< Go back to all teaching training advice

There are three main ways of training to become a teacher. You can either choose a higher education based course with placements in schools, or apply for the Graduate Training Programme (GTP) or school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) which allow you to train as a teacher whilst being employed by a school.

This advice guide will focus on the former, known as the Postgraduate or Professional Certificate in Education or PGCE.

For information on the GTP, click here and for advice on the SCITT click here.

PGCE

A PGCE is usually a one-year, full-time course based in a university and with placements in a school.

These are offered at two levels, postgraduate or professional. The Postgraduate Certificate includes Masters level modules but both lead to the same qualified teacher status.

University and college courses normally include lectures and school-based training in at least two schools.

Primary teaching courses require at least 18 weeks of school-based training and if you are taking a secondary teaching course, you will spend a minimum of 24 weeks training in schools.

You will need to have obtained certain academic qualifications to apply. A GCSE grade C in English and maths is required (and Science if you intend to teach at primary level) and you will also need to have a degree or equivalent.

If you are teaching at secondary school level then your degree qualification should be relevant to the subject that you want to teach.

You can apply through the Graduate Teacher Trainer Registry website, who usually accept applications from mid-September to June for courses starting the following September or October. See their website for more details on application deadlines.

Search for a course here.