Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education & Skills) (RQF)

To become a qualified teacher in further education (FE) in England, you need to complete the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education & Skills), which replaced the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) from September 2024. Unlike school teaching, you do not need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to teach in FE — the Level 5 Diploma is the standard qualification for the sector. You can start teaching in FE before you’re fully qualified and study for the diploma while in post, with many colleges supporting new staff through the qualification as part of their induction.

The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education & Skills) replaced the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) for all new course delivery from September 2024, following a DfE review of FE initial teacher education. The new qualification maintains the same credit value (minimum 120 credits, minimum 61 at Level 5) but has been updated to include a mandatory digital skills and educational technology unit, embed sustainability and EDI as cross-cutting themes, and better align with the revised occupational standards for FE teaching. If you enrolled on the DET before September 2024, you can continue to completion on that qualification.

Yes — the qualification requires a minimum of 250 hours of placement or employment in a teaching or training role, of which at least 150 hours must be direct teaching practice in your subject specialism. This is because the practical units require you to plan, deliver, and have your teaching observed on at least eight occasions. If you are not currently teaching in FE, you would need to secure a teaching or voluntary training role before completing the qualification. Some colleges and training providers support this by employing new teachers on an associate or sessional contract while they study.

No — they are equivalent in some respects but different qualifications. The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE & Skills) is an RQF Level 5 qualification awarded by organisations like TQUK and is comparable to a Certificate in Education (CertEd). A PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) is a higher education qualification at Level 6 or Level 7, awarded by a university. The key difference for FE teaching is that the Level 5 Diploma fully qualifies you to teach in further education, adult learning, and work-based learning settings in England, whereas a PGCE is more commonly associated with school teaching and QTS.

Qualified FE lecturers in England typically earn between £31,650 and £41,667 per year on the Association of Colleges (AoC) lecturer pay scale from September 2024, following a 5.5% increase. New entrants typically start at Scale Point 1 (£31,650) and progress annually through Scale Points 1–5. Advanced practitioners and curriculum managers earn £41,905–£47,000, and heads of department can earn £50,000 or more. FE colleges in London and the South East may offer higher rates. The government also offers Targeted Retention Incentive payments of up to £6,000 for qualified teachers in eligible high-demand subject areas.

The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE & Skills) qualifies you to teach in Further Education and Skills settings — general FE colleges, sixth form colleges, adult education providers, training organisations, and work-based learning providers. It does not confer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is required to teach in maintained primary and secondary schools in England. If you want to teach in schools, you would need to complete a school-based QTS route such as School Direct or a PGCE with QTS. However, some independent schools and special schools do not require QTS.

The Targeted Retention Incentive (TRI) is a government payment of up to £6,000 (tax-free) for qualified teachers in their first five years of FE teaching in eligible subject areas. Eligible subjects include building and construction, computing and digital, engineering and manufacturing, maths, physics and chemistry, and early years. The incentive is paid in three instalments over three years and is designed to retain teachers with valuable industry expertise in the FE sector. You must be working in an eligible state-funded FE provider and meet the qualification and employment criteria.

The mandatory entry requirements from September 2024 are: Level 2 in both maths and English (GCSE grade 4/C or Functional Skills Level 2 equivalent), and a relevant subject specialism qualification at a level above that of your learners (ideally Level 3 or above in your teaching subject). You must also have access to a teaching or training placement providing at least 250 hours, aged 19 or over, and no criminal background that prevents working with young people or vulnerable adults. Prior teaching qualifications (such as a Level 3 Award in Education and Training) are not required but may be recognised for credit.

The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE & Skills) requires a minimum of 250 hours of placement, of which at least 150 hours must be direct teaching practice in a teaching and learning environment. Of those 150 hours, at least 100 must be in your subject specialism area. A minimum of eight observations of your teaching practice are also required — these are conducted by a qualified assessor and must span the full duration of your programme. At least four hours of observed practice must demonstrate Grade 2 (good) characteristics against Ofsted’s teaching observation framework.

Yes — the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education & Skills) qualifies you to teach in the full range of post-16 and adult education settings, including community learning centres, adult education providers (AEPs), work-based learning organisations, training providers, and further education colleges. Many qualified lecturers teach evening classes, community courses, Skills Bootcamps, and short-course provision alongside their regular college timetable. The qualification is specifically designed for the diverse range of teaching contexts within the FE and Skills sector, not just traditional college lecturing.