What does your PGCE certificate say?

[dontevenblink]

I am applying for teacher registration in NZ, which has been a very, very drawn out process, but the latest stumbling block is they are now saying I don't have the relevant qualification. I did a PGCE at University of Leicester in early 2000s. On my certificate it says "Graduate Certificate of Education". The education council here says I do not have a Post Graduate then as it does not meet the exact wording on their list of qualifications and therefore am not qualified. I have tried pointing out it is the same thing, and that they are dealing with semantics, you have to be post graduate to take a graduate as well, but no, it doesn't match their tick sheet.

I've asked them to contact the university to confirm it is a PGCE, but they won't, they want me to pay $800 to get it assessed here to see if it is up to the same standard as a PGCE. I have told them no, I am not paying to see if it is up to the same standard because it is the actual thing! I am getting nowhere.

I've emailed my University for some help and will progress up the chain with this, but I just wondered what other people's certificates say, so I have a bit more ammunition? Does yours say graduate or post graduate?

Mine says Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

I vaguely remember being told that if you did not pass the course at Level 7, only at Level 6 then you were awarded something else (Postgraduate Diploma perhaps?) and this was not sufficient to be able to work abroad in many countries.

Hmm...
Mine says PGCE too. Odd.

Mine says Postgrad too... how frustrating :(

Just looked out an old email...

The Level 6 pass awards a 'Professional Graduate Certificate in Education'... could this be what you have?

Hmmm. Definitely passed the course and got QTS. All of ours from the uni said Graduate as I questioned it at the time. Hopefully my University will get back to me.

Posted too soon...

The Professional Certificate is not the same standard as the Postgrad Certificate and does limit you working abroad as not all countries will accept it.

They would take a 'professional' graduate certificate of Education, it's the problem that there is nothing before the Graduate bit. It is definitely the PGCE I did, and passed at level 7.

Thanks for your replies, it makes it easier to be able to go back to the uni and ask them. Luckily I still have my PGCE stuff so went back through my work to check I'd passed everything (panicked for a moment!), and I have, so perhaps it's a quirk of the university. I wonder if they can issue another certificate with the full title?

I found a letter which says "The Board of Examiners for the Graduate Certificate in Education has met and agreed the pass list of those to be awarded the PGCE and recommendation for the award Qualified Teacher Status. I have pleasure in informing you that your name appears on the pass list..." so it is definitely the PGCE, but the university seems to not call it that on their certificates... aaaggh! I'll wait to hear back from the uni and hopefully use what they say and the letter to try and argue my case.

It is so frustrating, especially as I've just done the governments return to teaching course, which took about 7 months and I spent a month teaching (unpaid) as part of it... They have practising certificates here that have to be renewed every 3 years and if you don't get enough teaching experience in that time you have to take the course again (even if you've been teaching for years, and also supply teaching doesn't count towards it!). I really am beginning to wonder if this is all worth it.

Mine says "Postgraduate".
Good luck with it. I'm trying to get mine recognised in the EU. I've been told I have to go back to uni and do another degree in Maths and Science because they weren't part of my training. Nonsense. I've got a primary PGCE and have been subject leader for both subjects for years.
Alternatively, I'm apparently qualified to teach English and History at secondary level. Something I've never done before and have no inclination to pursue.

I did my pgce at Leicester too. It also only says graduate - never even noticed at the time. The letter from the dept of education issued to confirmI QTS does state it’s a pgce though. Good luck with it.

enid I had never given it a thought until the Education dept came back to me saying it is not a PGCE. Good to know I'm not the only one who has this though and its not just an error! Presumably a Leicester thing - when did you do your PGCE? Wondering if they still do this.

I've got the letter from the Uni saying I'm on the pass list for the PGCE, but apparently they will only take a certificate. Leicester have said they are looking into it and will get back to me soon, so we'll see...

I'm sure there's a solution. It's either the right level of accredited course or it isn't. Ask them if they will accept a transcript and order one from the university? I remember I had to do that for a postgraduate application abroad once. The transcript lists modules and marks.

Completed it a long time ago in 1999.

Phineyj there lies the problem. If I provide them with a transcript for a quification that doesn't exactly match the wording on their list of pre-approved qualifications, ie PGCE, then they will charge me $750 to look at the transcript and assess whether it is the same as the PGCE. Even though it is a PGCE. That's why I need the university to come through for me! The education council have a transcript already, and a letter saying I'm on the pass list for the PGCE, but they won't accept just that... grrr.

enid mine was 2003, wonder if they have changed since? I'll let you know what Leicester say when they come back to me.

I did a PGCE at leicester in 1995 and have checked my certificate and it says Graduate certificate of Education as well. In the same envelope I have a letter from the DFE that confirms QTS and that I have achieved a postgraduate certificate in education.

If you think you've a realistic chance of getting work I'd pay the £750 then (sorry no dollar sign on here) and see it as an investment. Annoying, but this is the price of bureaucracy. Maybe you could get a refund later.