Level 5 DET: Become a qualified teacher without studying for years.

Some people might be wondering if tit is possible to become a qualified teacher without studying for a degree and the answer is YES!

Teaching is by and large a graduate profession, and it will be much easier for you to find work if you have a degree and have completed a teacher training course. However, there is an unconventional route that can be taken to make this possible. In this article, we look at the possibilities of becoming a qualified teacher without a degree and years of studying.

Traditional Teaching routes

There are generally three things that you must have to become a teacher: a degree, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and completion of an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme. For primary school teaching, you need to have GCSEs in English, maths and science. For secondary school teaching, you just need English and maths. In both cases, your grades ought to be C or higher (from 4 to 9).There's also the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), which is a higher education course for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the equivalent is the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). Sometimes these traditional routes are not suitable for everyone.

Alternative teaching route

There is now the possibility of doing the QTLS, which stands for Qualified Teacher Learning Skills. This was initially designed for sixth form teachers, but the law changed in 2012 to allow QTLS holders to teach in primary and secondary schools as well.

Where to start?

Pursuing a career as a teacher without a university degree may not be common, but it's certainly possible. There are separate prerequisites for becoming a teacher via the QTLS route. Follow these steps to learn how to become a teacher without a degree:

1. Acquire a Diploma in Education and Training (DET) The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training is a teaching qualification for the post-16 education sector. Both universities and colleges offer the DET, and it takes between one and two years to complete. Formerly known as the Diploma to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS), the DET is the equivalent of a second-year bachelor's degree. If you pursue this through a university, it might be referred to as a Certificate in Education (CertEd) or a Professional Certificate in Education (PCE). The qualify for a DET, you usually need at least 100 hours of experience in teaching, have Level 2 skills in maths and English or a Level 3 qualification if you're planning to teach classes involving numeracy or literacy. Training providers may also ask you to take additional tests to assess your numeracy, literacy and other skills. However, once you've received your DET, you can then apply for QTLS.

2. Gain Qualified Teacher Learning Skills (QTLS) Since 2012, QTLS has been recognised as equivalent to QTS, where previously it only qualified holders to teach sixth form. Just like QTS, you can gain QTLS through a degree, but this isn't always necessary. To qualify for QTLS without a degree, you need to get the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) or an equivalent (such as CertEd or PCE). Other QTLS requirements, such as Level 2 or Level 3 English and maths qualifications, are generally already required for the DET. To reach QTLS, you start by pursuing an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) certificate, after which you can register for the Professional Formation, leading to the QTLS.

3. Apply for teaching jobs Once you've gained QTLS status, you're officially qualified to carry out the same teaching activities as somebody who has the QTS. This means you can apply to teach in primary and secondary schools, besides the post-14 sector. Although you're legally on the same level as a QTS holder, some schools may still have their own requirements. Make sure you check these before making your application.