Overseas Trained Teachers

Teaching in England

Teaching in England if you trained to teach outside of the UK: 

Overseas trained teachers (OTTs) can be a valuable part of the schools’ workforce. However there are some things to consider before first teaching in a UK maintained school.

In addition to any right to work in the UK / sponsorship criteria, having a good level of written and spoken English and passing necessary safeguarding/criminal checks. you may need to also be aware of the conditions of your Teacher Status.

Overseas Trained Teachers (OTTs)

If you have successfully qualified as a teacher from within the following list of countries/regions, your teaching qualification may be recognised and you can be awarded UK QTS without having to undertake any further training or assessment.

If you are an OTT from one of the following countries, if you meet the requirements, you can complete verification with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) to be awarded UK QTS:

• Australia
• Canada
• the EEA
• Guernsey
• Gibraltar
• Hong Kong
• Jersey
• New Zealand
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• Switzerland
• Ukraine
• the USA

Once you have been awarded this, you can be paid on the Qualified Teacher’s pay scale and subject to the same conditions and entitlements as other teachers.

In addition to the countries list above, if you have a subject specialism in languages, maths or science and a teaching qualification to teach 11 to 16 year olds from the following countries, you can use the new professional recognition service to apply for QTS, if you meet the requirements:

• Ghana
• India
• Jamaica
• Nigeria
• Singapore
• South Africa

For more information please visit: Teach in England if you trained outside the UK | Get Into Teaching GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)

Teachers from other countries not listed above: 

Teachers from any of the countries not listed in the information above, will be subject to the 'Four-Year Rule'. This means that although you are not recognised as having UK QTS, you will be able to teach in a maintained school for up to four years and be paid on the Unqualified Teacher’s pay scale.

This four-year rule starts with the first day of employment in a maintained UK school and does not stop with any breaks in that employment. Once the four years have expired, you will need to have obtained UK QTS through a recognised ITT training route or cease teaching. 

For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/qualified-teacher-status-qts