The Department for Education has set up a panel of experts to develop new professional qualifications for teachers in England, to help them progress their careers.
The panel will advise on the scheme, which is to be introduced during the academic year 2020-2021.
The focus is on those who want to progress in non-leadership roles.
But unions said there was a lack of transparency about how the experts were recruited to the advisory panel.
The qualifications form part of the teacher recruitment and retention strategy in England, which was launched in January.
School standards minister Nick Gibb said the new qualifications would provide recognition for those teachers who want to develop their skills and progress their careers.
“Our ambition is for teachers to be able to do so without having to pursue traditional leadership routes, instead expanding their expertise in vital areas such as curriculum or behaviour management,” he said.
Richard Gill, chairman of the Teaching Schools Council, said: “There is a need to ensure that the current programme of qualifications meets the needs of the current educational landscape.
“These new bespoke qualifications will provide practitioners with an excellent opportunity to develop and progress their careers, building stronger and more effective classroom practice without the need for them to follow traditional leadership roles.”
But the announcement has drawn criticism from teaching unions.