The timing couldn’t be better if you’re considering a teaching career in the UK. Schools are facing a growing demand for full-time teachers, with 207,054 primary teachers and 218,931 secondary teachers needed in the 2027/28 academic year. To stand out in this expanding job market, a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is one of the most important qualifications you can earn.
QTS is a legal requirement for teaching in most state-maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England. Awarded by the Department for Education (DfE), QTS demonstrates that you meet the professional standards expected of teachers and are ready to lead your own classroom. Although some independent schools and academies may recruit teachers without QTS, it remains a highly valued credential that greatly enhances your career prospects.
How to Get Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Certification
1. Check Out ‘Apply for QTS in England’
For internationally qualified teachers, the Department for Education’s online ‘Apply for QTS in England’ service offers a straightforward route to gaining QTS. You can use it to check your eligibility and submit your application. Applicants with verified teaching experience in England will be prioritised.
Every application is reviewed by a trained assessor, who checks your qualifications, teaching experience, and supporting evidence. Where necessary, additional verification may be requested before a final decision is made. You’ll receive confirmation once the assessment has been completed.
2. Apply through the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)
The TRA is an executive agency of the DfE; it awards QTS certificates on behalf of the Secretary of State. Its responsibilities include:
- Investigating reports of teacher misconduct.
- Taking appropriate regulatory action where necessary.
- Upholding professional standards across England’s teaching workforce.
- Supporting employers, schools, and headteachers in meeting their safeguarding responsibilities.
- Managing teacher prohibition orders and maintaining prohibition records.
3. Apply for teacher training in England
All non-UK citizens are eligible to enrol in an initial teacher training (ITT) course in the UK that leads to QTS. These courses combine practical teaching experience with academic learning to prepare you for a career in the classroom. As part of your training, you will:
- Complete observed and unobserved teaching placements.
- Attend lectures, seminars, and practical workshops.
- Complete coursework and assignments.
- Engage with academic and professional education research.
Throughout your studies, you’ll receive regular feedback through formative assessments, allowing you to refine your teaching practice as you learn. At the end of the course, summative assessments measure whether you’ve achieved the UK’s Teachers’ Standards. These include written assignments, classroom observations, and a portfolio demonstrating your professional development.
Before applying, it’s also important to consider the practical commitments involved. ITT courses are typically full-time and last for one academic year. You’ll need to relocate to the UK and cover both your tuition fees and living expenses. Tuition fees vary by provider and immigration status, generally ranging from £9,250 to around £32,000 .
4. International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS)
The International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) programme is open to UK and non-UK citizens living outside of England. You don’t need previous teaching experience or a teaching job to apply. Backed by the UK government, iQTS is aligned with the same professional standards and leads to QTS.
The programme is taught online by English teacher training providers who work with schools from around the world. While studying, you’ll take part in online tutorials and lectures, alongside at least 24 weeks of practical teaching experience at a school in your own country. Depending on your interests, you can train to teach primary pupils (ages 5–11) or secondary students (ages 11–18).
5. Assessment Only Route to QTS
If you don’t qualify for the ‘Apply for QTS in England’ service, you may still be able to gain QTS through the Assessment Only Route. This route is intended for experienced teachers who already hold a degree and can show that they meet the UK’s Teachers’ Standards. Instead of completing further teacher training, you’ll be assessed on the knowledge and skills you’ve already developed in the classroom. Depending on your provider, this may involve lesson observations, written assessments, and a portfolio of evidence.
The assessment is designed to be as flexible as possible. An assessor from your teacher training provider will visit your school to observe your teaching and review your evidence.
To apply, you’ll need to:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree.
- Have teaching experience in at least two schools.
- Meet the Teachers’ Standards without additional training.
- Have GCSEs (or recognised equivalents) in English and Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above, and Science if you’re applying for primary teaching.
Enrolling in the Assessment Only Route to QTS costs between £1,500 to £4,000. Fees may be higher for applicants outside the UK.
How to Get Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) After Your Training
Your route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) varies depending on where you trained:
England
After completing your training in England, your teacher training provider will send your results to the DfE. This applies to all recognised teacher training routes, including the Assessment Only Route.
Once successful, your Qualified Teacher Status will be added to your teacher record automatically. You can then view and download your QTS certificate online through the ‘Access your teaching qualifications’ service.
Wales
Teachers who complete their training in Wales are awarded QTS by the Education Workforce Council (EWC). The EWC is the independent regulator for education professionals in Wales, supporting and regulating teachers, youth workers, further education staff, and work-based learning practitioners.
The good news is that Welsh QTS is fully recognised in England. Your qualification is recorded on your teacher record, so you don’t need to obtain a separate QTS award.
Northern Ireland and Scotland
If you completed your teacher training in Northern Ireland or Scotland and want to teach in England, you’ll need to apply for QTS. When your application is approved, you’ll gain QTS without any further training or fees.
Become a Qualified Teacher in England with the University of Northampton
Take the next step towards QTS with the University of Northampton, ranked 3rd in the Complete University Guide for Student Satisfaction in the East Midlands for Teacher Training. Our Assessment Only Route to QTS is designed for experienced but unqualified teachers from mainstream primary schools, academies, free schools, all-through schools, independent schools, pupil referral units, and special schools.
Why Choose UON’s Assessment Only Route to QTS?
- Fast-track pathway to QTS
- Continue working while gaining QTS
- Ongoing support and supervision from experienced university tutors
- Access to the university’s wider support services
- Eligibility for the School Teachers’ Pay Scales in England and Wales once QTS is awarded
How Does UON’s Assessment Only Route to QTS Work?
The Assessment Only Route to QTS is completed in two stages. First, you’ll undergo an initial assessment, where the university’s assessors observe your teaching, interview you, and review your evidence portfolio to determine whether you meet the Teachers’ Standards. Once you’ve successfully completed this stage, you’ll progress to a 12-week assessment in your current school.
During the 12 weeks, you’ll continue in your teaching role while being supported by your in-school mentor and a university assessor. Your performance throughout the assessment will be evaluated against the DfE’s criteria. The programme includes separate fees for each assessment stage. Funding may come from you or your school, but as this is not a taught programme, it is not eligible for student loans.
FAQs
Can I teach in England without QTS?
Yes, if you’re a qualified teacher from outside the UK, you can teach in England for up to four years without QTS. However, after this period, you’ll need QTS to continue teaching.
While QTS isn’t legally required in every setting, such as academies, free schools and independent schools, it is widely recognised and preferred by employers, making it easier to secure teaching opportunities across England.
What is the quickest way to get QTS?
The quickest way to gain QTS is through an assessment only programme (if you already have the necessary teaching experience). Rather than completing further training, you’ll be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards to demonstrate that you’re already working at the level of a qualified teacher.
The UON’s Assessment Only Route to QTS takes just 12 weeks to complete via distance learning, providing a convenient and efficient route.
Is QTS better than PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education)?
QTS and PGCE are different qualifications with different benefits. QTS is the professional qualification required to teach in most state-maintained schools in England, while a PGCE is an academic qualification that is recognised more widely, including overseas. Many teachers choose to have both because they complement each other.
At UON, successful candidates on the Assessment Only Route are recommended for QTS. Moreover, those who wish to build on this achievement can continue their studies with the university’s part-time, fully online PGCE Top-Up programme.
Does QTS expire?
Once you’ve been awarded QTS, it does not expire. The only exceptions are very rare cases involving serious professional misconduct or a decision made by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).
However, if you’ve been away from teaching for an extended period, schools may require you to complete refresher training or updated safeguarding checks before returning to the classroom.
