This page outlines the English and maths qualifications we accept for QTLS and ATS, helping you understand the requirements you need to meet before applying.
- You must have been awarded and certificated for Level 2 English and maths qualifications on our eligible鈥痩ist, before registering for professional formation leading to QTLS or Advanced Teacher Status (ATS).
- If you hold a graded qualification this should be the equivalent of a Grade C or minimum of Grade 4 at GCSE.
- QTLS and ATS participants will need a minimum Level 2 qualification in both English and maths, regardless of their subject specialism.
Important information
- Please note that we only accept full formal Ofqual regulated qualifications (not CPD awards).
- Level 2 Adult Literacy or Level 2 Adult Numeracy qualifications are not accepted.
- If you teach maths and/or English for 5 or more hours per week, you will need to hold an accepted Level 3 or higher qualification.
- However, if you teach in a SEND setting, where you embed English and maths as part of a life skills curriculum, we would only ask for a Level 2 qualification in these subjects - unless your timetable/portfolio states you deliver discrete sessions of maths or English, either as standalone subjects or whcih lead to a qualification, e.g. Functional Skills.
- If your qualification was gained outside the UK, you will also need to provide a UK ENIC statement of comparability.
Last updated May 2026.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Level 2 maths and English skills
English qualifications:听
- GCSE English grades 4-9 (Language or Literature)听
- GCSE English A*-C (Language or Literature)听
- O Level English (Language or Literature) any pass grade (grades 1-6 or grades A-C)听
- CSE grade 1 English (Language or Literature)听
- Functional Skills in English Level 2 and above (OFQUAL approved)听
- Key Skills Communication Level 2 and above听
- Professional Skills Test in Literacy (DfE)听
- ESOL Skills for Life examinations at Level 2 (full qualification)听
- Northern Ireland Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills 鈥� Communication听
- OCNW/OCN Level 2 GCSE equivalent in English听
- Certificates in Essential Skills (3800)听
- Equivalency Testing for Career Development (GCSE equivalent) L2 English - Grades 9 鈥� 4听
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Maths qualifications:听
- GCSE Mathematics grades 4-9听
- GCSE Mathematics A*-C听
- GCSE Methods in Mathematics grades A-C (full course)听
- O Level Mathematics any pass grade (grades 1-6 or grades A-C)听
- CSE grade 1 Mathematics听
- Functional Skills in Mathematics Level 2 and above (OFQUAL approved)听
- Key Skills Application of Number 鈥� Level 2 and above听
- Professional Skills Test in Numeracy (DfE)听
- Associated Examining Board (AEB) Proficiency Test in Arithmetic听
- City & Guilds Certificate in Mathematics Skills (14 credits)听
- City & Guilds Certificate in Mathematical Techniques (13 credits)听
- Essential Skills Wales in Application of Number Level 2听
- NCFE Certificate in Basic Maths Level 2听
- Northern Ireland Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills 鈥� Application of Number听
- Certificates in Essential Skills (3800)听
- University of Plymouth maths equivalency test听
- Equivalency Testing for Career Development (GCSE equivalent) L2 Maths - Grades 9 - 4听
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Level 3 maths and English skills听
English qualifications:听
- A Level English Language听
- AS Level English Language听
- A Level English Language and Literature听
- AS Level English Language and Literature听
- A Level Communication Studies听
- AS Level Communication Studies听
- Oxford College Certificate of Diploma Education in English Literature听
- IBSL Level 3 Certificate in British Sign Language Studies (QCF)听
- Signature Level 3 NVQ Certificate in British Sign Language (QCF)听
- Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma 鈥� Level 3听
- Certificate in Delivering Basic Skills to Adults (City & Guilds Wales)听
- 14-19 Diplomas (higher and advanced) 鈥� England听
- Level 3 Award in English for literacy and language teaching听
- Level 3 (120 hours) TEFL teaching English certificate听
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Maths qualifications:听
- A Level Mathematics听
- AS Level Mathematics听
- Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma 鈥� Level 3听
- Certificate in Delivering Basic Skills to Adults (City & Guilds Wales)听
- 14-19 Diplomas (higher and advanced) 鈥� must include Functional Skills Mathematics at Level 2听
- Level 3 Award in mathematics for numeracy teaching听
- Secondary mathematics TSST (Teacher Subject Specialist Training) certificate听
- AQA Certificate Level 3 mathematical studies听
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Level 4 maths and English skills听
English qualifications:听
- Degrees in English Language/Literature/Communication听
- Additional Diploma in Teaching English (Literacy) in the Lifelong Learning Sector听
- Additional Diploma in Teaching English (ESOL) in the Lifelong Learning Sector听
- Diploma in Teaching English (Literacy) in the Lifelong Learning Sector听
- Diploma in Teaching English (ESOL) in the Lifelong Learning Sector听
- Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (English Literacy)听
- Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (English ESOL)听
- Subsidary Diploma听 in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (English Literacy)听
- Certificate for adult literacy subject specialists听
- Certificate for adult ESOL subject specialists听
- Signature Level 4 NVQ Certificate in British Sign Language (QCF)听
- Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)听
- Diploma in teaching English to Adults (DELTA) (Cambridge ESOL)听
- The Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Cert TESOL)听
- Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)听听
- Advanced Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) (160 hours)听
- Trinity Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Level 7听
- Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (that are, or have been, available from such awarding institutions as Cambridge ESOL, Trinity College London and RSA)听
- MA in TESOL听
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Maths qualifications:听
- BA or BSc or BEd or higher degree in Mathematics听
- Diploma in Teaching Mathematics (Numeracy) in the Lifelong Learning Sector听
- Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (Mathematics Numeracy)听
- Additional Diploma in Teaching Mathematics (Numeracy) in the Lifelong Learning Sector听
- Subsidary Diploma听 in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (Mathematics Numeracy)听
- Certificate for adult numeracy subject specialists听
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Ireland听
Level 2 maths and English skills:鈥�
- Leaving certificate (Level 4)听
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Level 3 maths and English skills:听
- Leaving certificate (Level 5)听
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Level 4 maths and English skills:听
- Advanced certificate听
- Higher certificate听
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Scotland听
Level 2 maths and English skills:鈥�
English qualifications:听
- English Intermediate 2 (Credit standard grade)听
- SVQ Level 2听
- Core Skills Communication 鈥� Intermediate 2 and above听
- ESOL National Qualification 鈥� Intermediate 2 and above听
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Maths qualifications:听
- Mathematics Intermediate 2 (Credit standard grade)听
- SVQ Level 2听
- Core Skills Numeracy 鈥� Intermediate 2 and above听
- Scottish Certificate in Arithmetic 鈥� Ordinary level听
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Level 3 maths and English skills:听
- SVQ Level 3 (Highers)听
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Level 4 maths and English skills:听
- SVQ Level 3 (Advanced Highers)听
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European and international听
Level 2 maths and English skills:听
English qualifications:听
- European Baccalaureate听
- International Baccalaureate听
- University of Cambridge International GCSE English (iGCSE)听
- CEFR C1 level (English)听
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Maths qualifications:听
- European Baccalaureate听
- International Baccalaureate
- University of Cambridge International GCSE Mathematics (iGCSE)听
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Level 3 maths and English skills:听
English qualifications:听
- Trinity Integrated Skills 鈥� ISE 3 (Common European Framework)听
- Edexcel International Test of English (Pearson) 鈥� Level 3 (CEF)听
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 鈥� score 6.5 and above听
- European Baccalaureate听
- International Baccalaureate听
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Level 4 English skills:听
- Trinity Integrated Skills 鈥� ISE 4 (Common European Framework)听
- Edexcel International Test of English (Pearson) 鈥� Level 4 (CEF)听
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For queries regarding any other qualifications not listed above, please contact the Professional Formation team via email at鈥�membership@etfoundation.co.uk听