Guide · updated 2026-10-16
Can you teach abroad without QTS?
Often yes, because QTS is an English legal requirement for some state schools, not a global one. GOV.UK says to check the regulator in the country where you plan to work, and each school sets its own hiring rules.
QTS stands for Qualified Teacher Status. It is the award that England uses, and GOV.UK describes it as a legal requirement to teach in many English schools. That sentence is easy to read as a rule for the whole world. It is not.
What matters abroad is the law of the country you are moving to and the person hiring you. Those two things vary a great deal, so the honest answer to the question is that it depends, and the sections below show where to look for the answer in your case.
What GOV.UK says QTS is actually required for
GOV.UK says QTS is required in English maintained schools, which it lists as community, voluntary controlled, foundation and voluntary aided schools, and in non-maintained special schools. It adds that academies, free schools and private schools can employ teachers without QTS, though many use it to assess candidates.
On teaching abroad, the page does not say QTS is required. It tells you to check with the regulator in the country where you plan to work, to see whether QTS is recognised there and whether further qualifications are needed. It names UK ENIC as a way to find that contact.
Who sets the rules: the country, then the school
Two layers apply. First, the government of the destination decides who may be licensed or given a work permit as a teacher. Some education regulators publish their own licensing rules for teachers in private schools, so look for the ministry or regulator rather than relying on a job advert.
Second, the employing school sets its own bar. A school that follows the English national curriculum may well ask for a degree, a teaching qualification and classroom experience, and may prefer QTS. A school that follows another curriculum may ask for something different. Treat the job advert as the school's requirement and the regulator as the legal one, and check both.
iQTS: a route to QTS if you have not trained in England
International qualified teacher status (iQTS) is a Department for Education backed qualification. GOV.UK says it is designed to meet the same standards as English QTS, and that completing it with an approved provider grants QTS. It is aimed at non-UK and UK citizens living outside England and does not require you to travel to England.
The DfE says iQTS is delivered by accredited English training providers working with placement schools outside England, takes a year, is taught largely online, and includes at least 120 days of classroom experience. The 2026 to 2027 provider criteria set entry requirements: a first degree, a standard equivalent to GCSE grade 4 in maths, and English proficiency, usually an IELTS average of 6.5 or equivalent. Providers set their own fees and application processes. The DfE does not fund the course.
Where QTS sits against a PGCE
A PGCE is a university qualification. In England, a PGCE route often leads to QTS, but the two are not the same thing, and an overseas employer may ask for one, the other or both. If you hold both, say so on your CV. If you hold a PGCE without QTS, ask the school whether that meets its requirement rather than assuming it does not.
If you trained outside England, GOV.UK points you to separate guidance on applying for QTS. If your qualification came from outside the UK, UK ENIC can issue a statement of comparability, which the iQTS criteria also refer to.
Questions teachers ask
Do I need QTS to teach in an international school?
GOV.UK does not say QTS is required to teach abroad. The destination regulator and the school set the rules, so check the licensing body for the country and read the advert closely.
Is iQTS the same as QTS?
GOV.UK says iQTS is designed to meet the same standards as English QTS, and that completing it with an approved provider grants QTS. Providers set their own fees.
Can I do iQTS while living abroad?
Yes. The DfE says it is suitable for non-UK and UK citizens living outside England, and that you do not need to travel to England. It is taught largely online with at least 120 days in a placement school.
Does iQTS let me teach in England later?
GOV.UK says iQTS and QTS holders can teach in all English schools if they have the right to work in the UK. Where QTS is legally required, statutory induction still applies.
What do I need to start an iQTS course?
The 2026 to 2027 DfE criteria require a first degree, a standard equivalent to GCSE maths grade 4, and English proficiency, usually IELTS 6.5 on average or equivalent. Check each provider too.