Assessment only route to QTS: criteria and supporting advice
Criteria and supporting advice for accredited providers wishing to offer the assessment only route to qualified teacher status (QTS).
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The assessment only route to qualified teacher status (QTS) allows teachers to demonstrate that they already meet all the QTS standards, without the need for any further training.
Teachers need to present detailed evidence and their teaching is assessed in a school by an accredited and approved provider.
This guidance is for:
- accredited initial teacher training (ITT) providers and their partner schools
- Ofsted
Contact us
Initial teacher training market regulation team
This email address is for potential new and accredited ITT providers.
If you’re a potential candidate, wishing to gain QTS, visit [GetGet Into Teaching](Teaching: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/teacher-training-routes/specialist-training-options)..
Updates to this page
Published 8 August 2013
Last updated 129 SeptemberOctober 2023
+ show2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Update history
2025-10-29 12:00
Updated to reflect changes that have been made to the main initial teacher training criteria.
2023-09-01 09:30
Published updated criteria and supporting advice for the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
2022-09-01 09:00
Updated criterion C1.3 and information about the professional skills test has been removed.
Details
The assessment only route to qualified teacher status (QTS) allows teachers to demonstrate that they already meet all the QTS standards, without the need for any further training.
Teachers need to present detailed evidence and their teaching is assessed in a school by an accredited and approved provider.
This guidance is for:
- accredited initial teacher training (ITT) providers and their partner schools
- Ofsted
Contact us
Initial teacher training market regulation team
This email address is for potential new and accredited ITT providers.
If you’re a potential candidate, wishing to gain QTS, visit [GetGet Into Teaching](Teaching: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/teacher-training-routes/specialist-training-options)..
Updates to this page
Published 8 August 2013
Last updated 129 SeptemberOctober 2023
+ show2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Update history
2025-10-29 12:00
Updated to reflect changes that have been made to the main initial teacher training criteria.
2023-09-01 09:30
Published updated criteria and supporting advice for the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
2022-09-01 09:00
Updated criterion C1.3 and information about the professional skills test has been removed.
Details
The assessment only route to qualified teacher status (QTS) allows teachers to demonstrate that they already meet all the QTS standards, without the need for any further training.
Teachers need to present detailed evidence and their teaching is assessed in a school by an accredited and approved provider.
This guidance is for:
- accredited initial teacher training (ITT) providers and their partner schools
- Ofsted
Contact us
Initial teacher training market regulation team
This email address is for potential new and accredited ITT providers.
If you’re a potential candidate, wishing to gain QTS, visit [GetGet Into Teaching](Teaching: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/teacher-training-routes/specialist-training-options)..
Updates to this page
Update history
2025-10-29 12:00
Updated to reflect changes that have been made to the main initial teacher training criteria.
2023-09-01 09:30
Published updated criteria and supporting advice for the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
2022-09-01 09:00
Updated criterion C1.3 and information about the professional skills test has been removed.