AET vs DET at a glance

The AET and the DET are not alternatives at the same level. They are the bottom and top of the same teaching ladder. The AET gets you started; the Level 5 qualification (the DET's successor) makes you fully qualified.

AET DET (now the Diploma in Teaching)
Full name Level 3 Award in Education and Training Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, replaced by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE and Skills)
Level 3 5
Size 12 credits, 48 guided learning hours Much larger; substantial teaching practice
Purpose Start teaching Become fully qualified
Teaching practice Can be done via a micro-teach, no job needed Requires real teaching practice and observed hours
Entry requirements None formal Usually need to be teaching
Leads to The next rungs (CET, Diploma) QTLS status
Current status Available, unaffected by the 2024 change DET replaced by the Diploma in Teaching from Sept 2024

The key point: you do not choose one instead of the other. You start with the AET and progress to the Level 5 qualification if your role requires it.

What is the AET?

The AET is the Level 3 Award in Education and Training, the entry qualification for teaching in the further education and skills sector. It is a small qualification, 12 credits and 48 guided learning hours, covering your role and responsibilities, inclusive teaching, and assessment. It has no formal entry requirements and is approved for learners aged 19 and over.

Its biggest practical advantage is accessibility. The City & Guilds handbook confirms that simulation of teaching (micro-teaching) is permitted, so you can be assessed teaching a small group rather than a real class. That means you can gain the AET before you are employed as a tutor, which is why it is the usual starting point for people moving from a trade into teaching. Our full guide to the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) covers it in detail.

What is the DET, and what replaced it?

The DET was the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, the full teaching qualification for a substantial teaching role, equivalent in standing to the old DTLLS. For registrations from 1 September 2024 it was replaced by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills), aligned to the occupational standard for the Learning and Skills Teacher.

If you already hold the DET, it remains a valid full teaching qualification. If you are starting now, you would take the new Diploma in Teaching instead. Both are Level 5, both require real teaching practice with observed hours, and both lead towards Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. In job adverts, "DET" and "Diploma in Teaching" are used for the same thing: the full FE teaching qualification.

What about the CET in the middle?

Between the AET and the Level 5 Diploma sits the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET). It is for people teaching regularly who are not yet ready for, or do not need, the full diploma. Unlike the AET, the CET requires teaching practice with real learners and observed teaching sessions, so you need access to a class. City & Guilds confirms that the Level 3 Award and Level 4 Certificate were both unaffected by the 2024 change and continue to be available.

So the full teaching ladder is:

  1. Level 3 Award (AET) — start teaching; micro-teach allowed, no job needed.
  2. Level 4 Certificate (CET) — teaching regularly; real teaching practice required.
  3. Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (formerly DET) — fully qualified; substantial teaching practice; leads to QTLS.

Which one do you actually need?

Which qualification you need depends on your role and how far you want to go, not on a single right answer. Most people start at the bottom and climb as their teaching commitment grows.

  • If you want to start teaching or run occasional training: the AET is enough. It is the usual requirement to begin, and many employers expect it early on.
  • If you teach regularly but part of a wider job: the CET (Level 4) is often the right level.
  • If teaching is your main role and you want to be fully qualified: the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching, which replaced the DET, is the industry standard and the route to QTLS.

You do not need to decide the whole path now. The sensible move for someone leaving a trade is the AET first, then progress once you are in a teaching post, as covered in our guide on how to become a trade tutor.

Do you need a degree for any of these?

No. None of the AET, CET or Level 5 Diploma requires a degree. The Department for Education calls the idea that you need a degree to teach in FE "one of the biggest myths about the sector." Your Level 3 trade qualification and industry experience are the foundation, and QTLS, the fully qualified teacher status, does not require a degree either.

Teaching vs assessing: don't confuse the two

The AET and DET are teaching qualifications. They do not qualify you to assess learners against a standard. Assessing is a separate qualification, the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA). Many people in vocational training hold both, because they both deliver training and assess learners. If your role involves judging whether a learner has met a standard, you need an assessor qualification as well. Our guide to tutor, assessor or IQA explains how the roles and qualifications fit together.

Frequently asked questions

Is the AET the same as the old PTLLS?

The AET is the direct successor to PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector). PTLLS was withdrawn and the Level 3 Award in Education and Training took over, with an operational start date of 1 September 2013. If you hold PTLLS, it is a legacy version of the same entry qualification.

Can I skip the AET and go straight to the Level 5 Diploma?

In principle the Diploma has no formal requirement to hold the AET first, but the Level 5 qualification requires substantial real teaching practice, so it is not a realistic starting point for someone new to teaching. Most people do the AET first and progress.

Does the DET still exist?

The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) was replaced by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE and Skills) for registrations from September 2024. Existing DET holders keep a valid qualification, but new learners take the Diploma in Teaching.

Which teaching qualification do I need for QTLS?

QTLS requires a Level 5 teaching qualification (the Diploma in Teaching, or the DET if you already hold it), plus Level 3 subject qualifications, Level 2 English and maths, and a period of professional formation. The AET and CET alone are not enough for QTLS.

Can I do the AET online?

Many centres deliver the AET online or blended. The observed teaching session still has to happen, so check how your provider handles it: some run live online micro-teaches, others require attendance in person.

How Nexis Academy can help

Nexis Academy is a City & Guilds Approved Centre (T91185) in Manchester. Teaching qualifications are in development as part of our growing portfolio, so contact our team to register your interest.

If you are already a qualified tutor, assessor or IQA, we are recruiting. See careers at Nexis Academy.

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