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Early Years Teacher Qualifications: Routes, Entry Requirements and Costs

What you need to become an early years teacher in England: EYTS routes, GCSE and degree requirements, costs, and how a Level 3 can be your first step.

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Updated 10 min read

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To teach children from birth to age 5 in a nursery or early years setting in England, you need Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). You reach it by completing early years initial teacher training (EYITT) or a degree apprenticeship, and every route expects a degree or a degree in progress, plus GCSE-standard English, maths and science. If you do not yet hold those, a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification is the usual first step into the sector, and it can be studied online.

This guide explains the difference between the main job titles, sets out each EYTS route with its entry requirements and cost, and shows how an adult with no degree can plan the path from where they are now.

TL;DR

  • EYTS is the professional status for teaching birth to 5 in nurseries and early years settings. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is needed for maintained primary school reception classes.
  • EYTS routes need a degree or a degree in progress, and GCSE grade 4/C (or equivalent) in English, maths and science.
  • The new Level 6 degree apprenticeship lets you earn a salary while working towards a degree and EYTS, with tuition fees covered.
  • Without a degree, start with a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, check it is on the official list, and build experience.
  • Our Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator is from £79.99 per month, with a 7-day free trial.

Table of Contents

Early years teacher, early years educator and primary teacher: what is the difference?

The titles sound alike, but they lead to different jobs and different qualifications.

Early years educator (EYE) is a Level 3 role. Educators work directly with children, plan activities and can count towards staff-to-child ratios if their qualification is approved. Our guide to the Early Years Educator Level 3 covers the role in more detail.

Early years teacher (EYT) holds EYTS, a graduate-level status. According to Get Into Teaching, EYTS is the qualification for nurseries and early years settings, and it is also recognised in academies, free schools and independent schools.

Primary school teacher holds QTS. If you want to lead a reception class in a maintained primary school, EYTS alone is not the right qualification and you should look at QTS routes instead.

This matters because many adults searching for early years teacher qualifications actually need the Level 3 first. The teacher route sits above it.

The routes to Early Years Teacher Status

There are two ways to achieve EYTS: early years initial teacher training (EYITT) or the early years teacher degree apprenticeship (EYTDA). Within EYITT, the routes differ by whether you already hold a degree, whether you are employed, and how much experience you have.

Costs and availability vary by provider, so confirm them with the provider before you apply. The route list above follows Get Into Teaching.

Undergraduate and postgraduate routes

If you do not have a degree, an undergraduate programme that includes EYTS lets you earn the degree and the status together. If you already have a degree in any subject, a postgraduate programme is the more direct choice. Graduate Entry is the full-time training route, and Graduate Employment-Based suits people who already work in a setting and can be supported by their employer.

For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Department for Education funds both main EYITT routes, with training grants of £9,535 paid to providers and a £7,000 incentive for employers on the Graduate Employment-Based route. These grants go to providers and employers, not directly to you, but they explain why an employer may be willing to sponsor a trainee.

The Level 6 degree apprenticeship

The early years teacher degree apprenticeship, introduced in 2026, is the route most relevant to career changers already working in a nursery. Apprentices receive a salary from their employer while they work towards a bachelor’s degree and EYTS, and tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year are covered through the apprenticeship levy or DfE co-funding.

Places are limited at the start. The government’s announcement says the new apprenticeship will allow 400 staff to earn while they learn, so speak to your employer early. The route needs an employer willing to take part, which makes it different from a course you can enrol on alone.

Assessment Only

Assessment Only is the fastest route, at roughly three months, but it is not a shortcut for newcomers. It is self-funded at around £2,500 to £3,000, and the government guidance expects candidates to demonstrate the teachers’ standards through existing practice. In practice, that means substantial verifiable experience, usually across more than one setting or age group. It suits an experienced graduate practitioner, not someone who is just starting out.

Early years teacher requirements

Entry requirements are set by each training provider within DfE rules, so check the specific course. The common ground is:

  • A degree, or a degree in progress. Postgraduate and assessment routes need an existing degree. Undergraduate and degree apprenticeship routes award it as you train.
  • GCSE-standard English, maths and science. The DfE’s Assessment Only guidance says providers must ensure entrants have achieved a standard equivalent to grade 4 in GCSE English and maths. The degree apprenticeship asks for grade 4/C or above in English, maths and science, per Get Into Teaching.
  • A Level 3 qualification for the apprenticeship. Providers have discretion to accept an assessment in place of the Level 3 requirement.
  • A selection process. Providers interview candidates and assess their suitability to work with children, and you will need an enhanced DBS check before placements.

The GCSE point is where many adults stall. If you left school without grade 4 in one subject, you can resit as an adult, or you may be able to use an equivalent. Our guide on GCSEs for childcare explains when the certificate is genuinely needed. We also teach GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language online, each from £29.99 per month.

If you do not have a degree: start with Level 3

Most adults who ask how to become an early years teacher are not yet in a position to apply for a degree route. The practical question is what to do first. The answer in most cases is to qualify as an early years educator at Level 3, work in a setting, and then progress.

There are three reasons this order works:

  1. You earn and gain experience. Experience in a nursery or similar setting strengthens an application for a degree apprenticeship and is essential for Assessment Only later.
  2. Your employer can support the next step. The apprenticeship needs an employer, so a track record in a setting helps.
  3. You start counting in ratios. A Level 3 can make you more employable, provided it is approved. See the next section.

Our career pathways page shows how the steps connect, from teaching assistant roles through Level 3 and on to higher study. If you are still unsure which level suits you, the pathway chooser is a quick way to narrow it down.

Check that your Level 3 is “full and relevant”

Not every Level 3 childcare qualification counts towards staff-to-child ratios in England. To be included in ratios, a qualification must be recognised as full and relevant by the DfE. The department’s qualification requirements and standards document, updated in July 2026, sets out the conditions. Two points catch people out:

  • Level 3 practitioners must also hold a suitable Level 2 English qualification, such as GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent.
  • Staff with a Level 2 or 3 qualification obtained after 30 June 2016 must also gain a paediatric first aid qualification within three months of starting work.

Before paying for any course, search the DfE’s early years qualifications list. It says to check using the course start date rather than the completion date, because the start date decides which criteria apply. If your chosen qualification is not listed, ask the provider in writing how it is recognised and what extra learning is needed. We explain this in more detail in our guide to nursery practitioner qualifications that count in EYFS ratios.

What it costs and what it pays

Costs depend on the route, so plan around the one that fits your situation:

  • Degree apprenticeship: no tuition cost to you, with fees covered, and you are paid by your employer.
  • Assessment Only: around £2,500 to £3,000, self-funded.
  • Level 3 Early Years Educator with Lift College: from £79.99 per month, with all tuition, tutor support and awarding-body certification fees included.

Qualification level is linked to pay. The DfE has reported that practitioners with degree-level early years qualifications typically earn about £5.50 more per hour than those trained only to an A-level standard. That is a sector-wide figure, not a promise about any one job, but it shows why progression beyond Level 3 can be worthwhile.

Our funding and costs page sets out what is paid and what support exists for our own courses.

Studying the Level 3 Early Years Educator with Lift College

Our Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator is studied online, with a named UK tutor, and is priced from £79.99 per month. There are no contracts and no credit checks, and you can pause or cancel at any time. A 7-day free trial lets you see the platform and the tutor support before you commit. Our qualifications are Ofqual-regulated, and awarding-body fees are included in the subscription.

If you are earlier in the journey, other options include the Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning, from £39.99 per month, and the Higher Level Teaching Assistants (RQF) Level 4 qualification, from £49.99 per month. You can compare every course and plan on the pricing page, or see the full childcare qualifications online range. Anyone aiming for a degree later without A Levels may also want to read about Access to HE Diplomas, including the Access to HE Diploma (Education Professions), from £69.99 per month.

Placement requirements apply to practical childcare qualifications, so read the details in our guide to childcare qualifications online before enrolling.

Start a 7-day free trial to see whether online study fits around your work.

A step-by-step plan

  1. Decide the job. Nursery or early years setting means EYTS. Reception class in a maintained school means QTS.
  2. Audit your GCSEs. You need English, maths and science at grade 4/C or equivalent for teacher routes, and a Level 2 English for Level 3 ratio purposes.
  3. Check the qualification list. Use the DfE list with your course start date.
  4. Complete the Level 3 and work in a setting. Build documented experience, including paediatric first aid.
  5. Speak to your employer about the degree apprenticeship. Or look at a part-time undergraduate programme.
  6. Consider Assessment Only later. Only once you have a degree and substantial experience.

FAQ

Can I become an early years teacher without a degree?

Not directly. EYTS routes require a degree or are delivered alongside one. You can begin with a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, gain experience, then move to an undergraduate programme or the Level 6 degree apprenticeship.

Is EYTS the same as QTS?

No. EYTS covers birth to age 5 in nurseries and early years settings. QTS is the status needed for maintained primary school reception classes, so choose according to where you want to work.

Do I need GCSEs to train as an early years teacher?

Yes, in practice. Providers expect grade 4/C or equivalent in English, maths and science. If you are missing one, you can resit as an adult or ask the provider which equivalents they accept.

How long does it take to become an early years teacher?

It depends on the route. Assessment Only can take around three months for experienced graduates, while an undergraduate degree or the degree apprenticeship takes longer because you earn a degree alongside EYTS. Providers publish their own durations.

Does every Level 3 childcare qualification count in ratios?

No. It must be recognised as full and relevant by the DfE, and Level 3 staff also need a suitable Level 2 English qualification. Check the official qualifications list using your course start date.

Sources

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by the Lift College team. It is provided for general information and does not replace personalised advice. For guidance on your specific situation, contact our learner support team on info@liftcollege.co.uk.

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