Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET)

The Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET) is a generic teaching qualification that develops your practical teaching skills. The certificate’s optional units also prepare you to work in a wide range of environments. 

The mandatory Certificate in Education and Training units cover:  

• Understanding role, responsibilities and relationships in education and training;
• Planning to meet the needs of learners;  
• Delivering teaching or training;
• Assessing learners;
• Using resources in education and training.  

Optional units provide opportunities for you to contextualise the certificate in the learning environments in which you teach.

Certificate in Education and Training Suitability

The certificate is helpful for you if you are currently an instructor or teaching small groups of learners. The certificate is also suitable if you are not currently teaching but can meet the minimum teaching practice requirement of 30 hours. 

The course focus is on learning practical teaching skills. It is not so useful if your duties include the full range of teaching responsibilities.  

Level 4 Certificate Progression

The CET is not needed as a prerequisite for joining the higher level Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. Suitable candidates may enter straight into the DET.  

CET Employment Opportunities

The Level 4 certificate will increase your employment opportunities in FE education. Also, the certificate will provide you with a base for progression to the DET. 

You can carry forward the Level 4 unit Teaching, learning and assessment to the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. 

You can carry forward the credits from AET mandatory unit Understanding roles, responsibilities and relationships in education and training into the CET.  

CET Course Entry Requirements 

To take the certificate course, you should be able to undertake a qualification of medium size. 

Academically, the certificate equates to the first year of an undergraduate degree. So, you need to demonstrate the potential to study at minimum academic level 4.  

There may be an initial assessment of your skills in English, maths and ICT. The certificate programme will support further development of these skills, recorded in your personal development log. By the end of the course, you may be assessed as competent at level 2 in English and maths.

Also, it would be best if you were qualified, proficient or experienced in the subject which you intend to teach. You need to be able to support your learners at the appropriate level while delivering your subject specialism. 

CET Teaching Practice and Assessed Observations Requirement 

You will need to complete a minimum of 30 hours of teaching practice for the CET qualification. You are also required to have a minimum of 3 assessed observations. 

There is no requirement for you to provide evidence of working with groups of learners to achieve the qualification unless the units undertaken specify that purpose. However, if you work exclusively with individuals, your programme could also include preparation and support for working with groups.