Introduction. The relevance of the issue studied in the article is conditioned by the modernization of the National Qualification Framework in the Russian Federation focused on coping with the imbalance between increasing economic demands and less than fully realized possibilities of vocational education and training. Dynamic changes of social environment, active informatization process in education, strengthening of the role of a psychological component in teaching activities have radically changed the criteria for qualification profiles of modern teachers. Purpose: to conduct a comparative analysis of the Professional Standard for teachers and Federal State Educational Standards, to identify their significant features. Materials and methods. In the article the authors used the following methods: methods of theoretical and empirical studies, method of analysis and comparison of professional and personal qualities of a teacher according to the requirements of the Professional Standard. Results, discussion. The article considers the main elements of the Professional Standard for teachers, which served as a basis for identifying and building a cluster of job functions and competences the teacher should have. The authors compare the cluster with the new Federal State Educational Standards of Higher Education for the major “Teacher Education” (bachelor and master degree levels). They quote the findings of survey for teachers on the issues and prospects of implementation of professional standards into the Russian educational system. Conclusion. Due to urgency of the issue presented in the article it may be interesting and useful for teachers and content developers both from theoretical and practical points of view.