Teaching in Northern Ireland : Entry requirements

It is compulsory to have a recognised teacher training qualification in order to gain a permanent teaching post in primary or secondary schools in Northern Ireland.

In contrast with the rest of the UK, there are no shortage or priority subjects in Northern Ireland. Competition for teaching posts is extremely high and, as a result, many newly qualified teachers (NQTs) spend their first year in temporary teaching posts.

As in the rest of the UK, all candidates must, by law, satisfy ‘fitness to teach’ requirements and in Northern Ireland candidates must be checked by Access Northern Ireland  before entering schools. This is similar to the Criminal Records Bureau checks in England and Wales. 

How do you become a further education (FE) lecturer in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland, a teaching qualification is not mandatory for appointment to posts in FE. Full-time and associate lecturers in FE without a teaching qualification (such as a BEd or a PGCE) are expected to complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (Further Education) within three years of taking up a post. Candidates must have a degree/highest vocational qualification in the relevant subject as well as English and maths GCSE at grade C plus or equivalent. 

The only recognised provider of the PGCE (FE) is the University of Ulster . Currently, lecturers who complete the PGCE (FE) are not qualified to teach in schools. To do so they must complete a further year of study to obtain the Diploma in Further and Higher Education.