Teaching Qualification in Further Education Determination 2025

Scottish Ministers make the following determination in exercise of the powers conferred by article 30(1) of the Public Services Reform (General Teaching Council for Scotland) Order 2011([1]) (“the 2011 Order”) and all other powers enabling them to do so. In accordance with article 30(5) of the 2011 Order, Scottish Ministers have consulted with further education institutions or their representatives, the GTCS and such other persons appearing to them to have an interest and have had regard to any views expressed by those consulted.

Citation and tffect

1.  This determination may be cited as the Teaching Qualification for Further Education Determination 2025 and has effect from 1 August 2025.

Making of determinations

2.  The Scottish Ministers (who may determine what constitutes a recognised teaching qualification for individuals seeking registration as a further education teacher) make the determinations set out in paragraphs 3 to 5.

Admission of individuals to courses

3. (1) A person seeking admission to a course leading to a teaching qualification in further education must meet the entrance requirements in the schedule.
   (2) Where the requirements in the schedule are not met, a person’s skills and knowledge, gained through experience, formal training and learning, may be assessed for equivalent credit through the institution’s recognition of prior learning process, established in line with the Recognition of Prior Learning National Framework([2]).

Content, nature and duration of the teaching qualification in further education

4. (1) Courses of education leading to the teaching qualification in further education must include content relating to—

(a) professional standards for college lecturers,
(b) national educational priorities.

(2) The teaching qualification in further education must comprise of a minimum of 120 hours of teaching practice over the course of the programme.
(3) The teaching qualification in further education consists of 60 credit points on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, requiring a notional 600 hours of student engagement.

Assessment of the teaching qualification in further education

5. (1) The teaching qualification in further education must be assessed using a range of assessment methods.
   (2) The assessment must include at least 2 observations of teaching practice.
   (3) Assessment procedures must include procedures for re-sits, extensions and appeals.

Revocation

6. The Teaching Qualification (Further Education) (Scotland) Determination 2023 is revoked.

Shirley Laing
Director
St Andrews House
Edinburgh
Date: 31 July 2025

SCHEDULE Paragraph 3

Entrance requirements

1.  Paragraphs 2 to 6 set out the minimum entry requirements for access to a course leading to a Teaching Qualification in Further Education “TQFE”.

Entrance requirements – general

2. For access to a TQFE at all levels, the entry requirements for admission are—
   (1)Competency in the use of Digital Technology, and
   (2)The ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills to enable effective collaboration with learners and colleagues.

Entrance requirements - English

3. For access to a TQFE at all levels, the entry requirements for admission are—
   (1)A National Qualification in English at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 6 or an accepted equivalent, or
   (2)A National Qualification in English for Speakers of Other Languages at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 6 or an accepted equivalent.

Entrance requirements - mathematics

4.  For access to a TQFE at all levels, the entry requirements for admission are a National Qualification in Mathematics at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 4 or an accepted equivalent.

Level 9 Teaching Qualification in Further Education

5.  For access to a level 9 TQFE, the entry requirements for admission are—
   (1)A Higher National Diploma at level 8 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework or an accepted equivalent,
   (2)A Higher National Certificate at level 7 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework where this is the highest level of qualification available in the UK in the subject area concerned or an accepted equivalent,
   (3)A Higher National Certificate at level 7 where this was the highest level of qualification available in the United Kingdom in the subject area concerned at the time of study, alongside a professional learning award that demonstrates a candidate’s ability to work at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 8,
   (4)A City and Guilds Licentiateship at level 8 or an accepted equivalent, or 
   (5)Other qualifications of equivalent standard, based on level of study and number of credit points, to those listed above.

Level 11 Teaching Qualification in Further Education

6. For access to a level 11 TQFE, the entry requirements for admission are—
   (1)A degree from a higher education institution in the United Kingdom or a degree of an equivalent standard from a recognised institution outside the United Kingdom, or 
   (2)An associateship or diploma from a higher education institution in the United Kingdom or an associateship or diploma of an equivalent standard from a recognised institution outside the United Kingdom.

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the determination)

This determination is made under the Public Services Reform (General Teaching Council for Scotland) Order 2011 (“the 2011 Order”). Under section 30(1) of the 2011 Order, the Scottish Ministers are empowered to determine what constitutes a recognised teaching qualification for individuals seeking registration as a further education teacher.  A determination may make such provision about the education and training required to attain such a qualification as the Scottish Ministers think fit.

Through this determination, Scottish Ministers make provision about admission requirements for courses; content, nature and duration or courses; and assessment of individuals on courses for a recognised teaching qualification for further education (“TQFE”).

Paragraph 3, in conjunction with the schedule, makes provision about the requirements for admission of persons to a TQFE course. It provides that persons seeking admission must meet the requirements in the schedule. Where the requirements in the schedule are not met, equivalence may be assessed through the institution’s recognition of prior learning process, established in line with the Recognition of Prior Learning Framework.

Paragraph 4 makes provision about the content, nature and duration of a TQFE course. It provides that the course must include content relating to professional standards for college lecturers and national educational priorities, and comprise of a minimum of 120 hours of teaching practice. A course consists of 60 credit points on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, requiring a notional 600 hours of student engagement.

Paragraph 5 provides that a TQFE must be assessed using a range of methods; that the assessment must include at least 2 observations of teaching practice; and that assessment procedures must include procedures for re-sits, extensions and appeals.

Paragraph 6 revokes the Teaching Qualification (Further Education) (Scotland) Determination 2023.

([1]) S.S.I. 2011/215.
([2]) Recognition of Prior Learning National Framework for Scottish Higher Education published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2014.

Further information

Associated guidance: Teaching Qualification for Further Education (TQFE): guidance