Training in Teaching (Teaching Qualifications)

Which Teaching Course Do I Need? AET vs CET vs DET

Coursetopia's teacher training runs across three levels: the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET), the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET), and the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills), awarded by NOCN. They form a natural progression rather than three unrelated options, so the right starting point mostly comes down to how much teaching experience you already have and what you want the qualification to lead to.

In short: if you're new to teaching or have limited access to a classroom, start with the AET. If you're already teaching and can evidence at least 30 hours of it, the CET is built for you. If your goal is full QTLS status and a long-term career in the further education sector, the Level 5 Diploma is the one that actually gets you there.

At a glance

AET vs CET: what's the difference?

The gap between these two comes down almost entirely to experience. The AET is deliberately designed for people who aren't teaching yet - its own course page is explicit that "you are not expected to be already teaching, as all learning outcomes can be achieved during the course," including a short micro-teach you complete as part of the qualification. The CET, by contrast, asks you to evidence at least 30 hours of teaching before you enrol, and goes considerably further: 36 credits against the AET's 12, a longer typical completion time (3 to 12 weeks versus 1 to 8), and a higher price (£495 online/blended, or £695 classroom, against the AET's £230 to £350 depending on the units and format you choose).

In practice: if you've never taught and want to find out whether it's for you, or you need a foot in the door with limited classroom access, start with the AET. If you're already in front of learners regularly and want to formalise and deepen that practice, go straight to the CET.

CET vs DET: what's the difference?

This is a much bigger step up than AET to CET. Credit value jumps from 36 to 120, and the Level 5 Diploma's Total Qualification Time is 1,200 hours - ten times the AET's 120 - reflecting that it's a full professional teaching qualification rather than an introductory one. Entry requirements are also more specific: you need to be at least 19, hold a Level 3 qualification in the subject you plan to teach, and have access to a minimum of 100 hours of teaching practice, none of which the CET requires.

The most important practical difference, though, is what each one unlocks. Completing the CET doesn't by itself confer any recognised teaching status - it's a certificate in its own right, and a stepping stone. Completing the Level 5 Diploma is specifically what makes you eligible to apply for QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) through the Society for Education and Training, and QTLS holders are recognised as qualified teachers in the UK. If your goal is that recognised status, the CET on its own doesn't get you there - the Level 5 Diploma is the qualification that does.

So which one do I need?

If you've never taught before, or teaching opportunities have been limited so far, the AET is the sensible starting point - it's built around the assumption you're new to it. If you're already teaching and can point to 30 hours or more of it, you can move straight to the CET without needing the AET first. And if you're aiming for QTLS and a recognised teaching career in the further education and skills sector, the Level 5 Diploma is the qualification to plan toward - most learners get there via the CET first, given the scale of the jump in both credits and entry requirements, though the choice ultimately depends on how much teaching practice and prior qualification you can already evidence.

Not sure which of these describes you, or whether your existing experience meets the entry requirements for a higher level? Get in touch and we can talk through the right starting point before you enrol.

Frequently Asked Questions