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Apply for registrationApply for registration
There are a number of application forms available depending on who you are and the type of registration you require.
To help you choose, we've outlined the various applications below.
For teachers not registered with GTC Scotland
Teachers who qualified in Scotland
If you were awarded a teaching qualification from a Scottish university in Primary or Secondary education, you may be eligible for registration. It is a legal requirement for any teacher to be registered with us whilst teaching in a Scottish state school.
To register with us, please request an application pack. You will be asked to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If you have spent three months or more (in a single period) in a non UK country in the last ten years, we will also require an overseas police check.
Once the registration process is complete, you will receive confirmation of your registration with us and your registration number.
For teachers not registered with GTC Scotland
Teachers who qualified outside of Scotland
We welcome applications from teachers trained outside of Scotland. Before completing your application form please make sure you have read the information about the assessment process.
All applicants should visit our Teacher Qualified Outside of Scotland pages to find out about the eligibility criteria and assessment process.
For teachers not registered with GTC Scotland
Further Education lecturers who qualified in Scotland
If you were awarded a Teaching Qualification (Further Education) from a Scottish University you may be eligible for registration.
If you are awarded registration in Further Education this does not mean that you will be able to teach in local authority primary or secondary schools. Registration in Primary Education or Secondary Education will not be awarded on the basis of a Teaching Qualification (Further Education).
Useful Links
For teachers not registered with GTC Scotland
Further Education lecturers who qualified outside of Scotland
We welcome applications from FE lecturers trained outside of Scotland. Before completing your application form please make sure you have read the information about the assessment process.
If you are awarded registration in Further Education this does not mean that you will be allowed to teach in local authority primary and secondary schools in Scotland. Registration in Primary Education or Secondary Education will not be awarded on the basis of a Teaching Qualification (Further Education).
Have you let your registration lapse?
If you have been out of teaching for a while and have allowed your registration to lapse, you will be required to re-register with us. It is a legal requirement for any teacher to be registered with us whilst teaching in a Scottish state school.
To register with us, you can request an application pack. You will be asked to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If you have spent three months or more (in a single period) in a non UK country in the last ten years, we will also require an overseas police check.
Once the registration process is complete, you will receive confirmation of your registration with us and your registration number will be reactivated.
For registered teachers
Applying for Professional Registration
If you would like to apply for an additional registration category via Professional Registration you will need to complete an application. Visit our professional registration pages for more information.
For teachers not currently registered with GTC Scotland
Teachers who were removed/refused via Fitness to Teach procedures, formally known as Conduct and Competence
If you were removed from, or refused entry to, GTC Scotland's Register of teachers by a Fitness to Teach Panel, what was formerly either the Disciplinary Sub-Committee or a Professional Standards Panel, in order to be registered again, your application which is called a Subsequent Registration Application needs to be considered by a Fitness to Teach Panel at a hearing. In order for you to be admitted to our Register, that Panel will need to be satisfied that you are now professionally fit to teach. The onus is on you to demonstrate as part of the application and hearing process that this is the case.
When you were removed from, or refused entry to, the Register, as part of the direction made by the Panel, you would have been told that you were prohibited from applying for registration or re-registration for a set period of time. You cannot make a Subsequent Registration Application until that period has expired.
All applicants should view our Information for teachers removed via Fitness to Teach section to find out about the eligibility criteria and assessment process.
Application form and Guidance Notes
Once you have read the information and the required documentation, you can download the application form:
Information for teachers removed via Fitness to Teach
If you were removed from, or refused entry to, GTC Scotland's Register of teachers by a Fitness to Teach Panel (or, in the past, the Disciplinary Sub-Committee or a Professional Standards Panel), in order to be registered again, your application (what we call a "Subsequent Registration Application") needs to be considered by a Fitness to Teach Panel at a hearing. In order for you to be admitted to our Register, that Panel will need to be satisfied that you are now professionally fit to teach. The onus is on you to demonstrate as part of the application and hearing process that this is the case.
When you were removed from, or refused entry to, the Register, as part of the direction made by the Panel, you would have been told that you were prohibited from applying for registration (or re-registration) for a set period of time. You cannot make a Subsequent Registration Application until that period has expired.
The steps in the Subsequent Registration Application procedure are as follows:
- Once we have received your application, we will check it to ensure that it is complete, write to your nominated referees and send you a copy of the PVG or EPVG form for completion.
- You must return your completed PVG or EPVG application to us so that we can send it to Disclosure Scotland for processing.
- Once we receive your referee reports and PVG or EPVG certificate, your application, references and PVG Scheme record will be passed to our Fitness to Teach Department for consideration. The Fitness to Teach Department may carry out any further investigation considered appropriate in the circumstances.
- A case management discussion may be arranged to discuss your case and plan how a hearing will run. Further information about that process would be provided at the time by the Fitness to Teach Department.
- A hearing date will be arranged by the Fitness to Teach Department and you will be given at least 28 days notice of this. It is important to note that the purpose of the hearing is not to reconsider or re-hear the decision that was made to remove you from, or refuse you entry to, our Register. As noted before, the hearing will focus on determining whether you are now fit to teach. You can find out more about this process from our website or by contacting us.
- If the Fitness to Teach Panel decides at the hearing that you may be admitted to the Register, we will write to you to request payment of your registration fee. Once this fee has been received, your name will be placed on the Register of teachers in accordance with the Panel direction.
- If the Fitness to Teach Panel decides that you may not be admitted to the Register, you will be advised of your rights of appeal at that time and will be told when it would be possible to apply for registration again.
The Rules that govern our Subsequent Registration Application procedure are principally set out in our Fitness to Teach and Appeals Rules. You can get a copy of these from Fitness to Teach or by contacting us directly if you do not have internet access. You will find both the Rules and our website an important point of information.
You may find it helpful to obtain advice from your Professional Association or a legal adviser on the Subsequent Registration Application process and to assist you in demonstrating at a hearing that you are now professionally fit to teach. Any costs associated with obtaining such advice are a matter for you, not GTC Scotland.
Please note that if you are barred from regulated work with children under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (or similar legislation), any subsequent registration application will be refused automatically. You have no right of appeal where you are refused registration by GTC Scotland in these circumstances.
Required registration documentation
Failure to send in all the required documentation will result in your application being delayed. It may also lead to your application being closed and destroyed. If this happens you will be required to re-apply and you will be treated as a new applicant who will be required to complete another application form, provide supporting documentation and pay the non-refundable processing fee.
- Birth Certificate
- Documentation in support of name change
- Personal details page of passport (if applicable)
- PVG scheme Membership (if applicable)
- Overseas Criminal Record check (if applicable)
General Teaching Council for Scotland
Scottish Charity Register No: SC006187