Further Education and Skills (Distance Learning) Certificate of Education - CertEd

If you have a level 3 qualification and several years' professional experience in a relevant subject area, plus a desire to help students begin their careers through further education, this Certificate in Further Education and Skills (CertEd) course will enable you to teach at college level.

On this course, you'll learn the most effective teaching techniques by spending time on teaching placements in real education settings and exploring teaching theory in lectures and seminars. You'll also develop subject specific knowledge by working closely with course teachers and work-based subject mentors.

If you're not yet working or teaching in further education, you can study this course online by distance learning. If you do already have a role in further education, you can study part-time by distance learning.

You'll still do your teaching placements in person and be a student of the University of Portsmouth, so you’ll have access to all of our facilities and support.

After the course, you'll be able to take up teaching roles in further education colleges, sixth-form colleges and private training providers, or to top up your Certificate to a full Bachelor’s degree.

You can start this course in September or January.


• Develop your skills as a teacher through practical experience in the classroom and theoretical study around further education



• Join fellow professionals from many different backgrounds for lectures and seminars, creating an effective peer network where you can share ideas and experiences



• Get more than 100 hours of work experience on teaching placements arranged by the University (full-time only)



• Be eligible for membership of the Society for Education & Training (SET) when you graduate, which enables you to work towards Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status



Careers and opportunities
This CertEd Further Education and Skills will give you the formal teaching qualification you need to teach in further education settings such as colleges, sixth-forms and private training providers, or to pursue further study.

What can you do with a certificate in further education?

After graduating, previous students have gone on to work in:


- further education colleges


- sixth-form colleges


- private training providers


- public services


- voluntary organisations