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National professional qualifications (NPQs): what you need to know

Find out which national professional qualifications (NPQs) are on offer for school leaders and teachers, and what the rules are for eligibility and funding.

Last reviewed on 12 February 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 47813
Contents
  1. How do NPQs work?
  2. What NPQs are available?
  3. How are NPQs funded?
  4. How can NPQs fit into CPD planning?
  5. Leadership skills from The Key

How do NPQs work?

National professional qualifications (NPQs) are training courses for school leaders and teachers to improve their skills and support career progression. 

They're designed to be taken flexibly around existing work – they don’t require a break from working at your school to complete.

NPQ courses:

  • Last between 12 and 22 months (this includes time for assessment and to receive the results)
  • Involve face-to-face sessions, webinars and self-directed study
  • Are run by Ofsted-inspected providers

To apply, you/your staff member will need to find a local provider and register for an NPQ using a DfE identity account (providers are listed on each NPQ page below).

What NPQs are available?

The SENCO NPQ is now a requirement

It's a mandatory qualification and SENCOs will be required to complete the SENCO NPQ within 3 years of being appointed