Hi everyone.

I currently taught at a bilingual school in Asia for two years. It's accredited by Cambridge (IGCSE) and IB. I taught both IGCSE and IB math (AA HL/SL), full-time. This two-year experience is my only full-time teaching experience. I had other work experience prior to teaching.

I was hired despite not having a teaching license. I have a BA and an irrelevant MA in the humanities. My BA is in a humanities major + math minor; so about 1/3 of the credits in math.

1. After weighing my options for qualification, I'm leaning towards getting a PGCE + QTS for secondary math, e.g. from Bristol or Manchester. I'm Canadian and am qualified for Youth Mobility Visa (UK). My first concern is that my degree was not in math and 2/3 of it was in the humanities. Bristol and Manchester claim that you could do Subject Knowledge Enhancement. But I fear that I won't even have a chance at getting accepted to the program in the first place. How competitive is the PGCE + QTS for secondary math?

I was able to teach grades 9-12 math, including IB math, without much problem. But I would be much more comfortable if I had 2-3 more courses in math, just to be able to answer some gifted students' questions. The only cohort I taught had 7s and 6s in Math AA HL.

2. Suppose I got admitted. My plan would be to get QTS and find any school that would hire me in the UK. Since the UK Visa is only valid for two years and I'd be using my first year for QTS, I'd need my school to sponsor a visa for my second year working for them, if I signed a two-year contract. Is this understanding correct? And if so, how feasible is this plan? I.e. to work in the UK initially with Youth Mobility Visa and as a Canadian, then transfer to a 5-year visa?

3. Another option is to get a B.Ed. in Canada and teach in Canada, before moving to the UK or other countries. The thing is, since I got my BA more than 5 years ago, B.Ed would be considered a second degree and I feel like I'm even less competitive than for the PGCE. Plus, my goal is to teach in an international school and have no interest in teaching the Canadian curriculum. Should I still consider B.Ed.?

4. If, after teaching a few years in the UK, I'm interested in applying to schools in Europe (Western/Eastern, doesn't matter), will they recognize PGCE/QTS? Or will a B.Ed. from Canada better recognized? I've read that Brexit is changing how European schools are viewing QTS and are accepting them less?

5. If I don't get accepted to any qualification program this round, what should I do to increase my competitiveness?

Ultimately, I have to admit, I just want live in Europe (Germany) at least for a few years. I think Canadians could get French and German Youth Mobility Visa before they turn 35... But I understand that it's very competitive.

Anyway, I've read so many things online but am just feeling more confused and less confident. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks a lot!

This is my second year teaching at an IB school in Taiwan--local hires, local students, okay pay.
Currently thinking of transferring to some other school in 2022 September.
I teach grades 9-12 math-- IGCSE and IB (AA). So by the end of this school year, I'll have 2 years of IB experience.

Other credentials:
1. IB diploma (went to an international school)
2. a bacherlor's degree from a top 30 university (math) & a matser's degree (not math)
3. no teaching license
4. Canadian/Taiwanese citizenship
5. age 30, no dependents

My questions:
1. If I don't acquire a teaching license, what are my chances for moving to an European school? I'm looking at UK/Germany/Austria/Netherlands.
2. If I get a teaching license, how much will it increase my chances?
Any other suggestions for my next steps if I want to move to a better school?/Become more competitive?

Thanks a lot.