What Is AET Level 3? What It Takes and Where It Leads 

Ever explained something you know well, only to see a confused face? Knowing a subject and teaching it are different skills. The Level 3 Award in Education and Training helps you develop those skills. But what is AET Level 3, exactly? It is an introductory UK teaching award covering lesson planning, inclusive teaching and learner assessment. Formerly known as PTLLS, it suits future adult educators and workplace trainers. You normally need no previous teaching experience. Assessment includes written tasks and microteaching, a short teaching session. However, AET alone does not qualify you for every teaching role.

This guide covers entry requirements, course content, assessments, study time and teaching opportunities. You’ll also learn what the qualification can help you achieve.

What Is AET Level 3 and What Does the Qualification Mean?

The Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) is an introductory UK teaching qualification. It helps people develop the basic skills needed to teach and train others. The qualification suits those planning to work in adult education or practical skills training. For example, you could deliver workplace training, adult learning sessions or short practical courses. However, AET is not a full further education (FE) teaching qualification.

Many regulated AET qualifications carry 12 credits and 120 hours of total qualification time. These hours cover guided learning, reading, lesson planning and assessment work. Basically, credits show the amount of learning, while Level 3 shows the difficulty of the qualification. However, these figures do not tell you how many weeks the course will take. Each training provider sets its own timetable.

But is AET Level 3 the same as an A level? Both sit at Level 3 in England but they differ in size and purpose. An A level focuses on an academic subject, while AET develops basic teaching skills. You might also come across the older name PTLLS, meaning Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. The Level 3 Award in Education and Training replaced this older qualification.

Who Can Take the AET Level 3 Qualification and What Are the Entry Requirements?

AET suits adults who want to teach or train others. You do not normally need a teaching job before you start. It can suit a care worker who trains new staff. A skilled tradesperson could use it to learn how to run lessons too. Entry rules depend on the award and course provider. That’s why one college might ask for more than another.

• Age: Many regulated AET awards accept learners aged 19 or over.
• Past study: Some awards have no set entry grades. Colleges can still set their own rules.
• Basic skills: You need enough English, maths and computer skills to complete the work.
• Past teaching: You can often start with no teaching background. Yet subject knowledge still matters.

But there is a catch. Joining a course does not mean you meet a job’s rules. A college might ask for trade awards or years of work. Before you pay, check the course rules and your target job. That simple check can save you paying for the wrong course.

What Do You Learn in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training?

AET teaches you how to plan, teach and review a lesson. You learn to teach your own topic, not one school subject. You also learn why people need varied forms of help. One learner might need more time, clear notes or a new task. Good lessons meet those needs. In practice, that can change how you teach the whole group.

• Teaching roles: Learn about safety, fair treatment, clear boundaries and your duties to learners.
• Inclusive teaching: Set learning goals, plan a lesson and choose tasks that suit different learners.
• Checking progress: See what learners know, give feedback and keep fair records.

These skills work together in a real class. A trainer can explain a task clearly yet still miss a learner’s needs. Likewise, each lesson needs a way to check progress. Most standard AET routes cover three main learning areas. Some regulated routes allow other unit choices. Learning to check progress does not give you a separate workplace assessor award.

How Is AET Level 3 Assessed and What Happens During Microteaching?

AET assessment tests how you teach, not just what you recall. Most routes ask for written work and a short lesson. Normally, your tutor will also look at how you plan it. Your tutor checks your work against the award rules. You might keep your work in a portfolio or file of proof. Tasks depend on the awarding body.

• Written tasks: Explain key teaching ideas and show how you would use them.
• Lesson plans: Set clear goals and choose activities that fit the time available.
• Microteaching: Deliver a short lesson while a tutor or assessor watches your teaching.
• Review: Find what went well and what needs to change.

So, what happens during microteaching? Under one City & Guilds route, you join at least one hour of microteaching. You must deliver at least 15 minutes of observed and assessed teaching. You can spend the rest of that time in other learners’ sessions. This does not mean you must teach for a full hour yourself. The full hour covers the wider group activity.

Imagine teaching staff how to wash their hands safely. You could spend two minutes setting the goal. Then use eight minutes to show each step and let learners practise. Use the final five minutes to check their skills and answer questions. This is an example, not a fixed plan. Your course provider should explain what proof it accepts.

You don’t always need a teaching job to take this assessment. Some courses set up practice with other learners. Others accept proof of teaching at work. If you study online, ask how the tutor will watch your lesson. A video alone does not always meet the rules. Ask about checks, marking and extra fees before booking.

How Long Does AET Level 3 Take and Can You Complete It Online?

Many AET awards involve 120 hours of study but timetables vary. Total hours do not mean 120 hours in a classroom. They count reading, planning and work you do alone. Guided hours cover study with a tutor’s help. The government’s DAO specification provides one clear example. So two courses can use unlike timetables yet lead to the same award.

Some centres teach the main lessons over a few full days. Others spread classes across ten weeks or longer. Yet a timetable does not show when you will finish every task. You still need time to read, write and teach. Twelve months of online access does not mean a year of full-time lessons.

Can you study AET Level 3 online? Yes, some providers offer online or blended courses. You still need to meet the rules for practical work. Generally, the centre must check your teaching in an approved way. For example, one provider might arrange a live teaching session. Another might accept a video under its own rules. Ask who watches your work, where you teach and who will help.

What Can You Teach With AET Level 3 and What Are Its Limits?

AET can help you seek training work but it is not a teaching licence. Employers set their own rules for staff skills. They also look at what you know about your subject. So the award alone does not let you teach every Level 3 course. The subject and the job matter just as much. Your AET award builds teaching skills; it does not prove trade skills.

• Workplace training: Lead staff induction or basic job training when your employer approves.
• Private training: Seek tutor roles when you have the right skills and work history.
• Adult learning: Seek roles with local centres and community groups.
• Trade skills: Teach hands-on skills when you know the trade and have done the work.

Picture two people with the same AET award. One has years of work in plumbing. The other works in care. Both have learnt basic teaching methods. Yet neither can assume they can teach the other’s trade. A centre must check subject skills, past work and its course rules.

There is another limit worth knowing. AET is a starter award, not a full FE teaching qualification. FE employers can ask for higher study for long-term roles. AET also does not give you Qualified Teacher Status for school teaching. In England, FE job rules vary, so read each job advert. Similarly, check any rules set by the course’s awarding body.

How Can You Check Whether AET Level 3 Is an Ofqual-Regulated Qualification?

You can check an AET award on the government’s regulated qualification register. Search with the full award name and number. Then check the body that gives the award. Ask the course centre if it can offer that exact award. A logo on a website does not prove that each course leads to a regulated award.

In England, Ofqual regulates awarding bodies and their awards, not each training centre. For example, Highfield’s Level 3 Award in Education and Training has qualification number 601/1636/5. Other awarding bodies can use other numbers. You can check details through the GOV.UK qualification register before paying. Save the award title and number. That makes it clear which award you chose.

A CPD course can offer useful teaching knowledge. But its certificate is not the same as a regulated AET award. This matters when an employer wants a named award. Does the AET certificate expire? The award does not normally need routine renewal after you earn it. Yet an award version can close to new learners. Check its current status.

How Much Does AET Level 3 Cost and What Should the Fee Include?

AET course fees vary across the UK. For the period between last year and this year, Middlesbrough College lists £345.60. East Sussex College lists £415 for its part-time course. These are samples, not one UK-wide price. Fees change. Online courses can offer other ways to pay. Check the latest fee before you apply. A low price can leave out costs you will still have to pay.

The cheapest course is not always the best value. Ask whether the fee covers awarding organisation registration, assessments, tutor support and your certificate. Also check fees for resubmitting work or adding online access time. A fee paid to an awarding body is not the full course price. Check the total cost to earn the award.

Which Teaching Qualifications Can You Take After AET Level 3?

After AET, you can train for a larger FE teaching role. The Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET) can suit people who already teach. The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) is a full FE teaching qualification. You do not always need Level 4 CET to start a Level 5 course.

Your subject and job plans should shape that choice. To assess skills at work, you could study the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement. An FE teacher might need more practice and study. The government describes AET as a starting point, not a full teaching course. Check each course’s entry rules before making plans. Some higher courses also need you to have teaching work lined up.

Final Thoughts: Is AET Level 3 the Right Starting Point for You?

If you came here asking what is AET Level 3, you now know what the award can offer. It helps you plan lessons, teach people and check progress. Yet it cannot replace subject skills or higher training where needed. Its value depends on the work you seek. Before enrolling, check the qualification number, course tasks and job requirements.

A good starting point is a course that explains its rules clearly. Ask how staff mark your short lesson and who issues the award. That way, you can judge the course on more than its title. You should know what you will earn and what comes after.

Ready to Turn Your Knowledge Into Teaching Skills? Build your teaching confidence with our Level 3 AET course at School of Healthcare.

FAQs About What Is AET Level 3 

1. What Is AET Level 3 Equivalent To?

AET Level 3 sits at the same qualification level as an A level in England. However, it is a smaller award that focuses on basic teaching skills rather than an academic subject.

2. What Can You Do With a Level 3 AET?

With Level 3 AET, you can explore roles in workplace training, adult education and vocational teaching. However, employers can require additional subject qualifications, experience or teaching credentials.

3. How Long Does AET Level 3 Take?

AET Level 3 normally involves 120 hours of total learning, including guided lessons and independent study. Depending on your provider and study schedule, completion can take several weeks or months.

4. How Much Does a Level 3 AET Course Cost?

AET Level 3 course fees vary across the UK, with current college examples ranging from £415 to £545. Some providers charge less, so check whether assessment, tutor support and certification fees are included.

5. Is AET a Full Teaching Qualification?

No, AET Level 3 is an introductory teaching award, not a full further education teaching qualification. It develops basic teaching skills, while full FE teaching qualifications normally involve Level 5 or higher study.

6. How Long Does a Level 3 Course Take?

A Level 3 course can take weeks, months or longer, depending on its size and subject. For AET Level 3 specifically, the qualification normally involves 120 total learning hours.