Who needs to engage with the Professional Update process

To work in a school in Scotland you must have Full (General) Registration. To maintain that status, all teachers are required to engage in the Professional Update (PU) process.

This includes:

• teachers of primary, secondary, Further Education and Additional Support Needs
• retired teachers who wish to remain on the Register  
• supply teachers
• registered teachers who work in contexts outside of the classroom, for example in national bodies, universities or in local authority centre roles

Retired and retiring teachers

If you are retired and you plan to undertake supply work after retiring, please get in touch using the contact form so that we can update your details.

Supply teachers

We recognise that for some supply teachers, the experience and access to professional learning and the Professional Review and Development process may be different.

Check with your employer in the first instance to see what the arrangements are. If you work for more than 1 employer, you can nominate 1 to be your employer for the purpose of PU sign-off.

Lapsed and rejoined

If you lapse from the GTC Scotland Register of Teachers and subsequently rejoin, your year of initial registration with GTC Scotland will determine the designated year of your first completion of the Professional Update sign-off.

Teachers not in employment

If you are not currently in employment, you still need to complete Professional Update to remain on the Register of Teachers. 

You must meet all the requirements of Professional Update, including the sign-off process. This status gives you the option to continue seeking employment.  

You can record your professional learning in MyGTCS.

Exemptions

Associate status

Full Registration (Associate) status is now a legacy registration status, meaning it is still valid but registrants can no longer move to this status.  

If you already hold Full Registration (Associate) status, you are only required to:

• update your contact details annually in MyGTCS
• pay the annual registration fee
• maintain the appropriate Professional Values and Personal Commitment set out in the appropriate Professional Standards.  

With associate status, you are not expected to confirm Professional Update.

Deferrals

There are some circumstances where you are able to deferral your PU year. Read more about deferral eligibility requirements.

Competency issues

The PU sign-off process is suspended for teachers going through stage 2 competence procedures. You should continue to engage in professional learning and PRD.  

To find out more, read the Professional Update policy