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Further education teacher

Alternative titles for this job include Further education tutor, further education lecturer, FE teacher

Further education (FE) teachers teach academic and work related (vocational) courses to young people and adults.

Average salary (a year)

£26,000 Starter

to

£47,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40

You could work

term-time flexibly

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You can do a further education (FE) teaching qualification at university.

Qualifications include:

  • Certificate in Education (Cert Ed)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Post Compulsory Education and Training
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Further Education and Training

To teach an academic qualification like an A level, you'll usually need a degree in the subject.

Some courses include a placement to get practical experience, others may ask that you are already working in an FE college as an unqualified teacher.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

College

You could do a teaching qualification at college, such as:

  • Certificate in Education (Cert Ed)
  • Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training
  • Level 5 Diploma in Teaching with a specialist pathway for teaching literacy, numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), or teaching disabled learners

Employers will expect you to have experience or a qualification in the subject you want to teach.

Entry requirements

You'll need:

  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do a Learning and Skills Teacher Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.

You'll usually need:

  • a qualification in the subject you want to teach
  • recent experience in your industry
  • ability in English, maths and IT

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

More Information

Work

You could apply directly to work as an unqualified further education teacher if you have a minimum of a level 3 qualification and lots of experience in your industry.

Once working, you could complete a teaching qualification on the job. Some employers might help to fund your training.

You'll also need level 2 qualifications in maths and English (though level 3 or higher if you're planning to teach these subjects). If you do not have these qualifications, the learning provider may support you to get them as part of your teacher training course.

Volunteering

It will be useful to get experience through paid work or volunteering at a school, college or adult learning centre.

You can get help with finding:

Direct Application

You can apply directly to teach in further education if you have relevant experience and qualifications in a technical or academic subject.

You can also apply directly to teach some subjects in further education, if you have taught them in a school and hold qualified teacher status (QTS).

More Information

Career tips

You can work towards qualified teacher learning and skills status (QTLS), if you already have a teaching qualification at level 5 or above.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a further education teacher from Teach in Further Education.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your students
  • knowledge of English language
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a further education teacher, you could:

  • teach students of different ages, abilities and backgrounds
  • develop and improve study programmes
  • inspire and motivate students to do well
  • provide constructive feedback to students and prepare them for assessments
  • keep accurate learner records
  • create course materials in print and digital formats
  • stay up to date with changes to technology in your study area
  • follow safeguarding and health and safety procedures
  • refer students to college support services when appropriate
  • take part in marketing, careers and student recruitment activities

Working environment

You could work at a college, in a sixth form college, an independent training centre, in a prison or at an adult education centre.

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience you could:

  • become a senior further education teacher, head of department or education programme co-ordinator in a college
  • qualify as a training assessor or examiner
  • write textbooks or create online course resources for an educational publisher
  • become a training officer with a commercial company

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a further education teacher right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Education & Training Award L3

  • Provider: BATH COLLEGE
  • Start date: 15 September 2025
  • Location: Bath

Award in Education and Training

  • Provider: UNITED COLLEGES GROUP
  • Start date: 15 September 2025
  • Location: London

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

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