This essay points out some aspects relevant to the apparent disassociation between undergraduate courses leading to a teaching certificate in history and graduate programs in history, taking the state of Pernambuco as the reference point for the debate. The question is analyzed and discussed with respect to two points: a) the way that undergraduate teaching degree programs have been organized in the process of preparing their professionals in light of the new academic, social and professional demands that require a graduate degree; and b) the limits and the demands of the graduate programs with respect to the selection process, which has favored bachelor degree graduates over those with teaching degrees due to the limited number of openings in comparison with the number of candidates,.