The article considers the urgent problem of modern higher pedagogical education related to the formation and development of professional competencies of a future teacher. The purpose of the article is to identify, on the basis of analysis of federal state educational standards of higher education, as well as own pedagogical experience of the professional competencies of a future history teacher, which are necessary to improve the quality of teacher training in the process of educational and extracurricular work at a university. The article presents various interpretations of the concept of “professional competencies of a teacher” presented by both domestic and foreign researchers. Based on the analysis of professional tasks and activities declared in the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Professional Education and Higher Professional Education (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018). Five professional competencies of a history teacher have been identified. They are included in the curricula and working curricula for the disciplines of the subject preparation of the bachelor's degree (profile “History and Social Studies”): “Methods of teaching and upbringing in historical education”, “Use of information and communication technologies in teaching history”, “Game technologies in teaching and upbringing”, "Pedagogical workshops" as additional to the general professional competencies contained in the federal state educational standard of higher education. The formation of professional competencies of future history teachers is carried out as part of the students' academic work, and their development and practical application in the process of extracurricular work. The professional competencies of the teacher are characterized by his level of professional training, his attitude to work, to himself and affect the effectiveness of the implementation of educational and educational work in school.