Checks on teachers' qualifications

You must check qualifications for new teachers. Find out how to carry out these checks.

Last reviewed on 26 June 2023
See updates
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 5753
Contents
  1. What you must check
  2. How to check qualifications

What you must check

As part of the required pre-employment checks, you must verify teachers' professional qualifications, as 'appropriate'.

That's set out in paragraph 232 of statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education.

It's up to you to decide what's appropriate, but the guidance does mention checking:

  • The award of qualified teacher status (QTS)
  • The completion of teacher induction or probation

Early career teachers (ECTs) must undergo a QTS check

You must check for qualified teacher status (QTS) before allowing anyone to take up a post for a statutory induction. 

This is set out on pages 16 to 17 of the statutory guidance for ECT inductions (as applies from September 2023).

How to check qualifications

QTS

Use Teacher Services to verify the award of QTS.

Whether the teacher completed induction Prohibitions, sanctions and restrictions that might prevent the teacher from taking part in certain activities or working in specific