Teaching advice : Where to start

To work as a teacher in England and Wales, you will need to complete an initial teacher training (ITT) course...

Your initial teacher training (ITT) can be completed:

• as part of a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree, or via a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) with qualified teacher status (QTS);
• immediately after your degree as part of a Postgraduate Cerificate in Education (PGCE); or
• within a school environment through school-based training.

For information on teacher training in other areas of the UK, see:

• Teacher Training & Education in Wales  
• Teach in Scotland  
• Teaching in Northern Ireland  

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

As part of your initial teacher training (ITT), you will gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

QTS is awarded by the Teaching Agency , to achieve it, you will need to:

• complete a period of training, e.g. as part of your Bachelors degree or PGCE; and
• pass QTS Skills Tests .

Anyone applying for an initial teacher training (ITT) course from September 2013 will be required to pass the skills tests before starting their course. Pre-entry test appointments will be available from 1 September 2012.

Once you have gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you will need to complete a period of induction known as the newly qualified teachers (NQT) year. There is no set time for starting and finishing this induction period, but it is recommended that induction takes place soon after gaining QTS.

To work as a teacher in further education (FE) colleges or sixth form colleges, you need Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills (QTLS) status or QTS. Since 1 April 2012, further education teachers with QTLS from the Institute for Learning (IfL) and membership of the IfL are recognised as qualified teachers in schools.

If you're an experienced teacher and don't have QTS, see Teaching Agency - Qualified Teacher Status .

Teaching options

With so many alternatives to choose from, you need to think carefully about your options:

• what age group you would like to teach: primary school teacher; secondary school teacher; further education lecturer; higher education lecturer;
• the type of initial teacher training (ITT) you want to undertake;
• where you'd like to train;
• the institution you'd like to attend.

To find out more about a training option that suits you, see Teaching Agency - Teacher Training Options .