Further education teaching

As a further education teacher you will mainly work with post-16 and/or adult learners, you may also be expected to work with students aged 14 to 19 who are studying vocational subjects.

You will likely teach a range of subjects in one of three main areas, including vocational training, academic teaching or basic skills.

Vocational training includes apprenticeships and courses/qualifications involving preparing students for work and ensuring they have up-to-date skills for the work area they are looking to get into.
Academic teaching includes a range of academic qualifications, mainly at GCSE and A Level.
Basic skills may include areas such as numeracy, literacy and ESOL - English for speakers of other languages. Qualifications associated with these areas may include Functional Skills.

There may also be the opportunity to teach recreational courses that support personal interest areas, such as languages, creative activities or local history.

The Education and Training Foundation website offers extensive information about professional development and support for those considering a career in Further Education. Watch This video for an overview of The Education and Training Foundation and the support on offer.

In this guide:

Professional qualifications

Gaining experience

Fees and funding

Training routes

How to apply

Professional qualifications

You are able to get into further education teaching without a formal teaching qualification, however, you likely will be expected to work towards one as part of your job role.

A relevant qualification will give you a better chance of securing a role, individual organisations will have their own requirements. Vocational and skills areas within further education will also benefit from the candidate having relevant work experience in their chosen subject area.

Essential to all teaching candidates will be a key skills set that includes:

The ability to work well with a range of people;
Excellent organisation skills;
Team work;
Expertise in a particular area or areas;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Excellent presentation skills.

This information has been sourced from TARGETjobs.

Gaining Experience

Contact your local FE college or adult education centre to ask about volunteer or work shadowing opportunities.
Consider youth clubs, sports teams, charities, voluntary organisations, schools or community groups, where you can develop communication, leadership and organisational skills relevant to teaching.
Have a look through the DoE page Daily life as a Further Education trainer, you can also Talk to an adviser for further information and insight.

Employers will expect you to have experience or a qualification in the subject you want to teach and so a professional qualification or practical experience in your chosen teaching area is essential.

Training routes

Within the education sector, FE is the most deregulated area with the largest variety of ages of learners served and a wide range of qualifications available. All regulation has been removed and it is up to individual college heads and/or organisations as to which qualifications they require. It will be important to clarify directly with individual employers whether or not you are a suitable candidate based on your qualification level.

Qualifications are available at different levels. These include:

The Level 3 Award in Education and Training which provides an introduction to the area, without the requirement for a placement - 12 credits.This course can be completed before working in a teaching role.

The Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training - 36 credits - requires you to have at least 30 hours of teaching practice and enables learners to develop practical teaching skills.

The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training - 120 credits - is the recognised, full teaching qualification for the sector and requires learners to have a minimum of 100 hours of teaching practice. There is the opportunity to go straight onto this level of qualification without completing the Level 3 or 4.

There are also Level 5 specialist qualifications available for teachers of English, Maths, English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) and for teachers working in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - 120 credits.

The PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) in post-compulsory education is a common route for recent graduates.

A number of courses do use the UCAS Teacher Training application system and the FE Advice website also offers further information about qualifications available.

The School of Education, Languages and Linguistics at the University of Portsmouth specifically offers a Further Education and Training PGCE.

Fees and funding

Funding for the different qualifications outlined above will vary depending on the nature of the route and training undertaken. It is advisable to check all funding requirements directly with the course provider.

You can find further information through the below Get into Teaching sites;

Bursaries and scholarships for postgraduate teacher training

Student finance for teacher training

Postgraduate Open Day. 20.05.2026.

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How to apply

Applications for the teacher training routes into Further Education are likely to vary, depending on the route you are looking to take.

Courses are listed through the UCAS Teacher Training application system. Other opportunities, including specific positions and training opportunities may involve a direct application to an institution or organisation.