(NET)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) under UGC conducts this national level exam twice every year. It is also known as UGC NET; the candidates must have completed their master's degree with a minimum of 55% aggregate score.
Upon clearing NET, candidates can apply for assistant professor roles in universities and colleges across the country.
State Level Eligibility Test(SLET)
The National Testing Agency conducts this state-level exam once every year. Candidates who have completed their master's degree with a minimum of 55% marks can apply for this entrance exam.
Upon clearing SLET, candidates can apply for assistant professor roles in state-level universities. There are no age limit restrictions.
Graduate Aptitude Test In Engineering (GATE)
GATE is a national level competitive exam for engineering students. Engineering students who have completed or are appearing for their bachelor's degree (4 years after 12th or three years of Diploma) are eligible to appear in GATE).
The exam is conducted once every year. Based on your GATE score, you can apply for the PhD program. Upon completing the PhD, you become eligible for assistant and associate professor roles.
- CSIR National Eligibility Test (CSIR NET)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts this national level exam for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR.) The exam covers students from different science fields and checks their eligibility for assistant professor roles.
Students with either bachelor's degrees or master's degrees in relevant fields are eligible for this exam. Those pursuing a master's degree can also appear for CSIR NET.
Required Skills to Become Professor in India
An excellent academic record can push your aspiration to become a professor. However, you need to have specific skills to excel in the faculty role.
You can start working on these skills as soon as you decide to become a professor or by gaining relevant experience in the field.
Below are some essential skills that a candidate aspiring to become a professor must possess.
They must have a deep understanding of the subject.
Passion for teaching.
Excellent communication.
Self-driven and positive mindset.
They must have patience for research and creative thinking.
Problem-solving.
Time management skills.
Salary of an Associate Professor in India
Associate professors earn a decent salary. It increases with experience and the level of expertise they gain in their subject.
Organisationswise (Annual Average Salary)
Government Colleges/Universities – INR 7 Lakhs
Private Institutions – INR 8.5 Lakhs
Gender Wise (Annual Average Salary)
Male – INR 6.5 Lakhs
Female – INR 4 Lakhs
Hierarchy-wise (Average Annual Salary)
Assistant Professor – INR 5.1 Lakhs
Associate Professor - INR 7 Lakhs
Professor - INR 8.8 Lakhs
Experience-wise (Average Annual Salary)
Entry-level (less than one year) – INR 4.8 Lakhs
Mid-Level ( 5-9 years) – INR 8 Lakhs
Experienced (more than 20 years) – INR 17 Lakhs
Benefits of Becoming a Teacher
The teaching profession is considered noble globally. It is one of the most respectable professions in India because it gives job security, stability, and a decent salary.
Not to forget a long list of holidays when you can spend time with your loved ones or pursue further research and find innovative solutions. Here are a few benefits of becoming a teacher or professor.
Make a positive impact by playing an essential role in developing students and the country's future.
Become a role model; students follow their teachers, and they can lead by example.
Have a balanced lifestyle. Teachers have fixed and limited work hours, unlike many other extremely demanding professions.
Become an essential pillar of society. Teachers empower the community by passing ideas and topics they may not be exposed to otherwise.
Enjoy the variety in your career. As a teacher, your role is not limited to giving lectures. You can become part of teaching communities, research your area of interest, and review and suggest changes to the education system.
Enjoy financial stability. Teaching is no longer a low paying profession. Especially if you become a professor, you open up many opportunities for yourself. Some top institutions like IIT and IIM pay their professor at par with senior professionals in MNCs.
Excellent prospects, a professor can become a dean or a chancellor. As you gain experience, your earnings and area of influence also expand. You may become an entrepreneur and run your own institution.
Conclusion
Becoming a professor may look complicated, but it is attainable with the proper planning, preparation, and execution.
It would be best if you were clear about your area of interest, what subject you want to specialise in and dedicated to the education field.
The great thing about the role is that there is no age restriction. Even if you start late and realise while you are doing graduation or master's that you want to become a professor, it is possible to become one.
You need to remain consistent in your academics and participate in every possible extracurricular activity such as seminars, workshops, and conferences and enhance your knowledge and skills.
Since the role is all about sharing your knowledge and ideas, you must work on your communication and interpersonal skills. A good professor should be an excellent orator and approachable.
UGC has recently announced that they are considering new roles, such as associate professor practice. Experienced teachers or professionals who have not done PhD can apply and teach in central universities.
These changes to eligibility and lateral entries will further enhance the role and profession. It takes around 15-20 years to reach a professor's level.
However, the effort and time are worth it. You contribute heavily to nation-building and give back to society by shaping students' futures.
I hope you liked our article on How to Become Professor in India, if you have any comments or suggestions do share them in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is a PhD compulsory for an assistant professor?
No, You can apply directly for assistant professor roles in certain universities. However, you need to have an excellent academic record and teaching experience. Please note that you need to have a PhD degree to grow further and reach the professor level.
Q2. How long does it take to become a college professor in India?
You need 15 - 20 years after completing 10+2 to become a professor. You have to complete your graduation, master's, and PhD, which takes around 10-12 years.
After that, you can appear for entrance exams like NET and CSIR NET to become assistant professors and associate professors. After the specific experience, you can become a college professor in India.
Q3. What are the minimum eligibility criteria to become an Associate Professor?
A PhD degree with an excellent academic record and experience of around eight years of teaching experience in a college/university. Assistant professors with at least three published journals can also apply for the associate professor role.
Q4. What entrance tests are required to work as an Associate Professor?
National Testing Agency under UGC conducts various national and state level entrance tests such as National Eligibility Test (NET), State Level Eligibility Test, and CSIR NET.
Engineering graduates can also appear for GATE, become eligible for a PhD, and then apply for Associate Professor roles.
Q5. What are the eligibility criteria to take the UGC NET examination?
The candidates must have completed their master's degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks. The reserved category candidates get a concession of 5% (need 50%.) There are no age restrictions for appearing in UGC NET.
Q6. What is the salary of a UGC NET qualified Assistant Professor?
The salary of a UGC NET qualified Assistant Professor depends on the university/institution, location and experience. However, one can expect an average starting salary of around INR 50,000 per month.
Q7. How do I become a professor at IIT, and what is the salary package?
You should complete your B Tech, M Tech and PhD. You also need at least ten years of teaching/research experience, including a minimum of 4 years of experience as an associate professor.
The average salary of an IIT faculty is around INR 19 lakhs per annum. In contrast, the top 10% earn more than INR 30 lakhs per year.
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