Archive Website of the UK government

Teacher training

To become a fully qualified teacher in a state-maintained school in England or Wales, you need to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) first.

For graduates, there are two main ways to get QTS:

• taking a postgraduate course, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
• following an employment-based route, where you train in a school and learn on the job

Postgraduate courses normally take one year full time, or two years part time. Applications for these courses normally open in September.

Employment-based routes generally take between one and two years. See the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website for information on teacher training – including the options open to graduates.

• Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) - types of course Opens new window

Applications and funding

The Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) handles applications for all postgraduate ‘Initial Teacher Training’ or ‘Initial Teacher Education’ courses in England and Wales, and most in Scotland. Or you can get information on teacher training courses in Northern Ireland through the Department of Education.

To apply for the employment-based route into teaching, you’ll usually need to get in touch with the training provider direct. You can find out how to do so on the TDA website.

• Apply for a postgraduate Initial Teacher Training course with the GTTR Opens new window

• Teaching in Northern Ireland Opens new window

• How and when to apply for Initial Teacher Training - more from the TDA Opens new window

Teach First

Teach First is an independent charity offering employment-based training for top graduates who wouldn’t normally consider a teaching career. The programme involves two years working in challenging secondary schools, plus leadership training with employers. At the end of the two years, you decide whether you want to stay in teaching or not.

• Find out more about Teach First Opens new window

Social work

If your first degree is not related to social work and you would like to retrain, you can apply for a two-year postgraduate diploma or three-year master of science (MSc) in social work. Both of these qualifications allow you to get started in a social work career.

• Social work and social care careers information from the NHS Opens new window

• More on social work careers from the General Social Care Council Opens new window

Applications and funding

For postgraduate courses based at a university or college, you should apply through UCAS. The financial support available may include a non-repayable social work bursary.

• A guide to higher education admissions through UCAS

• Finance for NHS and social work courses

Careers in healthcare

If you want to train as a doctor, dentist or nurse and your first degree is not related to medicine, you will have to start by studying for another undergraduate-level qualification. This will take between three and six years.

There are no formal fast track schemes for graduates. However, for some courses – including some in nursing - you may get credit for having studied at graduate level before, and avoid having to do certain access modules.

A first degree in an arts subject may help you get on to a postgraduate diploma course in particular areas of healthcare. Examples are speech therapy, art therapy, music therapy and counselling.

For information on funding for courses in healthcare, see 'Finance for NHS and social work courses'.

• Contact NHS Careers

• Finance for NHS and social work courses

More useful links

• Public sector careers (employment section)

Useful contacts

• Graduate Prospects

• Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS)

• Universities and higher education contacts