No, there’s no age limit – and it’s never too late to train as a teacher! The average age of our Now Teachers is currently 47, and our oldest member is 67.

To become a teacher, you’ll need to meet the criteria set by the Department for Education. This means you’ll need:

• A GCSE grade C/4 or above in English Language and Maths
• An undergraduate degree (which will usually need to be at least second-class)
• Some qualifications in the subject you’d like to teach. For example: 50% of your degree, an A-level grade A/B or substantial professional experience

If you have overseas qualifications, they must be equivalent to, or above. You can check your qualifications through ENIC-NARIC.

Yes, you can. The number of days you train each week will depend on the provider you choose. For example, with some of our partners, you’ll be able to complete your school-based training in four days per week. We can advise you on part-time options once you register with us.

You have a choice of which qualification you study for and how you do it.

A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is an academic qualification which usually includes Masters level credits and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

If you choose to train via a university course, you’ll work towards a PGCE.

If you’re on a school-based route (which may include some training at university) you are likely to have the choice of whether you work only towards QTS, or whether you also complete a PGCE.

When you join Now Teach, we’ll talk you through the options that are available and help you figure out which is best for you.

You can verify any international qualifications you hold through ENIC-NARIC. While we can perform a short assessment for you, you will need to confirm officially with ENIC-NARIC before you can apply to become a teacher.

To confirm if you’re able to train as a teacher in the UK as an EU citizen, you should refer to the UK government website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/train-to-teach-in-england-non-uk-applicants.

We accept applications from non-UK citizens.

If you’re from within the EEA, you can apply if you have permission to work in the UK. For non-EEA citizens, you can currently apply if you’re eligible to work in the UK for the duration of the programme.

If you’ve not lived within the EEA for the last three years, you may not be eligible for the bursary.

During training, and if you’re eligible, you’ll receive a bursary or scholarship from the government that will be paid in monthly instalments. This works in the same way as a salary, but it is tax-free. No elements will need to be repaid.

The amount you’ll get will depend on which subject you wish to teach. Your training provider is responsible for deciding if you are eligible.

To find out more and to see the latest subject bursary allocation, please visit our page on finance and funding.

We’re an education charity, here for people who are interested in using their experience to change career and retain as teachers. We help by advising on training options, application processes and by providing support through initial teacher training and beyond.

We also run a network – a national community of people who’ve retrained as teachers – where our Now Teachers can share knowledge and resources and support each other too.

Whether you’re already interested in becoming a teacher, not sure if it’s for you, or have already begun your training, we’re here to help. You can register here to talk to a career change specialist.

Yes, absolutely. We’re here for anyone who’s looking to use their experience to retrain as a teacher. If you’ve already found a route that works for you, that’s great. And we’ve still got plenty of support we can offer, including being part of our Now Teacher Network.