Further Education (FE) Tutor

Further Education (FE) tutors teach students and apprentices over the age of 16. They develop students’ practical and theoretical understanding of a wide variety of courses and train them for careers in construction or engineering.

Office
Education-Training
Higher qualifications
Excellent communicator

What does a Further Education (FE) tutor do?

Based in colleges, community centres, work-based learning centres, the armed forces or prisons.
Plan and prepare lessons, lectures and seminars
Carry out administrative tasks such as monitoring and assessing students.
May teach full-time, part-time (day or evening) or day release courses.
Setting and marking assessments
Developing new courses and teaching materials
Keeping records and other administrative tasks
Going to meetings, professional development courses and workshops
Interviewing prospective students
Acting as a personal tutor - supporting students and helping with problems
Supervising more junior members of staff
Being actively involved in regulatory inspections and external assessments

How to become a Further Education (FE) tutor

There are several routes to becoming an FE tutor. You could do a university or college course, an apprenticeship, or apply directly to an employer for work.

You should explore these routes to becoming an FE tutor, to find out which is the right one for you. Although some of these options have certain qualification requirements, many employers are more interested in people who are enthusiastic, willing to learn and can follow instructions.

You may need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to work on a construction site.

University

To teach academic qualifications such as A levels (or equivalent), you may need a degree in a relevant subject.

You can gain qualifications to become an FE tutor by studying at university. You could complete a Certificate in Education, or a postgraduate diploma or Certificate in Education or lifelong learning.

In addition to a teaching qualification, you will need experience and technical qualifications to become a tutor on a work-related course or apprenticeship scheme.

College/training provider

To become an FE tutor and teach vocational, construction-related subjects, you will need to have previous experience working within the industry. Once you have practical experience, you could apply to a college or training provider to become an FE tutor. Your employer will ask you to complete a Certificate in Education (or equivalent qualification) on the job, within a certain time frame after you start teaching.

Apprenticeship

You could complete a higher apprenticeship with a college or training provider to become an FE tutor. You’ll need to have recent experience of working in the construction industry and previous training or qualifications in the subject you aim to teach.

Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16. As an apprentice, you will be fully employed by your company and expected to work a minimum of 30 hours a week. Your time will be split between on-the-job experience and a college or training provider.

Guide to apprenticeships

Work

If you have several years’ experience and qualifications in an area of construction, you could apply directly to an employer, or complete teaching qualifications on-the-job.

Work experience

Work experience is essential to gaining employment within the construction industry and going on to become an FE tutor. You could gain this by working weekends and holidays with a company or relative who works in the industry. Potential employers will always be pleased to see work experience listed on your CV.

Find out more about work experience

Skills

Additional skills which may benefit anyone considering a job as an FE tutor include:

Prior experience in an area of construction, i.e. joinery, plumbing or electrical installation
Excellent verbal communication skills
Knowledge of teaching
Sensitivity and understanding
Working well with others.

Qualifications

England

To become a Further Education (FE) Tutor, you could complete a:

NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training
Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training with a specialist pathway for teaching literacy, numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), or teaching disabled learners
Level 5 higher apprenticeship in Learning and Skills Teaching
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.

Scotland

To become a Further Education (FE) Tutor, you could complete a:

Level 8 Diploma in Education and Training
Level 8 Diploma in Education and Training with a specialist pathway for teaching literacy, numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), or teaching disabled learners
Level 8 higher apprenticeship in Learning and Skills Teaching
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.

Wales

To become a Further Education (FE) Tutor, you could complete a:

NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training
Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training with a specialist pathway for teaching literacy, numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), or teaching disabled learners
Level 5 higher apprenticeship in Learning and Skills Teaching
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.

How much can you earn as a Further Education (FE) tutor?

The expected salary for a further education (FE) tutor varies as you become more experienced.

• Newly trained further education tutor can start at £28,000

• Trained with experience further education tutor can earn up to £48,000*

Salaries depend on location, employer, level of responsibility, any overtime you may do, and whether you have completed an industry recognised training route.

* Salaries have been collected from multiple industry sources