Omanghana
Teachers trained in Ghana, Nigeria and India can no longer apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England through the Department for Education’s direct online recognition service, following changes introduced on September 9, 2026.
The department attributed the decision to difficulties verifying professional references and teaching credentials under its updated eligibility requirements.
For Ghana and Nigeria, it said more than 70 per cent of applications included employment references using public email services such as Gmail and Hotmail instead of official school email addresses. This required assessors to spend additional time and resources confirming the information supplied.
The department explained that reliable verification was necessary to establish that applicants possessed the skills and experience required to teach in England.
India’s removal was linked to the absence of a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing. Under the revised criteria, eligible countries must have such a regulator and provide references that meet the department’s requirements.
The change closes one qualification pathway but does not amount to a blanket ban on affected teachers working in England. Other routes remain available, subject to eligibility.
Qualified overseas teachers may work in England for up to four years without QTS under the applicable exemption. Employment and visa requirements must still be met separately.
Experienced teachers can also pursue the assessment-only route, which allows eligible applicants to demonstrate that they meet teaching standards without completing another training program. Requirements include a degree, at least two years of teaching experience and relevant school experience.
Another option is International Qualified Teacher Status, or iQTS, delivered by English training providers through online learning and partnerships with schools overseas. Applicants may also undertake teacher training in England.
Source: Omanghana
