The United Kingdom has updated its eligibility requirements for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), removing Nigeria and Ghana from the list of countries whose teachers can use the direct application route. This change, effective September 9, 2026, also applies to India. The UK Department for Education (DfE) made this decision to ensure that the professional standing, qualifications, and employment history of overseas-trained teachers can be properly verified.
Under the new criteria, countries must have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers' professional standing and provide authenticated references. Nigeria and Ghana failed to meet the reference-verification requirement. The DfE cited the nature of employment references submitted by applicants from these countries, noting that over 70% of applications include work history references using public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than a school's official email domain.
The DfE emphasized that the verification process is necessary to ensure the authenticity of information supplied by applicants. The department must be confident that the information provided is genuine before granting QTS. This process helps ensure that overseas teachers awarded QTS have the skills and experience needed to teach in schools in England.
QTS is a crucial professional status for teachers seeking employment in England, required in many schools, although not legally required in every type of school. UK government guidance allows overseas-qualified teachers to teach in England for up to four years without QTS under specified conditions.
The revised rules do not completely shut Nigerian and Ghanaian teachers out of teaching in England. Teachers who cannot use the direct QTS service may pursue alternative routes, including assessment-only QTS, teacher training in England, or international qualified teacher status (iQTS), depending on their circumstances.
To qualify through the direct route where available, applicants must meet specific requirements, including holding a valid passport, a degree equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree, professional recognition as a teacher in their country of training, completed mandatory induction requirements, and at least nine months of post-qualification teaching experience. They must also provide references confirming their work history through school-domain email addresses.
The UK government currently lists South Africa among the African countries whose teachers can still access the QTS application route, subject to applicable conditions. This change highlights the UK's efforts to maintain high standards in the teaching profession, while also providing opportunities for overseas-trained teachers to contribute to the education sector in England.
Key points
- The UK has removed Nigeria and Ghana from the list of countries eligible for the direct Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) application route due to issues with verifying employment references.
