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Best Level 3 AET Course: Which Study Option Is Right for You?
Updated: 7 days ago
Some courses are completed almost entirely independently. Others include online workshops, classroom training or regular tutor contact. The qualification may have the same name, but the experience of completing it can be very different.
So, which is the best Level 3 Award in Education and Training course?
The short answer is that the best course is a recognised qualification delivered by an approved centre, in a format that suits the way you want to learn.
For some people, that means complete flexibility. For others, learning alongside a tutor and other aspiring trainers is what helps everything click.
Level 3 AET courses from Emblem Training Solutions
Emblem Training Solutions is a Highfield Approved Centre and award-winning training provider, offering the nationally recognised Highfield Level 3 Award in Education and Training (RQF).
Learners can choose from self-paced online learning, blended online cohorts, blended face-to-face delivery in Kent or bespoke programmes for organisations. Prices start from £225 including VAT, with Highfield registration, assessment, certification, tutor feedback and a live assessed microteach included.
Our self-paced and blended routes use interactive eLearning rather than document-based distance learning, with videos, voiceovers, activities, scenarios and practical tasks.
Don’t need our opinion?
Fair enough! If you already know how you would prefer to complete your Level 3 AET, skip the guide and explore the options for yourself.
What is the Level 3 Award in Education and Training?
The Level 3 Award in Education and Training, often shortened to Level 3 AET, is an introductory teaching and training qualification.
You may also see people searching for PTLLS courses. PTLLS was the previous qualification, and the Level 3 AET is now the recognised starting point for many people moving into teaching or workplace training.
It is suitable for:
Aspiring trainers and tutors
Workplace trainers and facilitators
Managers who train their teams
Coaches and consultants
Subject matter experts
People developing their own training business
Anyone who wants to build confidence before progressing further in education and training
You do not need previous teaching experience to enrol.
Which type of AET course is best?
The best delivery option depends on your schedule, preferred way of learning and the amount of live support you want.
Fully self-paced AET
Best for: people who need maximum flexibility and are confident studying independently.
A fully self-paced course allows you to enrol without waiting for a cohort date and complete the learning around work, shifts, family and other commitments.
We know the reality of self-study can be challenging. Learning alongside others can be incredibly valuable, but joining a scheduled cohort simply isn’t practical for everyone.
From the date you are formally enrolled, you have up to 12 months to complete your assignments and microteach. Some learners complete the qualification in a matter of days, while others take much longer. This flexibility allows you to pause when needed, rearrange your study time and work at a pace that suits your life.
If you need the qualification for a new role or opportunity, you can progress as quickly as you are able to complete the work and arrange your microteach group. We regularly hear from learners working towards tight deadlines, and we will always support faster marking turnarounds where our capacity allows.
Self-paced learning with Emblem still means completing engaging, interactive eLearning rather than working through a folder of documents. The course includes voiceovers, videos, activities, games, scenarios and practical mini tasks.
Email support and personalised assignment feedback are included throughout. For your microteach, your tutor-assessor will join you remotely to observe and assess your 15-minute teaching session live using FaceTime, Teams or Zoom on a device with a camera and microphone. This allows you to arrange your assessment at a suitable time and location without needing to travel.
If you don’t have access to your own group, you can book a place at one of our scheduled online or face-to-face group microteach sessions for an additional fee.
Blended online AET
Best for: people who want flexibility but also value discussion, tutor guidance and learning with others. Our blended online option combines self-paced eLearning with live, two-hour online workshops.
The digital learning helps you build your knowledge at times that suit you. The workshops give you opportunities to ask questions, apply what you have learned and explore ideas with people from different sectors.
Workshop attendance is optional, and recordings are available if you cannot attend live. Your assessed microteach is delivered online alongside other members of your cohort.
Blended face-to-face AET
Best for: people who enjoy practical, in-person learning and want to complete their microteach within a supportive group.
During the first month, you complete the three interactive eLearning modules at your own pace.
At the start of the second month, you attend a full-day workshop in Kent to apply your knowledge through practical activities and prepare for your assignments and microteach.
At the end of the month, you return to deliver your assessed microteach in person. One-to-one tutor support is available between the two attendance dates.
Bespoke AET delivery for organisations
Best for: organisations that want to develop several internal trainers together.
Bespoke delivery allows the programme to be planned around your organisation, learners and availability.
This could include a dedicated blended cohort or a five-day face-to-face programme delivered at your premises anywhere in the UK. We can also arrange a suitable training venue if needed.
Examples, activities and discussions can reflect your sector, workplace and the types of learning your trainers will be expected to deliver.
What should you compare before booking an AET course?
Price matters, but it does not tell you what the learning experience will be like.
Before choosing a provider, check the following.
Is it a recognised qualification?
Check which awarding organisation certificates the course and whether the provider is an approved centre.
Emblem is an approved Highfield centre, and successful learners receive the nationally recognised Highfield Level 3 Award in Education and Training.
What does the online learning actually involve?
“Online course” can mean anything from interactive digital learning to a collection of documents that you read and answer questions about.
Ask whether the programme includes videos, audio, activities, scenarios, practice tasks and opportunities to apply the learning.
We have not simply put a qualification online. We have designed the learning experience.
What tutor support is included?
Look carefully at whether support means email responses, assignment feedback, one-to-one calls, live workshops or a combination of these.
Also check whether the support is included in the advertised price or charged separately.
How is the microteach completed?
The microteach is a required part of the qualification, so find out how and when it will take place.
Depending on the delivery route, Emblem learners can:
Deliver their microteach online with a cohort
Attend an in-person microteach day in Kent
Be assessed remotely by their tutor
Purchase a place at an optional online or face-to-face group session
How long will you have to complete it?
Check whether the course has fixed deadlines and how long you will retain access to the platform and resources.
Emblem learners have up to 12 months to complete the qualification, even when the suggested programme takes less time.
Those on a blended programmes can complete in as little as 12 weeks if they want to.
Are there additional costs?
Before enrolling, check exactly what is included in the price, including registration, certification, workshops, microteach assessments, resubmissions and extensions.
At Emblem, the only optional additional cost applies to learners on the self-paced route who choose to book a place at a live workshop.
A low headline price can be appealing, but it may look very different once you understand the full cost of completing the qualification.
Why choose Emblem for your Level 3 AET?
We wanted to create an AET course that reflects the way we believe good learning should work.
That means:
Interactive eLearning rather than mountains of reading
Practical activities linked to real training situations
Clear explanations supported by voiceovers and video
Games, scenarios and mini tasks that help you apply the content
Flexible ways to complete the qualification
Personalised feedback on submitted work
Options to learn independently or alongside other people
Up to 12 months to complete
Most importantly, you can choose the delivery option that works for you. We will never hide costs from you. VAT is displayed in all our costs so there's no nasty surprised when you get to checkout and suddenly the price goes up by 20%.
We do not expect every learner to have the same schedule, confidence or support needs. Our self-paced, blended online, face-to-face and bespoke routes all lead towards the same nationally recognised qualification, but give you different ways to get there.
So, what is the best Level 3 AET course?
The best Level 3 AET course is one that gives you a recognised qualification, a clear route through the assessments and a learning experience that fits your circumstances.
Choose fully self-paced learning if you need complete control over your schedule.
Choose blended online learning if you want flexibility alongside live tutor-led workshops.
Choose blended face-to-face learning if you prefer practical group learning and in-person assessment.
Choose bespoke delivery if you are developing a team of trainers within your organisation.
Whatever route you choose, look beyond the course title and price. Find out how you will learn, what support you will receive and how the provider will help you develop the confidence to use the qualification in practice.
Not sure which option is right for you? Get in touch and we will help you choose the most suitable route.
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