Quick Answer: The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, known as the DET, was the main teaching qualification for further education in England. It is a 120 credit course that includes 100 hours of teaching practice and eight observations, and it led towards Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status, known as QTLS. From September 2024 the DET was replaced for new learners by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills). You do not need a degree to teach in further education, only a Level 3 qualification in your subject, Level 2 English and maths, and access to learners to teach.
If you have spent years working in a trade, a profession or a care setting, further education may be the most natural way to turn that experience into a teaching career. Colleges and training providers need people who have done the job, not just studied it. The route in runs through a Level 5 teaching qualification, and that is where the DET comes in. This guide explains what the DET is, what changed in 2024, what you need to start, what the course involves, and how it connects to QTLS.
What Is the DET Qualification?
The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, previously known as the DTLLS, is an Ofqual regulated teaching qualification for the post-16 sector. It is equivalent to the second year of a bachelor's degree and is designed for people who teach or train learners aged 14 and over in colleges, training providers, adult education and workplaces.
It sits at the top of a ladder of three qualifications: the Level 3 Award in Education and Training, the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, and the Level 5 Diploma. Most providers allow you to enrol directly on the Level 5 without completing the first two.
Is the DET Still Available? What Changed in 2024
This is the point many course listings still get wrong. From September 2024, the DET was withdrawn for new learners and replaced by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills), often shortened to DiT. It follows a new national framework for teacher education in the sector.
For you, the practical effects are straightforward. If you start now, you will enrol on the Diploma in Teaching rather than the DET. If you began a teaching qualification before 1 September 2024, the Education and Training Foundation confirms that its QTLS eligibility is unchanged. Because the name DET is still widely searched and used, many providers and employers still use it as shorthand for the Level 5 teaching qualification, so check exactly which qualification a provider awards before you pay.
Do You Need a Degree to Teach in Further Education?
No. This surprises many career changers. Further education teaching values current industry experience, and most providers ask for a Level 3 qualification in the subject you want to teach rather than a degree. That makes it a realistic option if you are a qualified electrician, chef, hairdresser, health care worker, accountant or IT professional.
What Are the Entry Requirements?
Requirement | Typical Standard |
Subject expertise | A Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience in the subject you will teach |
English and maths | GCSE grade 4 or C, or Functional Skills Level 2 |
Age | Usually 19 or over |
Teaching access | A teaching or training role, paid or voluntary, to log 100 hours |
Checks | A DBS check where your placement requires one |
You do not need to be employed as a teacher already, but you do need somewhere to teach. Some providers help arrange a placement, so ask before you enrol.
What Does the Course Involve?
The Level 5 teaching diploma is a 120 credit qualification. According to the Education and Training Foundation, a qualification counted as equivalent to the DET needs a practical teaching component of 100 hours and eight observations of your teaching.
Study usually covers how people learn, planning and delivering lessons, assessment, inclusive practice, and professional development, alongside written assignments and an action research project. Depending on the provider and how quickly you can log your teaching hours, most learners complete it in somewhere between 6 and 18 months.
What Is QTLS, and Is It the Same as QTS?
The diploma makes you a qualified teacher in the further education sector, but QTLS is a separate professional status that you apply for afterwards. It is awarded by the Education and Training Foundation to members, following a period of Professional Formation in which you log 230 hours of group teaching and are observed.
The reason many career changers want it is parity. According to the Education and Training Foundation, QTLS holders who maintain membership can teach in schools as qualified teachers without further training. Completing the diploma does not award QTLS automatically, so it is worth planning for the extra step from the start.
How Much Can a Further Education Teacher Earn?
Colleges set their own pay, so figures are a guide only. According to Prospects, typical salaries are:
Stage | Typical Salary |
Unqualified FE teacher | £22,387 to £26,281 |
Qualified FE teacher | £27,786 to £41,905 |
Advanced teaching and training roles | £41,905 to £47,156 |
Many teachers also work part time or on a sessional basis alongside another job or business, which suits people who want to keep a foot in their industry.
How Do You Get Started?
1. Check you hold a Level 3 qualification in your subject, plus English and maths at Level 2
2. Decide whether you will work towards the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching directly or begin with the Level 3 or Level 4 qualification
3. Line up somewhere to teach, such as a college, training provider, employer or community group, so you can log 100 hours
4. Choose a provider that explains exactly which qualification it awards and how observations are arranged
5. Once qualified, look into joining the Education and Training Foundation and applying for QTLS
A conversation with an advisor before you enrol can prevent costly mistakes, since not every provider helps with placements or explains the DET to Diploma in Teaching change clearly. Our Course Finder is a good place to start comparing options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DET the same as the Diploma in Teaching?
They are different qualifications. The Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) replaced the DET for new learners from September 2024, and both sit at Level 5.
Can I teach in a school with a DET?
Not on its own. The diploma leads towards QTLS, and QTLS holders who maintain membership can teach in schools, according to the Education and Training Foundation.
Do I need teaching experience before I start?
No, but you need access to learners so you can complete 100 hours of teaching practice during the course.
How long does it take?
Most learners finish in 6 to 18 months, depending on the provider and how quickly they log teaching hours and observations.
Is it worth doing if I already hold a degree?
Often yes. A degree in your subject does not by itself qualify you to teach in further education, whereas a Level 5 teaching qualification does.
Final Thoughts
Teaching in further education rewards the experience you already have. With a Level 3 qualification in your subject and a place to practise, you can be teaching and training for a qualification at the same time. Check which qualification a provider offers today, and plan for QTLS from the beginning.
If you would like to explore your options, take a look at our Teacher Training course, or compare it with other routes using our Course Finder. When you are ready, get in touch with our team or head straight to Apply Now.