How to become a teacher

These steps can help you to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS), which you need to teach in many primary and secondary schools in England.

You do not have to follow all the steps in order, and some might take longer than others. If you need support, a teacher training adviser can give you free practical advice and reassurance about all of these steps and more.

Non-UK citizens: additional steps

There are more steps to consider if you're a non-UK citizen.

  • Check your qualifications

    To train to teach, you’ll need to have GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths (and science if you want to teach primary).

    You also need a degree in any subject to teach primary and secondary – if you have one or an equivalent qualification, you can do postgraduate teacher training.

    If you do not have a degree, you can do undergraduate teacher training to get a degree alongside qualified teacher status (QTS). Or you may be eligible to do a teacher degree apprenticeship (TDA).

    Non-UK citizens: check your qualifications

    If you have qualifications from outside the UK, you’ll need to show that they meet the standards set for teacher training in England. You can get help comparing English and international qualifications.

    Find out more about the qualifications you need to teach.

  • Understand funding

    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 tax-free bursary or scholarship of up to £31k to support you while you're training. This money does not have to be paid back.

    Non-UK citizens: fees and funding

    Teacher training course fees for non-UK citizens cost an average of £15,000. Most non-UK citizens will not be eligible for tuition fee loans and maintenance loans.

    If you train to teach languages or physics, you may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship.

    Learn more about fees and financial support for non-UK trainee teachers.

    Find out how to fund your training.

  • Consider getting experience

    Experiencing life in a school can help you decide if teaching is right for you and who you want to teach. This is a good way to give you a taste of what the classroom is really like.

    Learn more about getting classroom experience.

  • Find a teacher training course

    Through teacher training, you can get qualified teacher status (QTS) or QTS with a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).

    You need QTS to teach in most primary and secondary schools in England but you do not need a PGCE to teach. Explore the age groups and specialisms you could qualify to teach.

    Non-UK citizens: visa sponsorship

    If you do not have the right to study or work in the UK, you will need a visa. Your visa will need to be sponsored by a course provider.

    Learn more about applying for your visa to train to teach in England.

    Find out about how to choose your teacher training course.

    You can find postgraduate teacher training courses in England.

    Or take a look at undergraduate teacher training courses.

  • Apply for teacher training

    You can usually start applying for postgraduate training in October and undergraduate training in May, the calendar year before your course starts.

    You can apply throughout the year, but some courses do fill up quickly.

    Get tips on making a great application including finding the right references and writing a personal statement.

    When you get offered a place on a course, your provider will arrange a background and criminal records check. This is known as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You must pass these checks in order to teach students under 18.

    Non-UK citizens: applying for training and visas

    If you need a visa to train to teach in England, you must have a confirmed offer of a training place before you apply for your visa. You should only apply for courses that support Student or Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

    Learn more about applying for your visa to train to teach in England.

    Apply for postgraduate teacher training.

  • Start your teacher training

    All postgraduate training involves classroom placements in at least 2 schools. Your training will also include some theoretical learning, which might be in a different location to your placements.

    Most postgraduate courses start in September, with full-time courses taking 9 months and part-time courses taking 18 to 24.

    Undergraduate courses usually take 4 years.

    Find out more about what postgraduate teacher training is like.

  • Apply for a teaching role

    Some teacher training providers recommend you start thinking about job applications quite early in your teacher training year.

    Schools start to advertise their vacancies from January.

    Non-UK citizens: right to work in the UK

    To teach in England, you will need a visa or immigration status that gives you the right to work in the UK. If you're not sure about your immigration status, you can check if you need a UK visa.

    You can also explore our advice about teaching in England as a non-UK citizen.

    Get help applying for teaching jobs.

  • Start your career

    Congratulations – you're a qualified teacher!

    Now that you’ve started your first teaching job, you’ll be an early career teacher (ECT) – this used to be called newly qualified teacher (NQT).

    For your first 2 years as an early career teacher, you’ll receive a package of support to help you find your feet. You'll get this automatically if you work in a maintained school but lots of other schools provide this for ECTs too.

    You’ll get a mentor to support you, boost your confidence and help you develop key skills, including behaviour management and ways to adapt your teaching. This builds on your initial teacher training.

    Find out more about support for early career teachers (ECT).

Get free one-to-one support

An adviser with years of teaching experience can help you with your teacher training application. Chat through phone, text or email as little or often as you need.