Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training

What is the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training?

The OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training is a teaching qualification which has a mandatory teaching/training practice requirement. All learners must have access to 100 hours of teaching and there must be a minimum of eight observations of practice, totalling a minimum of eight hours.

The objective of the OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training qualification is to give the learner the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills needed to confirm occupational competence. This includes the planning and delivering of schemes of work and sessions, negotiation of individual goals, different teaching and learning strategies, communication issues and how to utilise a range of assessment practices. Additionally, optional units are available allowing the learner to explore areas directly relevant to their own teaching role.

The OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training is appropriate for teachers, tutors, trainers, lecturers and instructors who may be working within an FE college, Adult and Community Learning Centre. Learning Provider or for those delivering work-based training such as within voluntary, community, private and public organisations.

This qualification is only suitable for teaching learners who are 14 and over.

Who is this qualification for?

This Level 5 diploma suits learners who hold a Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience and want second-year degree-level knowledge in education and training.

• Study fully online with tutor support from LSIB, with no fixed timetable.
• Assessment by assignments, so you can evidence learning from your own workplace.
• Each level carries 120 credits, so you can progress one level at a time.
• This qualification has additional centre resource requirements set by OTHM.

Entry requirements

For entry onto the OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training qualification, learners must:

• Hold a relevant vocational and/or academic qualification of at least the level above that of their learners and ideally a minimum Level 3 qualification in his/her own area of specialism.
• Have access to 100 teaching practice hours during which learners have full responsibility for planning, delivering and assessing specific area/s of the institution’s provision.
• Minimum core of literacy, language, numeracy and ICT
• Learners must be 19 years old or older at the beginning of the course

English requirements: If a learner is not from a majority English-speaking country, they must provide evidence of English language competency. For more information visit English Language Expectations page on this website.

Centres need to ensure that learners are selected for suitability on the course, establishing that they meet the following minimum criteria:

• Can read and communicate clearly and accurately enough to meet the requirements of their training
• Do not have a criminal background which might prevent them from working as a teacher with young people or vulnerable adults

The Centre must provide evidence that staff delivering the qualification hold as a minimum:

• A teaching qualification equivalent to Level 5 or above;
• Evidence of relevant teaching experience in an education or training context;
• Access to appropriate guidance and support; and
• On-going participation in related programme quality assurance processes.

Qualification structure and units

The OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training qualification consists of 4 mandatory units plus 8 optional units, 1200 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT) and the recommended Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for this qualification is a minimum of 360. The maximum guided learning hours will be determined by the optional units selected.

To achieve the OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, learners must achieve a minimum of 120 credits; 75 credits must be achieved from the mandatory units in Group A, plus a minimum of 45 credits from the optional units in Group B.

A minimum of 61 credits must be at Level 5 (therefore a minimum of 6 optional credits must be achieved at level 5)

The learner will need to meet the requirements before OTHM can award the qualification, i.e. achieve the appropriate mandatory and optional units, as well as satisfactorily complete teaching practice.

Source: OTHM qualification specification (PDF) · Ofqual qualification number 603/6069/0.

Duration and delivery

The qualification is designed to be delivered over one academic year for full-time study, but it is also flexible in its delivery in order to accommodate part-time and distance learning.

The qualification is delivered face-to-face, through lectures, tutorials, seminars, distance, online by approved centres only.

At LSIB the qualification is delivered online: you receive the unit materials, assignment briefs and tutor support through the learning platform and submit assignments when you are ready. There are no fixed lecture times, so you can start in any month.

How you are assessed

All units within this qualification are internally assessed by the centre and externally verified by OTHM. The qualifications are criterion referenced, based on the achievement of all the specified learning outcomes.

To achieve a ‘pass’ for a unit, learners must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have fulfilled all the learning outcomes and meet the standards specified by all assessment criteria. Judgment that the learners have successfully fulfilled the assessment criteria is made by the Assessor.

The qualification will be assessed by a combination of assignments, a portfolio of teaching evidence and observation of teaching or training. Simulation of teaching is not permitted for this qualification.

All learners must have access to 100 hours of teaching and there must be a minimum of eight observations of practice, totalling a minimum of eight hours.

Progression and career routes

As this qualification is approved and regulated by Ofqual (Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation), learners are eligible to progress to relevant qualifications at higher level.

Fees and how to apply

The enrolment fee is £10 when you submit your application. It is separate from the course fee above.

1. Apply and pay the £10 enrolment fee Use Apply now to open the application form with this programme pre-selected. Complete the form, upload your ID and qualification certificates (or a CV showing relevant experience), and pay the £10 enrolment fee to submit.
2. Application review and course-fee link Admissions review your application within one working day. If you are approved, we email you a secure link to pay the course fee in full or on an instalment plan.
3. Start your course As soon as your course fee (or first instalment, if you chose a plan) is paid, you receive your learning-platform login and can begin the first unit. There is no fixed intake date.

Progression path

1. Level 5 Diploma
2. Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

Related OTHM qualifications

• Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
• Level 5 Extended Diploma in Education and Training Management
• Level 5 Diploma in Education and Trainings Management