Obtaining qualified teacher status

last updated:01 Aug 2011

The Education Act, which confirms the abolition of the GTC, became law in November 2011. Until the GTC’s final closure on 31 March 2012, it remains a legal requirement for all teachers in maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units and most academies to be registered with the GTC.

For more information regarding the abolition of the GTC please see the Future of the GTC section.

You need qualified teacher status (QTS) if you want to be a teacher in a maintained school in England. Teachers must also fully register with the GTC. There are a number of routes to obtaining QTS. See the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website if you wish to apply for an initial teacher training course that leads to QTS.

Qualified teachers who trained outside of England and Wales can also obtain QTS by having their qualifications assessed by the GTC. This includes teachers who trained in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Teachers from Scotland or Northern Ireland
Teachers who trained in either Scotland or Northern Ireland (NI) are eligible to apply for QTS in England. Those who wish to take up a teaching post in a maintained primary, secondary or special school, or a non-maintained special school in England, must obtain QTS in England and be registered with the GTC.

Since 1 January 2010 overseas trained teachers (OTTs) who qualified outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) who have gained recognition as a teacher in either Scotland or Northern Ireland can also apply for QTS in England.

OTTs recognised in Scotland must have full registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. OTTs recognised in Northern Ireland must have been recognised by either the Department for Education Northern Ireland office or by the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland and have undertaken a period of not less than 60 days practical teaching experience at an education institution in Northern Ireland.

If you fall into one of these categories and wish to apply for QTS in England then you will need to download and print the appropriate application form on this page and return it by post to the GTC.

EEA teachers
The GTC is the Competent Authority in England for the teaching profession. EEA nationals who are recognised as qualified school teachers in an EEA member state may apply for QTS in England under the terms of Council Directive 2005/36/EC without the need for further training.

Teachers who gain QTS through this route are exempt from the requirement to serve a statutory induction period.

EEA member states are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of Ireland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

Swiss nationals are also eligible for assessment.

If you fall into this category and wish to apply for QTS in England then you will need to download and print the appropriate application form on this page and return it by post to the GTC.

Non-EEA teachers
Teachers who trained outside of the EEA and who are not nationals of an EEA member state can work for up to four years in England as a temporary teacher without the need for QTS.

If an overseas teacher wishes to be employed on a permanent basis then they must obtain QTS by completing a course of initial teacher training. See the TDA website if you wish to apply for an initial teacher training course that leads to QTS.

Newly qualified teachers and teachers from outside the EEA have to successfully complete an induction year. Their progress is regularly assessed. If they fail their induction then they retain their QTS but can no longer teach. They have the right to appeal to the GTC. Details of induction appeals are included in our regulatory procedures.

From 1 September 2009, overseas trained teachers without QTS working in a maintained school, non-maintained special school or pupil referral unit in England must be provisionally registered with the GTC.

Teachers in FE and the independent sector
Teachers from the independent and further education sectors need to hold QTS if they wish to take up a post as a qualified teacher in the maintained sector.

There are a number of routes to assess your previous teaching experience. The TDA will advise you on the route most suitable for you and which teacher training provider to approach.

For information on how to gain QTS contact the TDA.

• phone: 0845 6000 991 
• web: www.tda.gov.uk