PGCE

The Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) is a one-year course in the UK for existing degree holders leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is needed brecome a teacher in maintained (state or local authority) schools. The qualification is normally taught at a university or other higher education institutuion, though much of the course time is spent on placements at local schools.

It is rather poorly named, as a standard postgraduate certificate (PGCert) is the lowest level of post-graduate qualification, requiring about half the work of a post-graduate diploma (PGDip), which is similar to the taught element of most master's degrees. Though it is hard to compare directly, the PGCE's workload is probably closer to that of a master's. However, the name is now firmly established and unlikely to be changed.

Technically, the PGCE is a non-degree qualification (as it is directly related to a career, it is considered vocational) that does not grant any postnominals, however this is often ignored.

Applications for admission to PGCE courses are handled by a national clearing house, the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR).

External links

Graduate Teacher Training Registry website