Qualified Teacher Status (QTS): teaching in Wales

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) allows you to teach in a maintained school in Wales. It also allows you to teach in a non-maintained special school. 

To gain QTS you must: 

• meet a set of professional standards that are set out in legislation 
• register in the category of school teacher with the Education Workforce Council (EWC)  

The Education Workforce Council are responsible for awarding QTS. They can also award QTS to teachers from other UK countries or countries outside the UK.  

To gain Qualified Teacher Status in Wales you must complete a period of Initial teacher education (ITE). Once you have qualified, your ITE Partnership will inform the EWC of your results.   

The EWC will award you Qualified Teacher Status and issue your QTS certificate.  

Once you have received this, you need to register with the EWC. 

You then need to complete a period of induction.   

When you have completed your induction period, the EWC will issue your induction certificate.  

Your QTS will be automatically recognised. You need to register with the EWC to teach in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales.  

If you have completed your ITE in Northern Ireland or Scotland, you will need to apply directly to the EWC for recognition of QTS and register. 

If you have completed your ITE outside of the UK, you will need to apply directly to the EWC for recognition of QTS and register. 

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. 

For further information about the QTS application process and to access application forms visit the EWC website. We also have a dedicated area on the Education Wales YouTube channel for the Teaching Wales campaign.