What is the term for a person engaged in supervised practice teaching while completing prerequisites for teacher preparation?

The term "student teacher" specifically refers to an individual who is engaged in supervised practice teaching while completing their educational qualifications for teacher preparation. This phase is critical in a teacher's training, as it provides hands-on experience in a classroom setting under the guidance of a certified teacher, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge and develop practical teaching skills.

The practice teaching component enables prospective educators to learn about classroom management, lesson planning, and student engagement through direct experience with real students. This occurs while they are still undertaking their necessary coursework and degree requirements to become licensed teachers. The designation of "student teacher" reflects both their status as learners in the profession and their active role in teaching.

Other terms such as "intern teacher," "apprentice teacher," and "fellow educator" might be used interchangeably in different contexts, but they do not specifically denote the supervised practice and training aspect that is inherent to the "student teacher" role. This makes "student teacher" the most accurate and recognized term within the framework of teacher preparation processes.