This article will advise you on everything that Best Practice Network can support with regarding registering with the DfE for an NPQ programme.
Please note, all participants must register with the DfE to receive their certificate upon completion of the programme.
I have not registered with the Department for Education (DfE) yet
What if I don't have a Teacher Reference Number (TRN), or are unsure what my TRN is?
The Teacher Reference Number (TRN) is a unique 7-digit reference number. Previously, it has been known as QTS, GTC, DfE, DfES or DCSF and may include the letters “RP” and maybe the symbol “/”.
For our records, we only need the 7-digit number. If your number is less than 7 digits, just enter the digits that you have.
If you do not know your TRN, or would like to check, you can access your teaching qualification records (including downloading a copy of your QTS certificate) here:
https://access-your-teaching-qualifications.education.gov.uk/qualifications/sign-in
If you are certain, you do not have a TRN, please proceed to submit your NPQ application with us, and following this, register with the DfE when prompted. The DfE will then contact you directly with your new unique TRN after confirmation of successful DfE registration for your NPQ programme.
This email from the DfE with your created TRN will look something like this:
How do I register with the DfE?
During the NPQ application process, you will be asked to register for your programme with the DfE, please use the below link to complete your registration:
https://register-national-professional-qualifications.education.gov.uk/
You may be prompted to set up a GOV.UK One account if you do not already have one. For more information on how to set up a GOV.UK One account, please visit this article.
Once you have completed your DfE registration you will not be able to edit it, therefore here are some useful tips before completing your DfE registration for your programme:
- Please ensure that you select Best Practice Network as your provider
- Please ensure you register for the correct NPQ programme you have applied for
- Please confirm the details of your school/setting, and for UK only - that this matches with your URN, you can check this on the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) website here:
https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search - If you do not already have a Teacher Reference Number then you must still register, the DfE will then contact you directly with your new unique TRN after confirmation of successful registration for your NPQ programme
If you experience any issues on the DfE site, please email: continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk - Please only register once
When should I do this?
You can register with the DfE once you have been requested to do so during the application journey with Best Practice Network. You will be prompted to complete this if you are offered a place on programme, and you will not be able to move forward with your application until you have successfully registered.
Please note, if you are scholarship funded (UK only) your funded place is not confirmed until this step is complete.
Please do not register with the DfE if you do not know your school URN (UK only). This is essential information for us to be able to connect your DfE details with your BPN application and holds vital information regarding your eligibility for funding. Your registration will not be valid without this.
I have already registered with the DfE
BPN are asking me to register, but I’ve completed this step already
This is likely because your TRN or school URN on your DfE application do not match the ones on your BPN application, and therefore we’re unable to identify you in the system. These details must match to be valid. Please double check your DfE registration against your BPN application answers.
If you notice there are discrepancies, either tell us the details to update your application with or create a new DfE registration with the correct details. You will not be able to edit an existing DfE registration and must complete a new one.
If you’re still unsure, please provide us with the details, or contact the DfE at:
continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.
I have registered with the DfE with another provider
You must ensure that you have registered with the correct provider. Only one provider can access your funding (UK only), and once a provider accesses your DfE details, the system will block your funding for all other providers.
If you register with the DfE more than once with more than one provider, this puts you at risk of starting your NPQ programme without funding. Providers can request with the DfE for your funding to be transferred over, however it is a long process and preferably avoided to mitigate delaying your programme start.
If you have registered with other providers and want to check if BPN has your funding secured, please let us know.
I need further support
If you do not find the answer you are looking for, depending on your query, please see below:
If you are experiencing an issue with the GOV.UK One account, please Contact GOV.UK One Login
If the issue is in relation to completing the DfE registration for your NPQ, please contact the DfE directly at:
continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk
Please reach out to our NPQ team if you have any additional queries.