Secondary school teacher : Entry requirements

Unless your first degree (for example a BA in Education) gives you qualified teacher status (QTS) in England and Wales, or teaching qualification (TQ) in Scotland, you will need further training.

For details of all routes into teacher training, refer to the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)  and The Scottish Government - Education and Training .

Briefly, the options are:

• A full-time, part-time or modular Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education (PGCE) or Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in Scotland): courses are available at many universities and colleges. Applications for most courses in England, Scotland and Wales are made via the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)  in the autumn before you wish to start. Northern Irish universities recruit directly. There are a limited number of two-year subject-conversion courses for training to teach shortage subjects. There are also six month paid enhancement courses for shortage subject areas. These include chemistry and math, and will often allow for progression to the PGCE. For full details, see applying for a PGCE.
• School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT)  - schools devise their own training programme in partnership with their local education authority (LEA) and a higher education institution (HEI) however, this is not a guaranteed route to being awarded a PGCE. 
• The Registered teacher programme (RTP)  - this is a two-year programme combining classroom work and the completion of a degree which confers QTS. Places are limited and the focus is on shortage subjects. This programme has not been available to new entrants in Wales since 2007.
• In England and Wales, candidates with one or two years of higher education may take a shortened two-year degree with QTS. You can apply via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) .
• The Teach First  scheme gives the opportunity to teach for two years and then either stay in teaching or move on to roles in the public sector or business.
• The Graduate teacher programme (GTP)  - graduates are employed as unqualified teachers and paid a salary. This is a highly competitive scheme for those with considerable relevant in school experience.
• Candidates with a teaching qualification from an EU country can apply to the General Teaching Council for England (GTC)  for accreditation.
• The Overseas teacher training programme (OTTP)  offers non-EU overseas-trained teachers the opportunity to gain QTS while working as teachers.
• Independent schools may employ teachers without QTS although, in practice, this is uncommon.

Although training is open to all graduates, a degree related to a national curriculum subject increases your chances of getting a training place. Your pre-university education may also be taken into account. Some institutions offer enhancement courses for shortage subjects if you have already been accepted onto a PGCE course. Check the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)  website for current shortage areas.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• classroom experience (some providers will not accept PGCE primary applications without at least fifteen days in-class experience), as an observer or classroom assistant (structured work experience programmes, such as the Student Associates Scheme , are available through higher education institutes and the OU - visit open days and try to attend a taster course). It is important to note that some of these schemes may be linked to shortage subject areas. Please check with your desired provider;
• many primary and secondary schools are also happy to accept volunteer work experience placements;
• experience with children, e.g. through sports, play schemes, summer camps, youth clubs, tutoring or mentoring;
• familiarity with the national curriculum for your subject;
• enthusiasm, motivation, commitment and strong communication skills.

Teacher training providers set their own entry requirements, which always include GCSE grades A-C in English and mathematics. Additionally, you will need to demonstrate satisfactory health (Fitness to Teach health questionnaire) and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)  checks. If you do not have these qualifications, approach institutions before submitting an application as some offer special tests for such applicants. Trainee teachers must also pass national skills tests in numeracy, literacy and ICT before starting their induction year.

For full details of PGCE funding and bursaries in England and Wales, see the TDA website; for Scotland please refer to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) . You can also find student finance information on Direct Gov - Student Finance . In Northern Ireland, PGCE students are eligible for awards from their LEA and library board.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.