Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

To become a teacher and teach in a maintained school in Wales, you need to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), this is done by meeting a set of Professional Standards that are set out in legislation.

There is no single definition of what a maintained school is but broadly it is a school which is state-funded and wholly or substantially financially maintained by a local authority. Maintained schools are different from independent schools. 

In order to take on a teaching role in a maintained school in Wales you must also register in the category of school teacher with the Education Workforce Council (EWC) the competent authority and regulator for the teaching profession in Wales. They are responsible for awarding QTS and can also award QTS to teachers from:

• England
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• Any country outside the UK

To train as a teacher in Wales and gain QTS you must complete a period of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and meet the Professional Standards for teaching and leadership. Once you finish your ITE Programme and have qualified your ITE Partnership will inform the EWC of your results. You will be awarded QTS by the EWC who will also issue your QTS certificate.

You will also need to register with the EWC to work in a maintained school in Wales.

Once you have gained QTS and registered with the EWC you will need to complete a period of induction. On completion of your induction period EWC will issue your induction certificate.

If you completed your ITE in England you’ll be awarded QTS by the Teaching Regulation Agency, England’s competent authority and regulator of the teaching profession. This is recognised in Wales but you will need to register with the EWC to work in maintained schools in Wales.

If you completed your ITE in Northern Ireland or Scotland you will need to apply directly to the EWC for recognition of QTS and register with the EWC to teach in maintained schools in Wales.

If you completed your ITE outside of the UK you will need to apply directly to the EWC for recognition of QTS and register with the EWC to teach in maintained schools in Wales.

If you qualified outside of the UK and have been awarded QTS in England, Northern Ireland or Scotland you will not automatically gain recognition to teach in Wales. You must apply directly to the EWC for recognition of QTS and register if you wish to work as a school teacher in a maintained school in Wales.

For further information about the application process for the recognition of QTS and to access application forms visit EWC.

Further information about becoming a teacher in Wales is also available. We also have a dedicated area on the Education Wales YouTube channel for the Teaching Wales campaign.