Your first step towards teaching could begin with a 15-minute practice lesson. That may sound simple but the qualification covers much more. So, it’s time to explore a common question: what is an AET qualification and what does it actually offer? AET stands for the Level 3 Award in Education and Training. It introduces lesson planning, teaching methods and learner assessment. The usual microteaching route also welcomes beginners without teaching experience.
However, AET does not make you a fully qualified teacher. To earn the award, you must complete the assessments for your chosen units. It can support entry-level opportunities in adult education, workplace training and vocational teaching. Still, some roles require further qualifications or subject experience.
What Is an AET Qualification?
An AET qualification is a Level 3 teaching award for people preparing to teach or train others. Its full name is the Level 3 Award in Education and Training. It mainly supports teaching in further education, adult learning and workplace training. Rather than teaching you a particular subject, AET develops the skills needed to teach that subject to others.
For example, you might have years of experience in first aid but no formal teaching skills. AET helps you plan a lesson, explain practical tasks and check what learners understand. It also covers your responsibilities as a trainer and ways to support different learners. Basically, it helps you prepare for teaching tasks using the knowledge you already have.
Is AET a Recognised Level 3 Qualification?
Yes, AET is a recognised Level 3 qualification in England when it is regulated by Ofqual. An approved awarding organisation issues the qualification, while a training centre normally delivers the course. Level 3 describes its difficulty, which is broadly similar to A levels. However, AET is smaller and focuses on basic teaching skills.
Not every course advertised as AET leads to a regulated qualification. Some providers offer CPD training certificates instead. These can support your learning but they are not the same as a regulated Level 3 award. So, check the qualification details before enrolling.
Before you enrol, ask your provider for the qualification number and awarding organisation. You can verify the award through the GOV.UK regulated qualifications search. Also, check whether the course requires microteaching or workplace practice. Then compare its requirements with the teaching role you want. These checks can help you choose a suitable course.
What Will You Learn During an AET Qualification?
An AET qualification teaches the basic skills needed to plan, deliver and review teaching sessions. You learn how to explain a subject and support different learners. The course also covers your duties as a tutor and how to check understanding. These skills help you teach more clearly, whether you train staff or teach adults.
The main learning areas are:
- Teaching roles and responsibilities: Understand your duties, professional boundaries, safeguarding awareness and fair treatment of learners.
- Inclusive teaching and learning: Plan lessons, choose teaching methods and support people with different learning needs.
- Assessment and feedback: Check what learners understand, give useful feedback and review their progress.
AET courses can use different unit choices. For example, NCFE has one mandatory unit and optional units worth nine further credits. The full award carries 12 credits. Some units involve microteaching, while others need real workplace teaching. So, check your chosen units before starting, especially if you do not teach at work.
Who Can Take an AET Qualification?
You can take an AET qualification without previous teaching experience. It suits people entering adult education, workplace training or vocational teaching. You do not normally need an existing teaching job for the standard microteaching route. However, entry and assessment rules depend on the exact award and training centre.
AET Entry Requirements
- Age: You normally need to be at least 19 years old.
- Previous qualifications: No specific GCSE grades are generally required but centres can set their own entry rules.
- English and maths: An initial skills check helps identify any learning support you need.
- Teaching experience: No previous experience is needed for the usual microteaching route.
- Digital skills: Basic computer skills are useful for online learning and completing assignments.
But what if you already train colleagues? AET can still help you improve your lesson planning and teaching methods. Similarly, it can suit someone preparing to teach their trade or specialist subject. Your training centre should check that you can complete the course and meet its assessment rules.
How Do You Pass an AET Qualification?
To pass an AET qualification, you must complete the required units and meet their assessment rules. Most courses use written assignments, lesson plans and practical teaching tasks. Your assessor checks your work against the qualification standards. The exact tasks depend on your awarding organisation and unit choices.
AET Assessment Requirements
- Written assignments: Answer questions about teaching roles, lesson planning, learning methods and assessment.
- Lesson plans: Prepare a teaching session with clear goals, suitable activities and learning checks.
- Microteaching: Complete an observed practice lesson if your chosen units require it.
- Practical teaching: Complete observed workplace teaching instead if your selected units require real teaching practice.
- Portfolio: Collect your assignments, lesson plans, assessment records and other required evidence.
- Teaching review: Reflect on your lesson, consider feedback and identify what you could improve.
Not every AET learner follows the same assessment route. Some units require microteaching, while others need teaching practice in a real workplace. For example, the NCFE microteaching option suits learners without an existing teaching job. You can check these requirements in the official NCFE AET qualification details.
How Does AET Microteaching Work?
Microteaching is a short practice lesson that shows how you teach others. For NCFE’s usual microteaching unit, you must deliver at least 15 minutes of assessed teaching. You must also take part in at least one hour of microteaching activity. The remaining time can involve observing other learners or delivering more teaching.
For example, you could teach a short first aid lesson about treating a minor cut. Your assessor would watch how you explain the steps and involve your learners. Afterwards, you would review your teaching and consider the feedback. You do not have to deliver a full hour of teaching yourself.
How Long Does an AET Qualification Take?
An AET qualification has 120 total qualification hours but the course length varies between providers. Some centres offer taught sessions over a short period. Others spread their lessons across several weeks. Your completion date also depends on how quickly you finish your assignments and teaching assessment.
But does this mean 120 hours in a classroom? No. Total qualification time covers guided lessons, private study, preparation and assessment. For example, NCFE lists 48 guided learning hours. The remaining time covers other learning and assessment work. So, always check the full study plan rather than counting classroom days alone.
Can You Complete an AET Qualification Online?
Yes, you can study an AET qualification online through a provider that meets the awarding body’s rules. Online courses can offer remote lessons, tutor support and written assessments. However, practical teaching assessments still need proper observation. For NCFE, your assessor must watch the teaching live, even when you study remotely. A prerecorded lesson alone does not meet its requirements.
What Can You Do With an AET Qualification?
An AET qualification can help you explore entry-level teaching and training jobs in different settings. It develops skills in lesson planning, teaching methods and checking learner progress. These skills are useful in adult education, workplace training and vocational learning. However, your job options depend on your subject knowledge, experience and employer requirements.
You could explore opportunities in:
- Further education colleges: Apply for suitable trainee tutor or instructor roles while developing your teaching skills.
- Private training providers: Deliver vocational courses in subjects where you have relevant knowledge and experience.
- Adult learning centres: Teach adults practical skills or support them in learning new subjects.
- Workplaces: Train employees, explain work processes and support their professional development.
- Community learning centres: Deliver learning sessions that help local people build useful skills.
- Charities: Support education programmes and provide skills training through community projects.
But can you teach any course after completing AET? Not automatically. Some regulated training programmes require extra trainer qualifications and subject knowledge. Similarly, employers can ask for experience in the subject you want to teach. So, check the requirements for your chosen role before applying.
Can You Teach in Colleges or Schools With AET?
Yes, AET can help you apply for suitable trainee teaching or instructor roles in further education colleges. Some colleges allow new teachers to work while studying for a higher teaching qualification. However, AET alone does not make you a fully qualified FE teacher. Employers also consider your subject knowledge, experience and teaching skills.
For schools, the rules are different. AET does not give you Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Most maintained schools in England require QTS for teaching posts, with some exceptions. Academies and independent schools have more flexible rules but they can still require higher qualifications. So, AET alone is not enough for most school teaching roles.
Is an AET Qualification the Same as PTLLS?
AET replaced PTLLS as the introductory teaching award. PTLLS stands for Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Both cover basic teaching and training skills. However, older PTLLS qualifications existed at Levels 3 and 4, while the AET discussed here is Level 3.
So, do you need AET if you already hold PTLLS? Not necessarily. Some employers and regulated training programmes still accept older PTLLS awards. Your existing qualification can remain useful, depending on the teaching role you want. Check the requirements before paying for another course.
Do You Need AET to Become a Trainer?
No, AET is not a legal requirement for every trainer in England. However, some employers and training programmes require AET or another accepted teaching qualification. The award also helps beginners build basic teaching skills. Whether you need it depends on the training role you want.
For example, SIA licence-linked security trainers must hold an accepted teaching or training qualification. AET is one option but other qualifications are also accepted. Similarly, other industries have different requirements. So, check the rules for your chosen training role before selecting a qualification.
What Qualification Can You Take After AET?
After AET, you can consider the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET). Another option is the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills). The Level 5 diploma offers a fuller route towards becoming a qualified further education (FE) teacher. However, AET is not always required before starting higher teacher training.
Your next qualification depends on your teaching goals, subject knowledge and course entry requirements. The Department for Education explains these options in its FE teaching qualification guidance.
So, What Is an AET Qualification When You Want to Start Teaching?
It’s better to ask, “Is AET right for my teaching goals?” instead of asking, “What is an AET qualification?” The answer depends on what you want to achieve. This Level 3 award gives beginners a way to develop teaching skills. But the value goes beyond completing a course. It depends on how well the award matches your plans.
If you want to teach adults or train staff, AET can be a useful starting point. However, it does not qualify you for every teaching role. So, check the award’s recognition and your chosen job requirements before enrolling. After all, the right qualification should help you reach your goals, not simply add another certificate.
FAQs
How Long Does an AET Course Take?
An AET course has 120 total qualification hours but completion time varies between providers. Some offer short classroom courses, while others spread lessons, assignments and assessments over several weeks.
What Jobs Can I Get With an AET?
An AET qualification can help you apply for entry-level roles in adult education, workplace training and vocational teaching. You could explore jobs as a trainee tutor, workplace trainer or vocational instructor, depending on your skills and experience.
How Much Is an AET Course?
An AET course in the UK can cost around £180 to £1,250, depending on the provider and study format. Some colleges also offer free or funded places for eligible learners. Before enrolling, check whether the price covers assessments, tutor support and certification.
Is an AET a Full Teaching Qualification?
No, AET is an introductory Level 3 teaching award, not a full teaching qualification. In England, the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) offers a route towards becoming a fully qualified FE teacher.
Will a Level 3 AET Course Qualify Me?
A regulated Level 3 AET course gives you a recognised introductory teaching qualification. However, it does not automatically qualify you for every teaching role, as employers can require further qualifications or subject experience.
Do You Need a Degree to Take an AET Course?
No, you do not normally need a degree to take a Level 3 AET course. The usual entry route does not require a degree, although training centres can set their own entry requirements.
