The Road to Teaching: How Long Does a PGCE Take?
If you are considering a career in teaching, then one big question that you might have about the process is the time it takes to become fully trained. Many highly regarded professions requiring specific qualifications can take some time to complete and the same can be true of teaching too, but this really depends on where you are in life and what educational qualifications you already have.
This guide aims to break down how long it takes to become a teacher via the most popular route in the UK – the PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education).
How Long Does It Take to Become a Teacher? What qualifications do I need?
Although a PGCE course itself can be completed in a year, we need to take a step back and consider the requirements first. The first thing you will need to apply for a PGCE is a higher education qualification, specifically a bachelor’s degree. The teaching profession aims to recruit the best candidates, and it’s also a highly academic pursuit. As such, higher education is fundamental to acquiring the core academic skills and practices needed for teaching, as well as providing a foundation of subject knowledge.
Bachelor’s Degree
Studying for a degree typically takes three to four years to complete, depending on the course. This can take longer if studying part-time. The exact length of part-time study can vary depending on the course, or the institution you are studying at, but it typically takes around four to six years to complete.
Since many of those considering a move into teaching have already been to university the good news is that this requirement is probably already fulfilled. If your degree subject only loosely links to the subject you want to teach and you want to teach one of the in-demand subjects, you can top up your knowledge via a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course. The SKE courses can take anywhere from 8 to 36 weeks, so it’s important to be prepared to have time set aside for this. There may also be an additional tax-free bursary to cover the time so, again, it’s worth getting in touch with your chosen institution(s) to find out what financial support is available.
It’s also worth noting at this point that entry into a PGCE programme will also normally require a minimum of grade C/4 or above in Maths, English and – if going down a primary education route – Science too. If you did not achieve the minimum requirements, then this will add some extra study time onto your route to teaching. However, there are plenty of options for retaking in part-time courses via collages or online, so this should not be considered a major barrier to a career in teaching. There is also the option to sit an equivalence exam and use this as evidence for PGCE entry.
PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education)
So, you have your degree and have completed any SKE course requirements set by the institution you have applied for teacher training with. It’s now time to start the PGCE itself. The PGCE course is designed for you to learn how to teach and is constructed of lectures and self-learning, much like your university degree, but also includes school placements to build up practical skills and help you apply your knowledge too.
The University of Exeter PGCE, as a full-time commitment, and will take 1 year to complete. Some providers may offer a part-time option for two or more years.
Beyond PGCE
Upon successfully completing a PGCE you will achieve your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). You will also enter an Early Career Teacher (ECT) assessment period. The ECT lasts two years and is effectively a probationary period as you start your life as a paid, working teacher. You will receive support from your school during this period and have an assigned induction tutor and undergo assessments and feedback on your performance over the year. You will gain a remission from your full time teaching load over these two ECT years.
Beyond this, you will have the rest of your career to look forward to as you develop, grow and become an expert in your field.
If you are considering a career in teaching at the University of Exeter, find out more about our routes into teaching or contact our PGCE Admissions Office for more information and support.
