The purpose of this study was to examine the concept of motivation to become a teacher. The authors focused on the distinction between adaptive motives and maladaptive motives. The authors also examined the relationships with teacher self-efficacy, the quality of the teacher training program, and the intention to remain in the profession. Pre-service teachers from university-based teacher training institutes at the Netherlands participated in the study. The results indicate the importance of intrinsic motives to become a teacher.