AET vs PGCE vs cert ed: which teaching route fits you?

Ask five people in the FE sector to explain the difference between the AET, the Cert Ed and the PGCE and you'll likely get five slightly different answers. The confusion is understandable: all three lead to teaching roles, all three involve some form of assessed practice, and job adverts don't always specify which one they mean when they ask for a "teaching qualification". Here's a straightforward breakdown.

Level 3 award in education and training (AET)

The AET is the entry-level qualification, sitting at Level 3. It's built around three units covering roles and responsibilities, inclusive teaching approaches, and assessment, typically totalling 12 credits and around 48 guided learning hours. It includes at least one observed microteach. Most people complete it in a matter of weeks, either part-time or as an intensive course. We've covered this qualification in detail, including whether it's worth it in 2026, if you want the full picture.

The AET suits:

• People just starting out in teaching or training who need a foundation qualification quickly.
• Industry professionals moving into a training role, such as assessors, workplace trainers or apprenticeship coaches.
• Anyone whose employer requires a minimum teaching qualification before they can deliver unsupervised sessions.

Level 4 certificate in education and training (cert ed - the level 4 route)

Note: "Cert Ed" is sometimes used loosely to refer to either the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training or the older, university-badged Certificate in Education, which is closer in content to a PGCE. In the FE and Skills sector context, most people mean the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, which builds on the AET with additional units on planning, delivering and assessing learning in more depth, plus a subject specialism or theory element depending on the awarding body.

This route suits:

• People already teaching who want a stronger, more substantial qualification than the AET without committing to a full degree-level programme.
• Those working towards Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status through the Society for Education and Training.

Level 5 diploma in education and training (DET)

The Diploma is the full professional teaching qualification for the FE and Skills sector, roughly equivalent in depth to a PGCE but tailored specifically to post-16 and adult education contexts rather than schools. It's usually delivered over one to two years, often while the learner is already teaching, and covers curriculum design, theories of learning, assessment strategy, and a much larger volume of observed teaching practice than the AET or Cert Ed.

This suits:

• Anyone aiming for a permanent lecturer or trainer role in a college, where the Diploma or equivalent is frequently a contractual requirement after a probation period.
• People pursuing full QTLS status, which is professionally recognised in the same way that QTS is recognised in schools.

PGCE (post compulsory education and training)

A PGCE in this context (sometimes labelled PGCE PCET or PGCE Post-Compulsory) is a university-run, academically rigorous route, usually a full postgraduate qualification requiring a first degree for entry. It covers similar ground to the Level 5 Diploma but with a heavier academic and research component, including written assignments analysing educational theory alongside the practical teaching placements.

This suits:

• Graduates who want an academically-recognised qualification, particularly if they might later move into higher education or educational research.
• People who prefer or need a university-badged qualification for personal or career reasons, for example if moving between countries or sectors where "PGCE" is more widely recognised than "DET".

Side by side

Route	Level	Typical duration	Entry requirement	Best for
AET	3	6-12 weeks	None specific	Fast entry, industry movers
Cert Ed (Level 4)	4	1 academic year, part-time	Usually AET or equivalent experience	Deepening skills while teaching
DET	5	1-2 years	Usually AET/teaching role	Permanent college roles, QTLS
PGCE PCET	6/7	1 year full-time or 2 part-time	Degree	Academic route, HE-facing careers

How to actually choose

Start by asking what your employer or target employer actually requires. Many colleges will accept AET at point of hire and support progression to the Diploma once you're in post, which means you don't necessarily need to self-fund the more expensive, longer routes before you have a job. If you're moving from industry into training, the practical route of AET followed by relevant assessing qualifications tends to be more useful early on than an academic PGCE, since your subject expertise is already established. If you're a graduate considering teaching as a first career and want the flexibility to move between FE, HE or even overseas roles, the PGCE's wider recognition might be worth the extra time and cost.

Whichever route you're leaning towards, it helps to have already been through a microteach so you know what observed teaching practice actually feels like; our guide to surviving your first microteach is a good place to start if that's still ahead of you.

Funding and cost considerations

Costs vary hugely by provider and region, and some employers will fund all or part of the qualification, particularly the AET and Cert Ed, as part of staff development. Diploma and PGCE routes are more likely to require a mix of employer support, personal investment or, in some cases, student finance if delivered through a university. It's worth asking directly rather than assuming, since many providers have discretionary bursaries for career changers moving into shortage subject areas such as maths, English, construction and engineering.

Bringing it together

None of these routes are wrong, they simply serve different stages and types of career. Have a look at our full qualifications and CPD courses to see how these map onto specific job roles and sectors, and don't be afraid to start with the AET even if your long-term ambition is the Diploma or PGCE; a huge proportion of experienced FE lecturers began exactly that way.