A Comparative Examination of Vocational Education Teacher Qualifications and Preparation Between Finland and the State of Ohio in the United States

Working between the formal education system and workplace, vocational education teachers contribute to the growth and development of a country’s future workforce. Using interviews of university professors, examination of legislation and administrative rules and information obtained from applicable websites, this article compares two different teacher education systems for the preparation of vocational teachers in the country of Finland and the state of Ohio in the United States. Findings indicate both systems have commonalities as well as significant differences. This comparison will contribute to a better understanding of vocational teacher education from an international perspective and examines such aspects as qualification requirements for vocational education teachers, the institutions providing teacher preparation and the content of the teacher training programs. A discussion of the vocational education systems in both settings is also provided for background and context