Do you need a degree to teach a trade in further education?

No. You do not need a degree to teach in further education. The Department for Education's own guidance calls this "one of the biggest myths about the sector," and states that for vocational subjects, industry experience and Level 3 professional qualifications are highly valued. Your trade background is the qualification that matters.

The further education and skills sector is different from schools. There is no single mandatory teaching licence to start, and employers set their own entry criteria. The DfE guidance states that significant industry experience is your most valuable asset in further education, particularly for vocational and technical subjects, and that you do not always need a formal teaching qualification to start, because many colleges offer on-the-job teacher training.

What qualifications do you need to become a trade tutor?

A trade tutor needs two things: proof you are good at your trade, and a teaching qualification. The occupational side usually means a Level 3 qualification such as an NVQ, plus real experience. The teaching side is a short entry qualification to begin, building to a full diploma.

Requirement What it means Typical qualification
Occupational competence You can do the trade to a recognised standard Level 3 NVQ in your trade, plus industry experience
Entry teaching qualification You understand how to plan and deliver teaching Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET)
Full teaching qualification You are a fully qualified FE teacher Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills)
Assessing (if you assess learners) You can judge learners against a standard Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)
English and maths Minimum literacy and numeracy Level 2 English and maths (needed for QTLS)

You do not need all of these on day one. The AET is enough to start, and most tutors complete the rest while employed and teaching.

What is the teaching qualification ladder?

The teaching qualifications for the further education and skills sector run in three levels, from a short introduction to a full teaching diploma. You climb the ladder as your role grows.

  1. Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) — the entry qualification, 12 credits and 48 guided learning hours. It covers your role, inclusive teaching and assessment, and can be completed through a micro-teach without being employed as a tutor. See our guide to the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET).
  2. Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET) — the middle step, for people teaching regularly, adding observed teaching practice with real learners.
  3. Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) — the full teaching qualification, and the industry standard for a substantial teaching role.

The Level 5 qualification changed name recently. The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) replaced the older Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) for registrations from 1 September 2024, aligned to the occupational standard for the Learning and Skills Teacher. If you see "DET" in older job adverts, this new diploma is its successor. It carries a teaching-practice requirement, so you need access to real learners to complete it.

How do you actually get started?

The realistic route from a trade into teaching is to get employed first, then qualify on the job. You rarely need the full teaching qualification before you can start.

  1. Confirm your occupational competence. Make sure your trade qualification is at Level 3 and your experience is current. For insulation and retrofit, that means the relevant NVQ, as covered in our retrofit guides.
  2. Do the AET. This is the entry teaching qualification and signals you are serious. It is short and can be done before you have a teaching job.
  3. Apply for tutor or assessor roles. Colleges, independent training providers and approved centres such as Nexis Academy recruit people with trade experience and an AET, then support them to qualify further.
  4. Complete the Level 5 Diploma while teaching. Most employers support this, because the diploma needs real teaching practice you can only get in post.
  5. Consider QTLS. Once you hold the Level 5 teaching qualification, you can apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status.

What is QTLS and do you need it?

QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) is a professional status, not a qualification, awarded by the Society for Education and Training. You do not need it to teach in further education, but it is the recognised mark of a fully qualified FE teacher, 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

Note that QTLS does not require a degree. It is the main route to becoming a fully qualified teacher without one. The ETF also states that eligibility cannot be confirmed in advance, so check the detailed guidance before applying.

Tutor, assessor or something else?

Teaching is only one of the vocational training roles, and the qualifications differ. A tutor delivers learning. An assessor judges whether a learner has met a standard. An internal quality assurer checks the assessors. Many people in trade training hold more than one of these.

  • Tutor: AET, then the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching. Delivers lessons and training.
  • Assessor: the CAVA. Assesses learners on the job and in centre.
  • Internal quality assurer: a Level 4 IQA qualification. Samples and standardises assessors' work. See what an IQA does.

Not sure which fits you? Our guide to tutor, assessor or IQA compares the three paths and what each pays off.

Is becoming a trade tutor worth it?

Becoming a trade tutor is worth considering if you want to pass on your trade, get off the tools, or add a flexible second income, and demand for vocational tutors is strong. The government's Warm Homes Plan alone states it should support 180,000 additional jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating by 2030, and those workers need training, which needs tutors, assessors and quality assurers.

Be realistic about the trade-offs. Teaching pay may be lower than site rates for some trades, and the role involves lesson planning, paperwork and continuing professional development. But it offers indoor work, regular hours, and a long career after your body has had enough of the tools. For many experienced tradespeople it is a natural next step.

Frequently asked questions

Can I teach a trade without any teaching qualification?

You can often start teaching in further education without a formal teaching qualification, because many colleges offer on-the-job training and expect you to work towards the qualification while employed. You will normally be expected to begin with the AET early on.

What is the difference between the DET and the Diploma in Teaching?

They are the same level and purpose. The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) replaced the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) for registrations from 1 September 2024. If you already hold the DET, it remains a valid full teaching qualification.

Do I need Level 2 English and maths to be a tutor?

To teach, employers may accept you without them initially, but you need accepted Level 2 English and maths to gain QTLS status. If you do not hold them, most colleges will support you to achieve them alongside teaching.

How long does it take to become a qualified trade tutor?

The AET can be done in a few days to a few weeks. The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching typically takes one to two years part time, because it requires substantial teaching practice. Many people teach throughout, so they are working as a tutor long before the diploma is finished.

Can I be a tutor and an assessor at the same time?

Yes, and many trade trainers are both. You deliver training as a tutor and assess learners against the standard as an assessor. They need different qualifications, the AET for teaching and the CAVA for assessing, but the roles sit together naturally.

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.

We are also recruiting experienced tradespeople as tutors, assessors and IQAs for our own delivery team. If you are City & Guilds qualified in retrofit, insulation, construction or vocational training, see careers at Nexis Academy.

See also the AET micro-teach, can tradespeople teach without a degree?

From the electrical trades? See how to become an electrician for the route to the qualifications that make you credible in front of learners.

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