Is the Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training the same as a PGCE?

No. A PGCE is a postgraduate qualification primarily aimed at school teaching. The Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training is a vocational teaching qualification for the FE, skills and adult learning sector and does not require a degree to enter.

Do I need a current teaching role to enrol?

You need access to a teaching practice environment, which can be a paid role, a voluntary teaching position or an arranged placement. Without practice hours the diploma cannot be completed.

Can I teach apprenticeships with this qualification?

Yes, it is one of the qualifications recognised for delivering apprenticeship off-the-job training, though some end-point assessment roles require additional sector-specific credentials.

How long does the diploma typically take?

Around 9 to 12 months full-time, with part-time and distance routes extending this. Your exact timeline is confirmed once your teaching practice arrangements are agreed.

Can I study the diploma fully online?

The theory and reflective elements can be studied online, but observed teaching practice has to take place in person or via live recorded sessions. The blended approach is what the qualification expects.

Will this lead to QTLS?

The Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training is a step on the road, but QTLS itself requires further professional formation through the Society for Education and Training after qualification.

Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training | HICL London | Harold International College of London

Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training at HICL

The Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training is the qualification many people reach for when they want to teach adults — in further education, workplace training, community learning or apprenticeship delivery — and need a recognised teaching credential rather than a school-focused PGCE.

It is hands-on. You plan sessions, deliver them, get observed, reflect, and refine. The Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training does not assume you have a teaching background; it assumes you have something worth teaching and a willingness to learn how to teach it well.

Why This Qualification Exists

Adult learners are not children, and the FE and skills sector knows it. Teaching a plumber to assess gas safety, or running an ESOL class, or coaching new managers through their first appraisal cycle, requires a different toolkit from primary school pedagogy. This diploma is built around that reality — differentiation for mixed-age groups, assessment for accredited courses, safeguarding in adult settings, and the awarding-body paperwork that comes with the territory.

Who This Diploma Is For

Subject experts moving into FE teaching from industry — trades, IT, accountancy, health and care.
In-house corporate trainers who want a portable, externally recognised teaching qualification.
Apprenticeship coaches and assessors widening their scope into delivery.
Community educators and charity sector workers running structured adult learning.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training typically move into FE college lecturing posts, private training provider roles, learning and development positions in large employers, and prison or offender learning programmes. Some progress to a Level 5 Diploma or a full QTLS pathway. Job outcomes depend on your subject specialism and the local demand for trainers in your field.

How the Programme Is Delivered

This Diploma is offered on-campus, online and through distance learning. There is a mandatory teaching practice element which can usually be completed in your current workplace, voluntary teaching role or arranged placement. Module structure and observation timetable are confirmed at enrolment.

Entry Requirements

Completed secondary education or recognised equivalent.
IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
Minimum age 19 at the point of enrolment.
Access to a real or simulated teaching environment for practical hours.

Apply for the Level 3 Diploma in Education and Training

If you teach adults, or want to, this is the qualification employers actually ask for. Click Enroll Now and the admissions team will be in touch within one working day with the next steps.