Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is the professional accreditation you need to teach in most state-maintained schools in England. There are several routes to achieving it, and the best one depends on your existing qualifications, your circumstances and whether you want to earn while you train. This guide sets out the main options. You can see current school and education vacancies on our council jobs listings.
What you need before you start
Almost all routes to QTS require a few common things. Getting these in place early saves time and avoids surprises later in the process.
- A UK undergraduate degree, or recognised equivalent, before you start most training routes.
- GCSEs at grade 4/C or above in English and maths (and a science for primary teaching).
- A passing standard against the Teachers' Standards by the end of training.
- An enhanced DBS check and a successful interview with the training provider.
University-led training (PGCE)
The traditional route is a Postgraduate Certificate in Education with QTS, delivered by a university over roughly an academic year. You spend time studying the theory and practice of teaching and complete placements in at least two schools. A PGCE is academically portable and well recognised internationally, though it is usually unsalaried and may attract tuition fees, sometimes offset by bursaries in priority subjects.
School-based training (School Direct and SCITT)
School-centred routes place you in a school from the outset, learning largely on the job under the guidance of experienced teachers. School Direct programmes and School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) providers both offer this, and many include a PGCE alongside QTS. Some School Direct places are salaried, meaning you are employed and paid while you train, which is attractive if you cannot study without an income.
Teaching apprenticeship
The postgraduate teaching apprenticeship lets graduates train on the job as an employee of a school, earning a salary while working towards QTS. It typically takes around a year and combines classroom practice with structured off-the-job learning. This route can be ideal for support staff, such as teaching assistants, who want to qualify while staying in employment. Our guide to becoming a teaching assistant covers that common starting point.
Assessment-only and other routes
If you are already an experienced unqualified teacher, the assessment-only route lets you demonstrate that you already meet the Teachers' Standards without completing a full training programme. There are also specialist routes for teaching in further education and for those trained overseas to gain recognition. These are narrower paths, but valuable if your situation fits.
Choosing your route and what comes next
Weigh up whether you need to earn while training, how much classroom time you want from the start, and whether an academic PGCE matters to you. After gaining QTS you complete a statutory induction period as an early career teacher, with mentoring and a reduced timetable. Pay then follows the national teachers' pay scales, which we explain in our guide to teaching jobs and pay scales.
This article is general information to help you compare your options, not formal careers advice. Entry requirements, funding and route availability change from year to year, so confirm the current details with training providers and official guidance before applying.