Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is required to teach in most state-maintained schools in England. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) awards QTS, holds the teacher record, and manages prohibition orders (barring individuals from teaching). Verification is therefore a fan-out — QTS status plus no prohibition plus the enhanced DBS / children’s barred-list check (safeguarding). Note devolution: Scotland’s GTCS is a registration body, Wales has the EWC, and Northern Ireland the GTCNI — “UK” is not one system.
At a glance
- Overseas-trained QTS application assessment time
- 90% of applications assessed within 12 months; faster aim for applicants with valid experience in England; may take longer if references or verification are delayed[3]
Sources & verification
- QTS is required to teach in most state schools in England; the TRA awards QTS, holds the teacher record and manages prohibition orders, source, Last verified 2026-06-09
- Teaching regulation is devolved: England (QTS/TRA), Scotland (GTCS registration), Wales (EWC), Northern Ireland (GTCNI), source, Last verified 2026-06-09
- Overseas-trained QTS application assessment time: 90% of applications assessed within 12 months; faster aim for applicants with valid experience in England; may take longer if references or verification are delayed, source, Last verified 2026-10-14 🔶
Verified reference information, not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.