How to Become a Private Tutor in the UK

To become a private tutor in the UK you do not need a licence or a formal teaching qualification — you need a subject you can teach well, a DBS check if you work with children, and a way for families to find and trust you. Most tutors start by choosing their subjects and levels, getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, setting a rate per session, and listing themselves where parents are already searching. This guide walks through each step, with the safeguarding basics that matter most.

Do you need a qualification to tutor?

No qualification is legally required to work as a private tutor in the UK. Unlike teaching in a state school, private tutoring is not a regulated profession, so you do not need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to start. What families actually look for is evidence that you know your subject and can teach it: a relevant degree, strong A-levels, exam board experience, or a track record with past pupils.

That said, qualifications help you stand out and justify your rate. A maths graduate, a qualified teacher tutoring on the side, or someone with examiner experience can each point to something concrete. If you tutor for a specific exam — GCSE, A-level, the 11-plus — knowing the exact exam board and specification is often worth more to a parent than a general teaching certificate.

Get a DBS check and take safeguarding seriously

If you tutor children, a DBS check is the single most useful trust signal you can offer. The Disclosure and Barring Service (gov.uk) issues criminal record checks that let parents see you have been vetted. As a self-employed tutor you can apply for a basic DBS check yourself; an enhanced check, which many families and agencies expect for work with children, usually has to be requested through an organisation rather than by an individual. A tutoring marketplace can sit in that role.

Safeguarding is more than a certificate. Tutor in a public or shared space where you can, keep a parent informed about session times and content, and be clear about how you communicate with a child between lessons. Parents notice tutors who raise these points first, because it shows you understand the responsibility of working with young people.

Decide what you teach, and set your rate

Be specific about your subjects and the levels you cover. "GCSE and A-level chemistry" tells a parent far more than "sciences". Pick the levels you are genuinely confident teaching, and say whether you tutor online, in person, or both.

On price, tutors are paid per session on Tutorwise — the platform prices in one-hour sessions through a single pricing helper, so your rate reads clearly as a per-session figure rather than a tangle of hourly and block prices. Set a rate that reflects your experience and subject, compare it with what similar tutors charge, and adjust as you build reviews. You can see how the plans and fees work on the pricing page before you commit.

List yourself where parents are searching

The hard part of tutoring is rarely the teaching — it is being found by the right families. Rather than advertising cold, list yourself where parents already arrive with a subject and a level in mind. On Tutorwise you create a tutor profile, describe your subjects, levels and approach, set your per-session rate, and become visible to families searching for exactly what you offer.

A good listing is concrete: name the exam boards, describe the results you have helped pupils reach without inventing figures, and write in plain language a parent can follow. The clearer your profile, the better the matches you get.

Build trust so families choose you

When several tutors teach the same subject, parents choose the one they trust. Tutorwise rewards verified credentials directly: completing identity verification and adding a DBS check both raise your trust score on the platform, alongside reviews from past families. Treat each of these as a way to remove a parent's hesitation. A verified identity, a DBS check on file, and a handful of honest reviews will win more enquiries than the lowest price ever will.

Becoming a private tutor in the UK is realistic for anyone who knows their subject and takes safeguarding seriously. Get vetted, be specific about what you teach, price per session, and make yourself easy to find and easy to trust.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a degree to become a private tutor? No. There is no legal requirement to hold a degree or teaching qualification to tutor privately in the UK. A degree or examiner experience helps you win work and justify your rate, but evidence that you know the subject and can teach it matters most to parents.

Do private tutors need a DBS check? There is no blanket legal requirement, but if you tutor children a DBS check is strongly expected. You can apply for a basic check yourself; an enhanced check for work with children is usually arranged through an organisation, such as a tutoring platform, rather than by an individual.

How much can I charge as a private tutor? Your rate is yours to set. On Tutorwise you price per one-hour session. Base it on your experience, subject and level, compare it with similar tutors, and adjust as your reviews build.

Can I tutor online instead of travelling to families? Yes. Many tutors work entirely online, which widens the families you can reach beyond your local area. You can offer online sessions, in-person sessions, or both, and say so clearly on your profile.

Ready to start?

Create your tutor profile and start receiving enquiries from families searching for your subject. Sign up as a tutor on Tutorwise, check the plans and fees before you list, and browse more guidance in the Tutorwise resources hub.