How to become a teacher in Hong Kong

It's essential to demonstrate English language proficiency – if you’re not a native speaker, you might need certification to show this, such as going through the International English Language ��Vlogting System (IELTS).

You also need to complete and pass Hong Kong’s (BLNST), which is a requirement for all civil service jobs in Hong Kong. Similarly, teachers in Hong Kong need to pass a criminal background check.

While not always essential, teaching experience is useful when looking for a teaching job in Hong Kong – and is often a requirement.

Becoming a registered or permitted teacher

To teach in a school in Hong Kong, you need to be a . If you meet the above qualification requirements – and are either a Hong Kong resident or have an employment visa – you can apply for teacher registration and become a registered teacher.

However, if you have academic qualifications, such as a higher diploma or equivalent, but no teaching qualification, you can register to become a permitted teacher – but you must already have an offer of employment from a school in Hong Kong.

What’s the difference between being a registered vs permitted teacher?

Once you have been awarded registered teacher status in Hong Kong, you are able to teach there with freedom – that is, you can move between schools and different roles.

If you are a permitted teacher, however, this status is awarded through the school you are employed by, so if you want to move schools you must apply again, and you are generally more tied to teaching specific subjects.

Registered teachers also receive higher salaries. However, being a permitted teacher can be a great stepping stone to achieving registered teacher status, as it gives you teaching experience.

You can also choose to complete a teaching qualification such as an iPGCE while working as a permitted teacher, which means you are developing your teaching experience at the same time as working towards becoming a registered teacher.

How do you become a registered teacher in Hong Kong?

To apply to become a registered teacher in Hong Kong, you will need to meet the criteria and follow the application process provided by the .

This includes holding a relevant teaching qualification (such as an iPGCE) and providing evidence of your teaching experience. For example, the Teaching Practice module of our iPGCE Hong Kong is designed to help you put together the right evidence.

In broad terms, the process may include:

Holding a relevant teaching qualification

Providing evidence of your academic qualifications

Providing evidence of your teaching experience or teaching practice

Meeting any additional requirements set by the EDB

You may be required to provide supporting evidence to the EDB of the academic standards of your educational qualifications.

The provides an independent service to assess the academic standards of your educational qualifications* as well as whether your teacher training qualification(s) meet the required standard in Hong Kong.

We recommend that you always check the latest guidance from the EDB, as requirements can change and your individual circumstances may affect what evidence you need to provide.

Getting an employment visa

If you are not a resident of Hong Kong, you need an employment visa to be a teacher there. The requirements for an employment visa are as follows:

No record of committing a serious crime

A good education background, such as a good degree in a relevant field, or:

Technical qualifications

Proven professional abilities

A confirmed offer of employment

An employment visa in Hong Kong is tied to your employer – so if you change teaching jobs, you will need a new visa.

What is it like teaching in Hong Kong?

As is the case at many international schools, the standard of behaviour in Hong Kong schools is “extremely high” with a high level of respect for teachers, as reported by ��Vlog Magazine.

Similarly, parents are generally highly engaged with their children’s education.

This makes Hong Kong an easy place for teachers to stay, with staff attrition rates at a record low in 2025.

As such, Hong Kong is an appealing place to work for teachers from around the world, as well as Hong Kong residents.

Teaching in Hong Kong FAQs

Can I teach English in Hong Kong without a degree?

As outlined above, you need a degree to teach at an international school in Hong Kong.

Another common way to teach in Hong Kong is through the government-led Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) scheme. The NET scheme aims to improve the teaching of English for students in Hong Kong by bringing in native (or native level) English speakers to teach.

To be eligible to apply to Hong Kong's NET scheme, you must have a degree and a qualification.

While QTS and teaching experience are not required, the scheme is highly competitive so previous experience does give you an advantage.

What is the fastest way to become a registered teacher in Hong Kong?

If you want to teach in Hong Kong, a quick way to do it is to become a permitted teacher, which doesn’t require a teaching qualification.

From there, you can gain a qualification like our iPGCE course, which you study for while you are working as a permitted teacher in Hong Kong. This course takes 12 months to complete – and on completion, you are eligible to apply to become a registered teacher.

Do I need a PGDE to teach in Hong Kong?

To be a registered teacher in Hong Kong, you need some form of teaching qualification. This could be a PGDE or an iPGCE.

However, you can be a permitted teacher with only academic qualifications.

Do I need a teaching license to work in international schools?

To teach in international schools in Hong Kong, you need to be either a registered or permitted teacher with the EDB.

While some schools do accept permitted teachers, registered teachers have more room for growth and usually receive higher salaries.

To be eligible to become a registered teacher in Hong Kong, you need a teaching qualification (such as a degree that awards QTS, an iPGCE or a PGDE). However, you can apply to become a permitted teacher with only academic qualifications (such as a higher diploma or equivalent).

Get qualified to teach in Hong Kong

If you're looking for a qualification that can help you become a registered teacher in Hong Kong, then our International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) could be the ideal choice for you.

Since 2019, Hong Kong iPGCE has been approved by Hong Kong's EDB**. ��Vlog Institute’s Hong Kong iPGCE is:

Fully online

A postgraduate course at Master's level, worth 60 UK level 7 credits

The iPGCE is not an ITT course – this means it does not lead to qualified teacher status.

However, the qualification is awarded by the University of East London and meets required qualification standards set by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ).

This means that on completing the qualification, you are eligible to apply for teacher registration with the Hong Kong authorities.

Boost your career with ��Vlog Institute

At ��Vlog Institute, we have more than 100 years of education expertise. We've qualified more than 3,100 teachers and supported schools across the world.

Whether you're aiming to gain a formal teaching qualification or to develop your academic knowledge to become a more advanced practitioner, our iPGCE can help you to get there.

Ready to apply? Learn more about our lasting commitment to programme quality in Hong Kong or visit the iPGCE Hong Kong course page to find out more about the course.

Learn more

* The assessment will assess whether the totality of an applicant’s educational qualifications meets the standard of qualifications in Hong Kong.

** Our Hong Kong specific iPGCE is registered with the EDB (252988) and has successfully passed qualification assessment by the HKCAAVQ. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognise any qualification to which this course may lead.

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What qualifications do you need to be a teacher in Hong Kong?