What’s the difference between iQTS and iPGCE?

Teacher in front of a globe with signposts for IQTS and IPGCE

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What’s the difference between iQTS and iPGCE?

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Are you interested in teaching at an overseas international school? Learn more about the international teaching qualifications you might need to succeed internationally.

If you’re looking for routes into international teaching, you might have come across iQTS (International Qualified Teacher Status) and iPGCE (International Postgraduate Certificate in Education) qualifications and wondered what they are, what the difference between them is, and if you need them to teach internationally.

In this article we take a dive into both qualifications to help clear up any confusion around international teaching qualifications.

Understanding the difference between iQTS and iPGCE

iQTS and iPGCE (sometimes referred to as PGCEi) are very similar to the standard QTS and PGCE qualifications in England but are tailored for working at international schools.

The most important difference between the two is that iQTS leads to the award of qualified teacher status (QTS), which qualifies you to teach in England and is accepted by many international schools.

iPGCE does not award QTS as standard. Many institutions may, however, offer iPGCE with QTS, which is strongly advised to deepen your skills and knowledge in an international context.

What is iQTS?

iQTS enables you to gain qualified teacher status wherever you are in the world. It prepares you to teach in line with the Teachers' Standards in England and Wales and is backed by the DfE, making it a highly attractive qualification for many international schools.

iQTS is about developing excellent professional practice and sharpening the skills required for high-quality day-to-day teaching.

For example, Tes Institute’s iQTS is a teacher training course that blends in-school practical training with online learning and expert support.

The course helps to:

Gain QTS, an accredited teaching qualification accepted by most international schools

Understand effective teaching and learning through the Department for Education’s (DfE) Initial Teacher Training Early Career Framework (ITTECF)

Learn how to teach your chosen age group and specialist subject in an international context

Develop research-based teaching and learning practice to use in the classroom

Reflect critically on your teaching practice

What is iPGCE?

iPGCE is a postgraduate qualification at a UK Level 7 ( Master’s level) designed to improve the quality of classroom practice, develop effective subject knowledge and pedagogy within the context of international school systems.

It is about developing, deepening and refining the extensive foundational knowledge required to maximise student progress.

This course helps to:

Become an empowered, reflective practitioner

Critically engage with a wide range of education issues from a multi-disciplinary subject/phase perspective

Develop models of good practice by drawing on a range of literature and comparing your own experiences

Build on professional experience with theory and research

Many educators also use the iPGCE as a stepping stone to further academic study. For example, the Tes Institute iPGCE, awarded in partnership with the University of East London (UEL), is worth 60 UK level 7 credits. Depending on the course, these credits could later be used to contribute towards a full Master’s degree.

Key differences

Both courses help to improve your skills in the context of international schools, but there are a few key differences to consider before making a decision:

Achieving QTS

Not all iPGCE (or PGCE) courses automatically award QTS. iPGCE courses are theory-led and are not meant to be taken as initial teacher training. iQTS, however, does award QTS and is a school-based initial teacher training course.

However, with Tes Institute, you don’t have to choose between iQTS and iPGCE. You can combine both qualifications to gain a deeper understanding and improve your classroom skills. It is strongly advised to take both courses together to deepen your skills and knowledge in an international context.

Theory and pedagogy

Whilst iQTS provides initial teacher training, iPGCE goes further into theory and pedagogy, helping candidates to improve classroom practice and management skills through understanding the theory behind their practice.

Intensity

Both iQTS and iPGCE require commitment from you to dedicate to your own professional development. iQTS is a full teacher training course which includes study outside classroom hours as well as class observations, feedback and in-school support. iPGCE, on the other hand, is academic study which needs to be taken alongside your normal teaching practice.

Do you need iQTS or iPGCE to teach abroad?

Most international schools ask for similar qualifications; the minimum usually includes:

A bachelor's degree or equivalent

A full teaching qualification such as QTS or equivalent
iPGCE is also beneficial to demonstrate a deeper understanding of teaching in the context of international schools and would give you a head start over other candidates

As such, you may need iQTS to teach at an international school if you don’t already have an equivalent qualification. iPGCE isn’t strictly necessary but would be beneficial to demonstrate a deeper understanding of teaching in the context of international schools and would give you a head start over other candidates. Studying at UK Level 7 (MA level) is often recognised by school leaders and is therefore a desirable qualification for work in international schools and promotion

Note however that individual countries will have varying requirements for teaching in that country. You’ll want to check the specific entry requirements in the country you wish to teach in first before committing to any qualification.

Which course is for you?

Ultimately, which course is right for you will come down to your personal goals. If you are looking for high-quality initial teacher training, iQTS is an excellent choice that prepares you to teach in line with the Teachers' Standards in England and Wales and is backed by the DfE.

If your goal is to learn more about theory and pedagogy so you can apply that to your teaching, iPGCE is an ideal option.

With Tes Institute, you don’t have to choose between iQTS and iPGCE. You can combine both qualifications to gain a deeper understanding and improve your classroom skills.