You must complete Department for Education (DfE) registration during your National Professional Qualification (NPQ) application when prompted by Best Practice Network. Register only when asked, ensuring your Teacher Reference Number (TRN), school URN, and programme details match your application. If you lack a TRN, register anyway and await your new number. Mismatched details require correction or new registration. Contact support via provided emails for issues with registration or login.
You must complete Department for Education (DfE) registration when Best Practice Network prompts you during your National Professional Qualification (NPQ) application. Use the DfE registration service, select Best Practice Network and make sure your programme, Teacher Reference Number (TRN) and school details match your Best Practice Network application. You must register to receive your certificate after completing the programme.
When to register with the DfE
Register with the DfE only when Best Practice Network asks you to do so during your application journey. You will be prompted if you are offered a place, and you cannot continue with your application until you have registered successfully.
If you are receiving scholarship funding in the UK, your funded place is not confirmed until you complete DfE registration.
Do not register if you do not know your school URN in the UK. Best Practice Network needs this information to connect your DfE registration to your application and check information relating to your funding eligibility. Your registration will not be valid without it.
How to complete DfE registration
- Go to the DfE National Professional Qualification registration service when prompted during your Best Practice Network application.
- Set up a GOV.UK One Login if the service asks you to and you do not already have one. See [VERIFY: link to "creating-a-gov-uk-one-login" could not be resolved] for instructions.
- Select Best Practice Network as your provider.
- Select the correct National Professional Qualification programme for which you applied.
- Confirm your school or setting details. In the UK, make sure they match your school URN.
- Check your school URN using the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) service.
- Check all your details carefully before submitting your registration because you cannot edit it afterwards.
- Register only once, unless you need to correct an existing registration as described below.
What to do if you do not know your Teacher Reference Number
A Teacher Reference Number (TRN) is a unique seven-digit reference number. It may previously have been labelled QTS, GTC, DfE, DfES or DCSF [VERIFY: add the full forms of QTS, GTC, DfES and DCSF]. It may also include the letters “RP” or the symbol “/”.
Best Practice Network only needs the seven-digit number. If your number has fewer than seven digits, enter the digits you have.
If you do not know your TRN or want to check it, use the Access your teaching qualifications service. This service also allows you to download a copy of your QTS certificate.
What to do if you do not have a Teacher Reference Number
If you are certain that you do not have a Teacher Reference Number, submit your National Professional Qualification application to Best Practice Network and register with the DfE when prompted. You must still complete DfE registration.
After your National Professional Qualification registration has been confirmed as successful, the DfE will contact you directly with your new unique TRN.
What to do if Best Practice Network says you have not registered
If you have already registered but Best Practice Network is asking you to register, your TRN or school URN on your DfE registration may not match your Best Practice Network application. These details must match for the registration to be valid and for Best Practice Network to identify you in the system.
- Open your Best Practice Network application.
- Compare its TRN and school URN with the details in your DfE registration.
- If the details do not match, tell Best Practice Network which details need to be updated [VERIFY: add the contact method for requesting an application update]. Alternatively, complete a new DfE registration using the correct details.
You cannot edit an existing DfE registration, so you must create a new registration if the DfE details need correcting. If you are still unsure, provide Best Practice Network with the relevant details or email the DfE at continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.
What to do if you registered with another provider
You must register with the correct provider. In the UK, only one provider can access your funding; once a provider accesses your DfE details, the system blocks your funding for other providers.
Registering more than once with different providers puts you at risk of starting your National Professional Qualification without funding. Providers can ask the DfE to transfer your funding, but this is a long process and is best avoided because it could delay your programme start.
If you registered with another provider and want to check whether Best Practice Network has secured your funding, contact the National Professional Qualification team npq@bestpracticenet.co.uk
How to get further support
If you have a problem with your GOV.UK One Login, contact GOV.UK One Login.
If you have a problem completing DfE registration for your National Professional Qualification, email the DfE at continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.
For any other questions, contact the Best Practice Network National Professional Qualification team npq@bestpracticenet.co.uk