The objective of the study was to analyse the factors bearing down most strongly upon somebody choosing the teaching profession, as well as the influence of these elements in the formation of a teacher's professional identity. A descriptive method was used with a quantitative approach based on a closedended questionnaire. The sample was composed of 964 subjects and the questionnaire data analysis was performed by the Sphinx® software. The results showed a strong influence of social ideals in the concepts elaborated by the subjects when describing the teaching profession and these social ideals also influenced their choice of the profession (concepts of education linked to social redemption; an idealized vision of the practice of teaching). Also, it points out the conflicts and complexity experienced by the students, given the need to feel ready to meet the demands and requirements of the school, in the social context, and in the context of the labour market.
professional choice; professional identity; teachers
