QTLS stands for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills Status. It is a professional status designed specifically for those teaching in the further education (FE) and skills sector and working with learners aged 14+. 

QTLS is awarded following successful completion of an intensive six-month programme of professional formation, including observed teaching practice, structured reflection and continuing professional development activities, evidenced through independent compilation of an online portfolio.  QTLS is not a course or qualification and is only open to those who have already achieved an accepted Level 5 initial teacher education qualification. 

Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) is a professional status designed for teachers and trainers in the further education (FE) and skills sector, such as FE colleges, sixth‑form colleges, adult and community learning, and work‑based learning. It is gained through a developmental process called “professional formation” after completing an appropriate teaching qualification (for example, the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training) and is awarded by the Education Training Foundation (ETF). 

QTLS must be maintained through annual ETF membership. Active QTLS holders are issued a Teacher Reference Number (TRN) and appear on the DfE’s register of qualified teachers (unless they opt out). 

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is the statutory teaching qualification for most state‑funded (maintained) schools in England. It shows you have met the Teachers’ Standards and completed approved initial teacher training. QTS is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency on behalf of the Department for Education and is legally required in maintained schools and non‑maintained special schools (although academies and independent schools may choose to employ teachers without it).  

Typical routes to QTS include a PGCE with QTS, School Direct, an undergraduate degree with QTS, or an assessment‑only route for experienced teachers.  

Holding QTLS status demonstrates that someone has completed ETF’s professional formation programme to evidence how they continue to develop their practice after having achieved their level 5 teaching qualification in a further education (FE) and skills setting. Whilst individual settings set their own recruitment and selection policies, QTLS is not designed as a status for those teaching in primary schools or working with learners aged under 14 in other settings.  

Yes, only members can apply. You can join ETF online or by calling us on 0800 083 1830   (Monday to Friday. If you have been a member previously, please call us to reactivate your membership. 

As a member of ETF you are undertaking to align your professional practice with our Professional Standards and Code of Ethics and Conduct. You also have access to an ongoing programme of free and subsidised continuing professional development and resources to support your practice. Together, these ensure that your QTLS status stays current. 

If you do not maintain your membership, then you no longer hold QTLS. If you are taking a career break or working outside of the sector, then you may no longer need to maintain your status. Should you wish to pick up your status again, then you can rejoin membership and your status will be active again.  

Undertaking QTLS will cost £55 to apply and £570 to participate. These fees support the costs of reviewing and moderating the hundreds of applications and portfolios we receive each year, as well as covering the ongoing costs of providing the status, and are non-refundable outside of our 14-day cooling off period. 

You can arrange to pay this in instalments. 

Once you have been awarded a place on a QTLS cohort, you will need to have either paid in full by credit/debit card, set up a payment plan or have a payment plan in place through your organisation before you can start the programme.

You will need to provide copies of the original certificates for your qualifications, and any relevant UK ENIC documentation if your qualifications were awarded outside of the UK.  
 
You will also need to complete the Evidence of Teaching Practice section in full with details of the subject/s that will be used to evidence your 230 hours teaching for professional formation, as well as upload a copy of your current professional CV. 

If you are a member of ETF and meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply to undertake our professional formation programme via the ETF website on the dates above. 

Applications will be reviewed from 1 September on a rolling basis and you will receive your feedback via email no later than 8 October if you are applying for the October 2026 cohort, or no later than 26 November if you are applying for the January 2027 cohort. 

QTLS is aimed at professionals in the further education (FE) and skills sector. To successfully apply for QTLS you will need to meet all of the following criteria: 

• Be a current member of ETF  
• Be employed in a FE and skills setting, teaching groups of post-14 learners 
• Must be teaching/training groups of five or more post-14 learners for a minimum of 230 hours over six months during the professional formation period (exceptional circumstances apply to prospective participants who are currently teaching smaller groups. Please see eligibility criteria). 
• Have identified a suitable qualified supporter 
• Hold an eligible FE and skills teaching qualification at Level 5 or above 
• Hold accepted Level 2 maths and English qualifications 
• Hold a Level 3+ qualification in any subjects that you teach for five or more hours per week. 

These are required in order to demonstrate that QTLS holders have met a standardised competency in both maths and English. This requirement, along with the rest of our eligibility criteria, has been designed in consultation with sector stakeholders. We regret that CPD awards and adult literacy and numeracy awards do not evidence the core skills in maths and English that are required. 

You can find the designation for your setting in the Ofsted report for your organisation. 

Once admitted onto the programme, you will be given access to the professional formation portfolio which consists of eight sections: 

About You  

• This is factual information such as your and your supporter’s email address, ETF membership number, etc. 
• You will need to complete and upload a signed supporter agreement form in this section. 

Updates to qualifications and roles and responsibilities   

• If your job role or responsibilities have changed since your initial application or during the professional formation period, you will need to upload any additional qualification certificates (if required), and an updated current CV. You will also need to tell us about your new role and responsibilities. If your timetable has changed, you will need to complete the updated evidence of teaching practice section. 

Self-assessment  

• This section requires completion of a self-assessment against the Professional Standards via an online template built into the portfolio, as well as the completion of an initial observation of your teaching. In-depth analysis of the outcomes of the self-assessment section will inform the Professional Development Plan (PDP) below. 

Professional Development Plan   

• The results of the self-assessment, along with the feedback from your initial self-assessment observation and discussion with your supporter, will inform your professional development plan (PDP). 
• This will include areas that you will address during the process of professional formation and the Professional Standards you intend to develop.  
• You will also need to upload a signed copy of the notes from an initial professional discussion with your supporter. 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record   

• Your CPD record will log the developmental activities and professional reading that relate to the areas identified in your professional development plan (PDP).  
• You will also need to upload a signed copy of the notes from your second professional discussion with your supporter. 
• You will undertake a small-scale piece of research and write an informed critically reflective educational research review. 

Critical reflection on impact  

• You will be required to write an informed, reflective account of the professional development activities undertaken during the period of your professional formation evaluating the impact this has had on your practice and learners. 
• You will also complete a final observation of your teaching 

Final action plan   

• This section requires you to complete a final action plan that will provide details of the professional development you intend to undertake. 
• This must demonstrate how you will continue to develop your post-14 practice for the next 6-12 months after submitting your portfolio. 
• You will upload a copy of the signed notes from your final professional discussion. 
• You will also upload a signed copy of your completed log of teaching hours. 

Final supporting statement submission 

• Completed by your supporter.  

This will depend on the nature of your work and the setting where you are teaching. However, you may expect to dedicate a minimum of 4 hours per week to the completion of the required evidence. 

If you are unable to complete the 230 hours of teaching practice required by the programme, you will not be able to submit your portfolio. In exceptional circumstances, you may be entitled to a refund, otherwise you will be entitled to re-apply to take part at a reduced rate on future programmes. Please contact us on 0800 083 1830 for advice.   

If your supporter is no longer able to support your portfolio, please email us at QTLS.ATSsupport@etfoundation.co.uk so that we can provide you with advice.  

Congratulations!  As well as being able to use the designation QTLS, you will also receive a certificate and digital badge that you can use to share your new status with colleagues and employers. You will also be added to our Professional Status Register (unless you choose to opt-out).  

We will also share your details with the Department for Education, so that they can add you to their central record of qualified teachers and assign you a Teacher Reference Number (TRN), if you don’t already hold one. Please be aware this can take up to four weeks. If you do not want us to do this, you can opt-out by sending an email to dataprotection@etfoundation.co.uk

In some cases, further additional evidence may be required in order to fully demonstrate how your practice continues to develop in relation to the areas for development identified in your self-assessment at the beginning of the programme, and drafted in your Professional Development Plan (PDP). The resubmission stage provides an opportunity to submit this further evidence. Participants are entitled to one free resubmission. 

To keep your new status, you must continue to be a member. Membership gives you the opportunity to develop your skills and focus on CPD through dedicated resources and access to events, ensuring that you keep your QTLS status current.