If you’re searching for a rewarding job where you can make a difference in the lives of others, teaching in the UK could be the right fit. Because teacher training and registration rules are different in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, this guide focuses mainly on becoming a teacher in England and notes where the rules differ across the UK.
Teaching can offer steady career progression, school holidays, and competitive pay. In England, qualified teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools have a minimum starting salary of £32,916, or more in London, from September 2025. Teacher vacancies in England fell in November 2025 compared with the previous year, but the school workforce data still shows ongoing vacancies and temporarily filled posts, so qualified teachers remain important to the education system.
How to Become a Teacher in the UK
Becoming a teacher in the UK requires the right qualifications, training, suitability checks, and, for many teaching roles, professional registration or qualified teacher status. In England, you usually need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to teach in maintained primary, secondary, and special schools. Wales also uses QTS for maintained schools, while Scotland requires registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, and Northern Ireland requires registration with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland for grant-aided schools.
Step 1. Earn an Undergraduate Education or Teaching Degree
The first step depends on whether you already have a bachelor’s degree. In England, you need a bachelor’s degree in any subject to train to teach in primary, secondary, and special schools. If you do not already have a degree, you can choose an undergraduate teacher training course that combines a bachelor’s degree with QTS. Teacher degree apprenticeships may also be available for eligible candidates.
You can also study broader education degrees at UK universities, such as the University of Birmingham or the University of Manchester. These degrees can help you explore topics such as education theory, learning, social change, child development, and education policy. However, not every education degree is a teacher training course, and an education degree alone may not lead to QTS.
Before applying, check whether the course directly leads to QTS. If it does not, you will usually need to complete a postgraduate teacher training course after your undergraduate degree. For postgraduate teacher training in England, you usually need a degree, GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in English and math, and GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in science if you want to teach primary school.
Step 2. Complete a Postgraduate Teacher Training Program
If you already have a degree, the next step is usually to apply for postgraduate teacher training that leads to QTS. In England, training may lead to QTS only or to QTS with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). A PGCE is useful, but it is not required to be a qualified teacher in England.
Postgraduate teacher training usually includes school placements, classroom practice, mentoring, and theoretical learning. Full-time postgraduate teacher training in England usually takes about nine months, while part-time training can take 18 to 24 months. Some salaried routes are available, including School Direct salaried courses, postgraduate teaching apprenticeships, and Teach First training, but these are competitive and may have different visa or work-right requirements.
Once you complete your accredited teacher training and meet the required standards, your provider can recommend you for QTS. This is the professional status that allows you to teach in many schools in England and is often preferred even where it is not a legal requirement.
Step 3. Obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check
Earning QTS does not mean you can start teaching immediately. Before you train or work with students under 18 in England, your training provider or employer will arrange safeguarding and criminal record checks. This is known as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
For work in a nursery, school, or college, an Enhanced DBS certificate and a barred list check are generally required. You cannot apply for an Enhanced DBS check by yourself; it must be requested through a recruiting organization or registered body, such as a school, training provider, or employer.
Step 4. Apply for Teaching Positions and Complete a Probationary Period
With QTS, the right to work in the UK, and the required safeguarding checks, you can start applying for teaching positions. Many schools advertise vacancies online, and you can also use the official Teaching Vacancies service for jobs in England.
When you apply for a teaching job, you will usually need a CV or application form, a personal statement or cover letter, references, evidence of your qualifications, and proof of your right to work in the UK. Schools may also check your teacher record and registration status before you start work.
In England, newly qualified teachers are now called early career teachers (ECTs). Instead of a one-year probationary period, most ECTs complete a two-year induction with training and support based on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework. During this period, you should receive mentoring and reduced classroom teaching time: 10% in your first year and 5% in your second year, in addition to standard planning, preparation, and assessment time.
Step 5. Continue Professional Development
Even after you begin working as a teacher in the UK, it is important to continue your professional development through training, mentoring, conferences, and school-based learning. This will help you stay up to date with teaching methods, curriculum changes, safeguarding expectations, and classroom practice.
Continuing professional development can help you provide better support for students and can also help you progress into roles such as subject lead, head of department, pastoral leader, senior leader, or specialist teacher.
Becoming a teacher in the UK requires education, training, suitability checks, and professional commitment. However, the rewards can be significant, from making a positive impact on students to building a career with ongoing opportunities for growth.
FAQs: How to Become a Teacher in the UK
Can a Foreigner Become a Teacher in the United Kingdom?
Yes. Non-UK citizens can train to teach or work as teachers in the UK, but the rules depend on where they want to teach and whether they are already qualified teachers. In England, non-UK citizens who want to train to teach usually need a bachelor’s degree, qualifications equivalent to GCSE grade 4 (C) in math, and, for teaching pupils aged 3 to 11, a science qualification at the same standard. Visa applicants also need to meet English language requirements.
If you trained as a teacher outside the UK, you may be able to apply for QTS in England through the professional recognition service, assessment-only QTS, teacher training in England, or international qualified teacher status (iQTS). QTS does not automatically give you a job or a visa, so you must apply for teaching jobs and immigration permission separately. If you need visa sponsorship, check whether the school or training provider can sponsor the relevant visa before you apply.
By following the steps in this article and checking the requirements for the part of the UK where you want to teach, you can work toward a fulfilling career as a teacher. If you have the passion, patience, and commitment to support students, teaching in the UK can be a meaningful professional path.
We hope this article has helped start your journey as a teacher in the UK. If you want to know about life and universities in the UK, check our Study in the UK Guide and this article on more Available Programs for International Students.
