The Society for Education and Training (SET) is committed to driving professionalism and improving teaching and learning in the Further Education (FE) and Skills sector. The eligibility criteria have been designed in collaboration with the Department for Education (DfE) and the FE and Skills sector and is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains fit for purpose and meets the needs of the sector.
Please note that we can only confirm your eligibility once we have reviewed your completed application. Please ensure you have read and understood the criteria before applying.
You will be required to evidence all qualifications achieved by submitting relevant certificates. Certificates must be dated before the application portfolio submission deadline: 27 October 2025.
If your qualification was awarded outside the UK, the UK ENIC statement of comparability is required, in addition to the qualification certificate, transcript and certified translation.
Last updated April 2025
The criteria on this page is applicable to the August-October 2025 application window only.
To be in a suitable position to apply, you need to:
Eligible setting examples:
SEND settings:
Settings and roles not eligible:
* If you are in the main role of classroom teacher, but are formally employed under a job title other than teacher, lecturer, or manager (eg: HLTA, TA, etc.), you can apply and will need to provide a signed letter from your organisation confirming that you are in the role of main classroom teacher to support your application.
Exceptional circumstances:
Secondary school settings where you teach one or more accepted technical subjects for a minimum of 230 hours across the 6-month professional formation period. This will need to be taught to post-14 or post-16 learners depending on the subject taught. Please refer to our list of eligible technical subjects for school settings.
* In exceptional circumstances applicants may be able to start professional formation leading to QTLS with groups that have fewer than five learners.
To do this the applicant must:
1. Meet and achieve all standard QTLS eligibility criteria.
2. Provide an employer agreement signed by a senior leader in the organisation in the application portfolio.
The employer agreement will evidence the following:
3. Complete an additional reflective validation activity during your professional formation programme.
Your supporter should be appropriately qualified to pass judgements on the evidence you collate, for example, a line manager or head of department. Your supporter should be a qualified and experienced teacher. Ideally, your supporter should be a member of SET, but this may not be possible in all cases. Find out more about who can be your supporter.
Learn more about the QTLS process from previous participants.
Still have questions? Browse our QTLS Help section with top tips and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).
QTLS is recognised, by law, to hold parity with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Does your organisation provide training for the Initial Teacher Qualification? Find out how we help organisations to support their student teachers.
Got questions about QTLS? View our help page.