or 'degreed instructor for trade and commerce'

It's always difficult if not impossible to translate academic qualifications from one language to another - particularly with the plethora of German qualifications, all of which entitle the holder to study/teach at different levels (e.g. the difference between an Abitur - lets you go to a university) and a Fachabitur (only allows you to study at (formerly) a Fachhochchule - now Hochschulen/Universities of Applied Sciences - but not the "traditional" old-style universities).

I would always keep the original term and then explain it if necessary (e.g. in the UK I would always say a student had "A-levels", not change it to "Abitur", as the two aren't identical, even though they serve a sililar purpose).

Here, Dipl. Handelslehrer is a qualification that allows you to teach commerce, economics, Business Studies etc. at a Berufsschule (often translated as something like"commercial vocational school" - the problem being that, in the UK at least, there is no such thing as a commercial vocational school! The nearest equivalent would be a College of Further Education.

In the UK, qualifications are not so restirctive as in other countries - so, if you have a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education) or a BA/BSc etc, they don't carry with themn any restrictions as to the type of institution you can then go and teach in - the decision would be made at application stage, e.g. if you have a third-class degree from a poor university, you're not likely to be appointed as a lecturer at Oxford or Cambridge! But there's nothing about the degree that says"only entitles the holder to teach at these types of institution"..., which in effect is what the various types of German qualification do say.

If you have to translate it, say something like"teacher/lecturer in commercial studies"

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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-09-08 16:39:41 GMT)
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sorry about all the typos!

My suggested "teacher of commercial studies" is only the job description - the qualification could be translated as "Diploma in Commercial studies", as UK degree don't entitle you to teach - you have to do a PGCE as well.