Most teachers get certified, find work, and spend their careers moving from one school to the next.
Then there are the teachers who design their careers: they systematically turn day-to-day wins into portable proof that works across hiring panels, curricula, and countries.
In India and the UAE, demand for classroom-ready, verifiable teachers is growing faster than the supply. That makes a documented, mentor-verified portfolio the single most compelling item on your CV.
Read on to see what a PgCTL course is, what it does differently, who it’s for, and how to make your application impossible to ignore.
The Professional Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (PgCTL) is a UK-aligned, practice-led program that combines taught modules with assessed, mentor-verified classroom practice. There are two common pathways:
- Professional pathway: Practice-focused, mapped to classroom observations and formative assessment
- Executive pathway: Includes the ATHE UK Level 6 Diploma articulation for added recognition and credit
Both pathways help you build a verified teaching portfolio that supports better hiring outcomes in Indian private schools and UAE international schools.
Here’s what you’ll need to be eligible for this course:
- Bachelor’s degree and full time teaching experience
- A nationally accredited teaching qualification (B.Ed., B.El.Ed., D.Ed., D.El.Ed., or M.Ed.)
- Proficiency in English
The enrollment process is guided, with an in-house counselor walking the candidate through the program details, answering any questions, and assisting them in selecting the professional or executive pathway that best suits their needs.
When schools sift through applications, degrees get you on the list; verifiable evidence of teaching quality moves you to interviews. PgCTL helps you package that evidence so recruiters can recognize, check, and trust it.
Why Indian Teachers Should Get PgCTL Certified
India’s digital expectations are scaling fast. Last year, schools with computers rose to 57.2% and with internet access to 53.9%.
This shift is changing how lessons are planned, assessments are run, and interviews are conducted, making digital readiness a core part of a teacher’s profile.
Why UAE Teachers Should Get PgCTL Certified
The private school sector in Dubai is expanding at a similar pace. In 2024–25, enrollment reached 387,441 students across 227 private schools, up 6% year on year, with hiring spanning UK, IB, US, and Indian curricula.
Such growth widens opportunity while tightening eligibility checks. To teach, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree and obtain the UAE Education Professional License, with overseas certificates requiring KHDA attestation.
Want to prepare for PgCTL in India & UAE?
Online options vary in purpose and recognition. A quick lens helps you choose something that gives recruiters concrete, classroom‑tested proof of how you think, teach, and grow.
When PgCTL fits best
- You already hold a B.Ed. or equivalent and want evidence-rich validation
- You aim for Indian private or international schools, UAE or USA roles where verified qualifications and observed practice matter
- You want the option to add an ATHE Level 6 Diploma for broader recognition
Other available courses
- The PGCEi is typically offered online and provides flexibility for international contexts; however, it does not confer QTS, which limits its recognition in some educational systems.
- QTS routes lead to licensure in England and strong portability, but require specific pathways and settings
- Short online teaching certifications help with fast upskilling with no eligibility barriers, ideal for targeted growth (assessment, behaviour, SEN, or EdTech) alongside work
PgCTL’s curriculum links teaching theory to the practical moves you use every day. Modules cover assessment design, child development, lesson planning, classroom dynamics, questioning techniques, and effective feedback.
Each module asks you to produce small, classroom-rooted artifacts rather than abstract essays.
Assessment is practical and cumulative. You’ll collect observed lessons, short lesson videos, anonymized student work, and reflective commentaries; mentors score observations against clear rubrics and feed that evidence directly into your portfolio.
This structure means the program builds your day-to-day practice and produces artifacts you can use in interviews and licensing checks.
Which leads us to the next step.
Certifications shouldn't feel like ticking a box. Rather, it should function as a practical toolkit that supports your work in any classroom, anywhere in the world.
Suraasa’s Professional Graduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning (PgCTL) is built as exactly that: a portable, practice-first credential with UK accreditation and KHDA-friendly pathways, giving B.Ed. holders recognition that travels.
Once enrolled, you join our network of 550,000+ educators in 50+ countries that value evidence and readiness.
Want a certification that actually helps you move, apply, and be trusted? Check out our website for the PgCTL course.
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