Do you need a degree to teach a trade?
No. The further education and skills sector does not require a degree to teach, especially for vocational and technical subjects. The Department for Education states plainly that for vocational subjects, industry experience and Level 3 professional qualifications are highly valued, and describes the belief that you need a degree as one of the biggest myths about the sector.
This is a real difference from school teaching. In schools, qualified teacher status normally routes through a degree. In further education, your trade is your subject qualification: the DfE guidance says significant industry experience is your most valuable asset, particularly for vocational and technical subjects. A time-served electrician, plumber, gas engineer or insulation installer brings exactly what a trade course needs.
What do you need instead of a degree?
Instead of a degree, you need occupational competence in your trade and a teaching qualification. The trade side proves you know the subject; the teaching side proves you can teach it. Neither requires higher education.
| Requirement | What it means | Typical qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational competence | You are skilled and experienced in the trade | Level 3 NVQ in your trade, plus industry experience |
| Teaching qualification | You can plan and deliver learning | Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) to start |
| English and maths | Minimum literacy and numeracy | Level 2 English and maths (needed for QTLS) |
You do not need all of this before you start. Many colleges let you begin teaching and support you to qualify on the job, as covered in our guide on how to become a trade tutor.
How does a tradesperson get into teaching?
The usual route from a trade into further education is to get into a teaching post on the strength of your experience, then gain the teaching qualifications while employed. You rarely need to be fully qualified before you start.
- Use your trade as your subject qualification. A Level 3 NVQ and real experience are what make you credible in front of learners.
- Do the AET. The Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) is the entry teaching qualification. It can be completed through a micro-teach without being employed as a tutor, so you can hold it before you apply.
- Apply for tutor, trainer or assessor roles. Colleges, independent training providers and approved centres recruit people with trade experience and an AET, then support them to qualify further.
- Qualify further while teaching. Progress to the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching if you want to be fully qualified, as explained in our guide to AET vs DET.
- Consider QTLS. Once you hold a Level 5 teaching qualification, you can apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status.
Does QTLS require a degree?
No. Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status does not require a degree, which is why it is the main route to becoming a fully qualified teacher without one. QTLS is a professional status awarded by the Society for Education and Training, and it is recognised in law as equivalent to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in schools.
To be eligible for QTLS, the Education and Training Foundation requires you to:
- hold an accepted FE and skills teaching qualification at Level 5 or above
- hold a Level 3 or above qualification in the subject you teach for five or more hours a week
- hold accepted Level 2 English and Level 2 maths qualifications
- complete a period of professional formation, teaching groups of five or more post-14 learners for a minimum of 230 hours over 6 months
Notice what is not on that list: a degree. Your Level 3 subject qualification plays the role a degree would in school teaching. The ETF also notes that eligibility cannot be confirmed in advance, so check the detailed guidance before applying.
What if you do not have Level 2 English and maths?
If you do not hold Level 2 English and maths, you can usually still start teaching, but you need them for QTLS. Many colleges support staff to achieve Level 2 English and maths alongside teaching, because they are a common requirement across the sector. If you left school without them, this is a solvable gap, not a barrier to a teaching career.
For the entry teaching qualification itself, the AET, there are no formal entry requirements, so a lack of Level 2 English and maths does not stop you starting. It becomes relevant when you progress towards QTLS.
Is teaching a trade a realistic career change?
Teaching a trade is a realistic and well-trodden career change, precisely because the sector values experience over academic qualifications. The demand is there: the government's Warm Homes Plan states it should support 180,000 additional jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating by 2030, and those workers need trade tutors, assessors and quality assurers to train them.
The honest trade-offs: teaching pay may be lower than site rates in some trades, and the role adds lesson planning, marking and continuing professional development. But it offers indoor work, regular hours, and a long second career once the physical demands of the trade become harder. For many experienced tradespeople without a degree, further education is one of the most accessible professional career changes available.
Frequently asked questions
Can I teach in a college without any teaching qualification?
You can often start teaching in further education without a formal teaching qualification, because many colleges offer on-the-job teacher training and expect you to work towards the qualification while employed. You will normally be expected to begin the AET early on.
Is a trade NVQ enough to teach my trade?
A Level 3 trade NVQ plus experience is enough to be credible in your subject and to start teaching it, but you also need a teaching qualification such as the AET to plan and deliver learning properly, and most employers expect it. The NVQ covers the subject; the teaching qualification covers the teaching.
Can I become an assessor instead of a teacher without a degree?
Yes. Assessing also requires no degree. You need occupational competence in your trade and an assessor qualification such as the CAVA. Many tradespeople assess rather than, or as well as, teach. Our guide to how to become a trade tutor explains how the roles relate.
Does teaching a trade in FE lead to teaching in schools?
It can. QTLS, which you can gain without a degree, is recognised in law as equivalent to Qualified Teacher Status, so FE teachers with QTLS who are members of the Society for Education and Training may be eligible to teach in state-maintained schools in England.
How long does it take to become a qualified trade tutor without a degree?
The AET can be done in days to weeks. The full Level 5 teaching qualification typically takes one to two years part time, because it needs substantial teaching practice. Most people are teaching throughout, so they work as a tutor long before the diploma is finished.
How Nexis Academy can help
Nexis Academy is a City & Guilds Approved Centre (T91185) in Manchester. Teaching and assessing qualifications are in development as part of our growing portfolio, so contact our team to register your interest.
If you are a time-served tradesperson thinking about teaching, assessing or quality-assuring, we are recruiting. No degree required. See careers at Nexis Academy.
Sources
- Department for Education, Teach in Further Education: FAQs: degree requirement; subject experience; teaching qualifications; QTLS.
- Education and Training Foundation, QTLS eligibility explained.
- City & Guilds, Level 3 Award in Education and Training (6502) Qualification Handbook v1.6.