The routes into teaching in the UK can sound confusing at first, with terms like QTS, PGCE, and QTLS all in play. This guide breaks down how to become a teacher in the UK and which route might suit you. If teaching assistant work interests you as a first step, see our guide to becoming a teaching assistant instead.
Quick Answer: How Do You Become a Teacher in the UK?
To teach in a state-maintained school in England, you need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), most commonly gained through a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) if you already have a degree, or a Bachelor’s degree with QTS built in if you’re starting as an undergraduate. Applications for postgraduate teacher training routes go through the Department for Education’s official application service.
The Main Routes Into Teaching
- PGCE with QTS: the most common route for graduates, typically one year full-time, combining classroom placements with academic study, sometimes salaried while training.
- Undergraduate degree with QTS: a three or four-year degree that builds Qualified Teacher Status directly into an undergraduate course, suited to school leavers who already know they want to teach.
- Non-teaching degree plus PGCE: for graduates whose degree wasn’t specifically education-focused, a PGCE afterwards adds the teaching qualification.
- Teacher apprenticeship: allows trainees to earn a salary while training in a school and working towards QTS, an increasingly popular route for career changers, similar in spirit to apprenticeships in other sectors.
PGCE vs PGDE: What’s the Difference?
A PGCE carries 60 Master’s-level academic credits, while a PGDE, more common in Scotland, carries 120. Both can lead to QTS (or its Scottish equivalent) if approved by the relevant national authority, so the choice often comes down to where you’re training rather than a meaningful difference in outcome.
Entry Requirements
Postgraduate routes generally require an existing degree and GCSE grade 4 or above in English and Maths, alongside a Science GCSE for primary teaching routes. Relevant school experience, while not always a formal requirement, is strongly recommended and often expected by training providers, so arranging some classroom observation before applying is worth the effort.
Funding and Salaried Training
Some ITT courses charge tuition fees payable through student finance, while salaried and apprenticeship routes pay trainees a wage, usually on an unqualified teacher pay scale, while they train in a school. Bursaries and scholarships are also available for some subjects and change annually, so it’s worth checking current funding for your specific subject before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a degree to become a teacher in the UK?
For most routes, yes, though an undergraduate degree with QTS built in lets you gain both your degree and teaching qualification simultaneously, and teacher apprenticeships offer another route without a prior standalone degree in some cases.
How long does it take to become a qualified teacher?
A PGCE typically takes one year full-time, or up to two years part-time, while an undergraduate degree with QTS takes three to four years, similar to a standard degree.
Can you become a teacher through an apprenticeship?
Yes, teacher apprenticeships let trainees earn a salary while working towards QTS in a school setting, offering an alternative to the more traditional PGCE or undergraduate routes.
