The Verifera Encyclopaedia — Careers edition

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and the Teaching Regulation Agency

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QTS is the credential required to teach in most state schools in England; the Teaching Regulation Agency awards it, holds the teacher record, and manages prohibition orders. (Scotland, Wales and NI have separate regulators.)

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.

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, verified 2026-06-09
  • Teaching regulation is devolved: England (QTS/TRA), Scotland (GTCS registration), Wales (EWC), Northern Ireland (GTCNI) — source, verified 2026-06-09

Verified reference information — not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.

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