To teach in a state school in England, you must have a degree, and gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by following a programme of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). You must have achieved minimum requirements in GCSE English and maths, and GCSE science if you wish to teach at primary-level. You’ll also need to pass the professional skills tests in numeracy and literacy before you begin your teacher training. You can teach in independent schools, academies, and free schools in England without QTS, but it’s a definite advantage to have it.
Find out more about university and school-led programmes, including PGCE and PGDE, School Direct, SCITT, and Teach First.
Find out about undergraduate programmes including BEd, BA and BSc with QTS, Troops to Teachers, and post-16 teaching qualifications.
Whether you are returning to teaching, working as an unqualified teacher, qualified overseas, or have completed your training in another part of the UK, find out more about QTS.
Find out about required qualifications, school experience, subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses, and taking the professional skills tests.
Find out more about funding, including bursaries, scholarships, and tuition fee and maintenance loans you may be eligible for to support your training.
This is the scheme to apply for the main postgraduate routes leading to QTS. If you don’t already have a degree, you can apply via UCAS Undergraduate for teacher training programmes, to graduate with QTS.
Sign up to receive your free information pack – an online step-by-step guide to applying for postgraduate programmes through UCAS Teacher Training.
The DfE's Get Into Teaching team offers free one-to-one advice on everything to do with teacher training, from fees and funding, to arranging school experience. Register online or call them on 0800 389 2500.