iQTS Teaching License vs. U.S. Teaching License: What’s the Difference?

International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) and a U.S. teaching license both open doors to new employment opportunities and career mobility — but not necessarily the same doors. iQTS lets you teach in England’s state-funded schools while a U.S. license certifies you to teach in a specific U.S. state in addition to being one of the most widely recognized credentials at international schools worldwide.

Educators researching their certification options often run into the same handful of questions:

• Are iQTS and a U.S. teaching license equivalent?
• Which gets you hired faster?
• Which leads to more or better job opportunities?
• Is it worth earning both?

If you’re weighing iQTS against a U.S. license, here’s how the two compare.

What is iQTS?

iQTS meets the same standards as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), England’s official teaching credential issued by the Department for Education. QTS is required to teach in England’s “maintained,” government-funded schools and independent, “non-maintained” special schools. While institutions such as academies and free schools can hire teachers without QTS, many still prefer candidates who have the credential.

Unlike QTS, iQTS is available to anyone outside of England who wants to gain teacher training. The program’s intent is to improve the quality and quantity of teachers worldwide while expanding educators’ career options.

What is a U.S. Teaching License?

U.S. teaching licenses are issued by individual states, not a single national body. Each state sets its own requirements, which typically include:

• Earning a bachelor’s degree
• Completing an Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
• Passing state-mandated licensure exams (specific exams vary state to state)
• Clearing a background check

Career changers who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field can usually meet these requirements through an alternative certification program instead of going back for a second bachelor’s. Programs like Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program let you complete EPP coursework online from anywhere in the world.

Once you’re licensed as a U.S. teacher in one state, you’re eligible to teach in public schools in that state. If you want to teach in a different U.S. state, that’s often possible as well through a process called reciprocity. And, because a U.S. teaching license is widely respected around the world, international schools in various countries tend to prefer candidates who have one on their resume.

Is a U.S. Teaching License Equivalent to iQTS?

No, a U.S. teaching license is not equivalent to iQTS. The credentials require similar qualifications regarding subject knowledge, instructional practice, and professional standards, but they measure them against different national frameworks.

In short, a U.S. teaching license doesn’t grant qualified teacher status in the UK, and iQTS doesn’t certify you in a U.S. state.

Which Teaching Credential Do International Schools Prefer?

It often depends on the curriculum. Schools that teach a traditional British curriculum may favor candidates with iQTS. Schools running an American curriculum, or those accredited through U.S. bodies, usually look for a state teaching license. International Baccalaureate (IB) schools and other international curricula are often flexible and will accept either credential from an accredited program.

If your goal is to keep your options open across British, American, and IB schools, a U.S. teaching license tends to travel further because it isn’t tied to a single country’s state-school system in the same way as iQTS.

Can iQTS Convert into a U.S. Teaching License (or Vice Versa)?

No, there’s not a direct or simple process to convert iQTS into a U.S. teaching license or to turn a U.S. teaching license into iQTS.

However, teachers trained outside England (including those with a U.S. license) can often teach in England’s state schools for up to four years before they’re required to hold iQTS. Similarly, educators with iQTS may be able to work in the U.S. for 3-5 years on a J-1 visa through the teacher exchange program.

Do Teachers Need Both iQTS and a U.S. Teaching License?

It depends on your goals.

Aiming to teach long-term at a state school in England? iQTS would be a good fit.

Want to work for an international school, an institution that uses American curriculum, or a public school in the U.S.? It would be best to earn a U.S. teaching license.

For teachers who want maximum flexibility — whether that’s because they want to work in both systems or aren’t sure about their career direction yet — having both iQTS and a U.S. teaching license could remove a potential barrier before it shows up. You won’t be passed over for a British curriculum role because you’re lacking iQTS or for an American curriculum role because you don’t have a U.S. license. It’s also worth considering getting both credentials to showcase your versatility if you’re applying for leadership roles that draw candidates from across the globe.

However, the big caveats here are time and money. Most teachers wouldn’t choose to get both qualifications unless there were a program that offered them together, at a reasonable price and in a quick enough time frame.

Moreland University Supports Teachers Around the World

If you’re ready to earn your U.S. teaching license, Moreland’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program is built for educators who want to work in the U.S. or internationally. It’s 100% online, with one live virtual class per week, so you can complete it from anywhere in the world.

With rolling admissions, monthly start dates, and hands-on clinical learning (student teaching), you can complete TEACH-NOW in as little as 9 months.

Apply for free today, and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.

FAQ

Is a U.S. teaching license the same as iQTS?

No. They’re issued by different countries under different frameworks.

Which credential do international schools prefer?

It depends on the curriculum. British curriculum schools may prefer iQTS, but schools running American curriculum and many International Baccalaureate (IB) schools often prefer a U.S. teaching license.

Can I convert my iQTS into a U.S. teaching license, or vice versa?

No, there is no direct process for converting iQTS into a U.S. teaching license, or for using a U.S. teaching license to gain iQTS.

Do I need both credentials?

It depends on where you plan to teach. One credential is enough for most teaching paths, but if your goals span both the U.S. and British systems — or you want maximum flexibility in your career — holding both iQTS and a U.S. teaching license is worth considering.