How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
Undergraduate degree
You can do an undergraduate degree that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), for example:
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) with QTS
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS
Postgraduate certificate
If you already have a bachelor's degree without qualified teacher status, you can complete a postgraduate qualification like a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) to get QTS. This can be done at university or through a training programme based in a school.
You need QTS to teach in most primary and secondary schools in England but you do not need a PGCE to teach.
Find out more about QTS from Get Into Teaching.
You do not always need to have a degree in the subject you'd like to teach. Your teacher training organisation will decide whether you have the required skills and knowledge to teach the subject.
If your training organisation thinks you need to improve your subject knowledge, they will ask you to do a subject knowledge enhancement course.
Change careers to teaching
Find out about the support available if you want to change to a career in teaching.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
More Information
Apprenticeship
You may be able to apply to do an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Teacher Level 6 Apprenticeship.
The undergraduate option takes up to 4 years to complete. The postgraduate route takes around 1 year, with both leading to qualified teacher status (QTS).
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths
a degree for a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship
More Information
Work
You could start as a teaching assistant or learning mentor and do a part-time degree or an undergraduate teaching apprenticeship to gain qualified teacher status (QTS).
Volunteering
You might find it helpful to get some experience of working with young people.
You could volunteer at a school, do youth work or work on a holiday scheme.
More Information
Registration
you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in a state school in England
Career tips
You can attend a Get Into Teaching event before you apply to get advice about teaching, funding and the different training routes available. You can attend events in person and online.
Further information
You can discover more about how to become a secondary school teacher from Get Into Teaching.
You can also search for jobs through the Teaching Vacancies service.