How to become a teacher

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Find out more about getting into teaching

We can help you understand what's involved and decide if a career teaching in a primary or secondary school in England is right for you.

  1. 1
    What qualifications do I need?
  2. 2
    Can I get help funding my training?
  3. 3
    How do I find and apply for teacher training?

What qualifications do I need?

You'll need to train for qualified teacher status (QTS) to be able to teach in most primary and secondary schools in England.

If you have a degree or equivalent qualification, you can do postgraduate primary or secondary teacher training. If you do not have a degree and are not studying for one, you can do undergraduate teacher training.

Check the qualifications you need to teach.

Can I get help funding my training?

Undergraduate and postgraduate teacher training course fees are around £9,535 per year. You can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans, even if you already have a student loan.

If you're interested in teaching certain subjects, you might be able to get a scholarship or bursary of up to £31k tax-free. This is to support you while you are training and does not need to be paid back.

Find out about funding your teacher training.

How do I apply for teacher training?

Full-time postgraduate teacher training courses usually take 9 months, and undergraduate courses can take up to 4 years.

Most courses start in September. You can usually start applying in October before your course starts.

Find out how to train to teach.

Find out more about getting into teaching

Get free guidance and support on getting into teaching, including top tips on writing a successful teacher training application.

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