Responsibility for the quality of primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education rests with local and county authorities. General teacher education (four years) qualifies graduates to teach in primary and lower secondary schools and in adult education at the same levels. Subject‑specific teacher education (three or four years) qualifies teachers to teach specific subjects in primary and lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools and adult education.

In adult education in school subjects, trainers must be qualified teachers, regardless of whether the provider is a public school or a private organisation. Municipal and county authorities must ensure that teachers have the required pedagogical education under the regulations to the framework plans for teacher education, or equivalent qualifications.

Teachers of Norwegian under section 67 of the Integration Act (2021) must meet the general requirements for teaching posts under the Regulation to the Education Act and have 30 ECTS in Norwegian as a second language. The general teaching requirement does not apply to temporary appointments under section 68. Teachers employed before 2021 must meet the language requirement by 2029. These requirements apply to both municipal teachers and teachers employed by private providers accredited by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills ('HK-dir').

Under the Act on Folk High Schools, teachers should have qualifications equivalent to those required for primary, lower or upper secondary education, although schools may appoint teachers who meet their own requirements where necessary. Private providers of adult education may set their own qualification requirements for teachers in non‑school subjects, even when courses receive public funding.