IGCSE teachers can train through their exam board or through a university or government route. Cambridge offers syllabus-specific courses online, live virtual and face to face, plus Professional Development Qualifications. Pearson offers free two-hour Getting Ready to Teach sessions. For a recognised teaching qualification, the options include a PGCEi or England’s iQTS.
What training does Cambridge offer?
Three kinds of course and a qualification. Cambridge’s courses “are available in three different formats: online courses, live virtual courses, face-to-face courses”, and all are “facilitated by experienced Cambridge trainers” (Cambridge).
| Cambridge option | What it covers | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Syllabus-specific courses | Introduction, Focus on Teaching, Focus on Assessment, Marking workshops, Improving Speaking, resources-specific | Online, live virtual or face to face |
| Enrichment courses | ”Specific skills or concepts” to “transform your classroom practice” | Online and other formats |
| Professional Development Qualifications (PDQs) | Accredited teaching and leadership qualifications | Through accredited centres |
| Cambridge Assessment Network | Designing and developing effective assessments | Varies |
Online courses “take place on a virtual learning platform over 3 to 5 weeks”, with tasks completed “at a time of day that suits” the teacher. All courses are “certificated” (Cambridge course formats). Cambridge does not publish course prices on these pages; ask your regional office.
What are Cambridge PDQs?
Accredited, school-based qualifications. Cambridge says PDQs “provide accredited professional development based on international best practices and research”. They “are made up of three modules. Module 1 can be taken on its own as the certificate. Candidates can then progress to Modules 2 and 3 to complete the Diploma.” Each module “requires 150 hours of learning”, split between guided learning with an accredited Programme Leader, work-based learning and learning with a mentor (Cambridge PDQs).
What free training does Pearson Edexcel offer?
Two free online sessions, with paid options beyond them. From Pearson’s international PD page:
| Pearson option | For | Cost and format |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Ready to Teach | ”Teachers new to International GCSE or International A Level”: specification overview, getting started, assessment overview | ”Free, Online (2 hour session)”; certificate and digital badge; counts as 5 hours of CPD |
| Exam Insights | All teachers at Pearson Edexcel schools: analysis of recent exams | Free, online |
| Assessment and marking courses | Understanding assessment, marking accuracy, exemplars | ”Additional cost, available online (3 hours) and in-person (5 hours)” |
For a department new to Edexcel, Getting Ready to Teach is the obvious starting point.
Which routes lead to a teaching qualification?
The board courses build subject expertise, but they are not teaching qualifications. Two routes are common for teachers abroad:
| Route | What it is | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| PGCEi (e.g. University of Nottingham) | “A Level 7 qualification … and carries 60 CATS points”; 12 months part-time, blended | ”This course does not give Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)“ |
| iQTS (England) | “A teaching qualification that’s the equivalent of English qualified teacher status (QTS)”, trained “in the country where you live and work" | "A minimum of 24 weeks gaining practical experience in a school in your country”; no teaching experience needed to apply |
Sources: University of Nottingham PGCEi; Get Into Teaching: iQTS.
What changed for overseas-trained teachers in 2026?
Eligibility for England’s Apply for QTS service narrowed. GOV.UK says that “from 9 September 2026, teachers who trained to teach in Ghana, India or Nigeria will not be able use the ‘Apply for QTS in England’ service” (GOV.UK). Schools that recruit teachers from those countries with a view to UK QTS should look at other routes, such as iQTS or a UK training programme. This affects the teachers’ future options more than their current posts abroad, since international schools set their own hiring requirements.
How should a school plan IGCSE training for 2026-27?
Match training to each teacher’s stage, and use free options first. Our recommendation:
| Teacher | Priority training |
|---|---|
| New to Cambridge or to a syllabus | Cambridge Introduction course for that syllabus |
| New to Pearson Edexcel | Getting Ready to Teach (free), then Exam Insights |
| Teaching a revised 2027–2029 syllabus | Focus on Teaching or the board’s launch training; see syllabus changes |
| Marking coursework or setting mocks | Focus on Assessment or Marking workshops |
| Aspiring middle leader | Cambridge PDQ, or a leadership Enrichment course |
| Unqualified but experienced | iQTS or a PGCEi, depending on career plans |
Budget a course per teacher for each new syllabus, and schedule training before the teaching year starts. For making training stick, see effective professional development for teachers.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
Training changes practice when teachers can apply it straight away. AI Buddy gives teachers past-paper-style questions and marked student responses across Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel subjects. Teachers new to a syllabus can see how students handle each topic and command word. Schools can ask us about teacher onboarding for AI Buddy itself, which is separate from exam-board training.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free IGCSE teacher training?
Yes. Pearson’s Getting Ready to Teach is a free two-hour online session for teachers new to International GCSE or International A Level. Cambridge schools’ staff can also use Cambridge’s School Support Hub resources.
How long are Cambridge online training courses?
Cambridge’s online courses run over 3 to 5 weeks on a virtual learning platform, and are certificated.
Is there an IGCSE teacher certification?
Cambridge’s Professional Development Qualifications offer a Certificate (Module 1) and a Diploma (Modules 2 and 3), each module requiring 150 hours of learning.
Does a PGCEi give QTS?
No. The University of Nottingham states that its PGCEi does not give Qualified Teacher Status. England’s iQTS is the equivalent of QTS for teachers training abroad.
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Sources
- Cambridge International, Professional development, Course delivery formats and How PDQs work
- Pearson, Professional development and training
- University of Nottingham, PGCEi
- Department for Education, Get Into Teaching: iQTS and Overseas-trained teachers: apply for QTS in England (updated 9 September 2026)