What qualifications do you need to become a teacher?

To teach in the maintained sector in England, you'll need to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) in addition to your first degree - unless you have completed an undergraduate degree with QTS.

There are several different training routes available which provide QTS, with the opportunity to train in different settings. Many of them offer the chance to gain a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). To attain QTS you will also need to satisfy a range of criteria, outlined below.

What are the entry requirements for a career in teaching?

To qualify as a teacher in England you must meet the following requirements:

• GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in mathematics and English: for primary or early years teaching you also need GCSE science grade 4 (C) or above. Some teacher training providers may accept an equivalency test or other qualification. Contact the teacher training provider directly for information on which equivalencies they will accept.
• A degree: for primary teaching, a degree in any subject is usually accepted but some initial teacher training (ITT) providers may prefer you to have a degree in a national curriculum subject if, for example, you are taking a specialist route, such as Primary Specialist Mathematics. Check with training providers before applying to see if they will accept your degree. For secondary teaching, you'll need expert knowledge of the subject you wish to teach, which is usually demonstrated by having a degree in (or closely related to) the subject you would like to teach. In subjects where there is a shortage of applicants, you may be able to take a subject knowledge enhancement course (SKE) if you need to top up your subject knowledge.
• Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses: if you want to teach a subject but feel you need to be more familiar with it, you could take a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course. They can be particularly helpful if you completed your degree over five years’ ago, your degree is in a different but related subject, you don’t have a degree in the subject you want to teach but do have professional experience, you studied a language but need to develop a second language to an acceptable level for teaching in schools, or you have an A level in that subject but a degree in something different. The teacher training course provider can help you to decide if you need to complete an SKE - they’re typically offered for shortage subjects where there’s a demand for teachers. Courses are often done online.
• Literacy and numeracy skills: ITT providers are responsible for ensuring that prospective teachers meet the standards of literacy and numeracy required in order to teach. Each provider will assess whether applicants have adequate skills, either during the selection process or once they’re on the training programme. You will be benchmarked against a defined set of literacy and numeracy skills, which you’ll be expected to have by the end of your training. You will receive help to develop your skills throughout the course if needed. However, trainees who remain unable to meet the required level of literacy and numeracy skills will not reach QTS. For more details, contact the training provider directly.
• Fitness questionnaire: you are likely to be asked to complete a fitness questionnaire before starting the ITT course. Any information you provide about disability is protected by the Equality Act 2010. Whether or not you wish to inform your training provider of a disability is a personal choice. However, sharing that you have a disability can help ensure you get the financial or other support you need.
• Declaration of criminal convictions: the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (which allow convictions for criminal offences to be regarded as 'spent' after a period of time) don't apply to the teaching profession. You're required to declare any previous convictions. All trainee teachers undergo a criminal record check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting school-based training.

See the advice on training to teach in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland for information on entry requirements in the rest of the UK.

Written by Cathy Taylor, University of West London, July 2024

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