QTS with PGCE (Qualified Teacher Status)

What it is

QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) is the licence you need to teach in most state schools in England. The PGCE is a university qualification usually taken alongside QTS during a one-year training course. QTS is the legal status; the PGCE is the academic award that often comes with it.

Who it suits

This suits graduates who want a stable, pensioned career and are comfortable working in English at a very high level all day. It is a realistic route for overseas teachers who already hold a degree, though they usually apply for QTS recognition or take the international iQTS rather than starting from scratch. Without a degree, this route is closed.

How you qualify

1. Hold a UK bachelor's degree, or an overseas degree recognised as equivalent.
2. Have GCSE grade 4/C or above in English and maths (and science for primary teaching).
3. Complete a teacher training course (university-led or school-based) that includes QTS, usually one year full time.
4. Pass classroom placements and professional assessments to be awarded QTS.

Cost and how long it takes

A tuition-fee PGCE course costs about £9,535 for 2025/26, and you can usually take a student loan to cover it. Salaried and apprenticeship routes let you earn while you train instead of paying fees. Training normally takes one academic year, roughly nine months. Bursaries exist for shortage subjects. Check current fees and funding before you apply, as they change yearly.

The English you need

Be honest with yourself here: teaching in England needs near-native English. You explain ideas, manage a room of children, mark written work and talk to parents, all day, in English. If your English is not yet at this level, this is not the right first step. Reach the top of ESOL or a C1 level first, and consider a more accessible route in the meantime.

The honest reality

Training is intense and the first years are hard work, with long hours and heavy marking. For overseas teachers, the paperwork to get QTS recognised can be slow. But the shortage of teachers is real, jobs are widely available, and the pay and pension are dependable. The main gate is the degree plus the language, not money.

What you can earn

Newly qualified teachers start on the M1 pay point, about £32,916 across most of England for 2025/26, rising to around £40,317 in inner London. Pay climbs with experience up the main scale to the mid-£40,000s, and further with leadership roles. These are the official pay ranges, higher in and around London.

Your next step

If you have a degree and strong English, use the government's Get Into Teaching service to check your options and funding. If your degree is from overseas, look up QTS recognition and iQTS first. If your English is still developing, build that first and revisit teaching later.