Qualification Structure

The NOCN Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training is a qualification regulated within the UK qualifications framework and designed to develop knowledge and practical skills for education and training practice. The qualification carries 36 credits, with 21 credits required from Mandatory Group A and 15 credits selected from Optional Group B. Learners must achieve a minimum of 21 credits at Level 4 or above.

The qualification has 140–204 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 360 hours. These requirements reflect the structured learning and assessment time associated with completing the qualification.

Assessment for the NOCN Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training is assignment-based. Learner work is assessed against the qualification requirements to demonstrate the required knowledge, understanding and application of education and training principles.

To achieve the qualification, learners must successfully complete the required 36 credits, including 21 credits from Mandatory Group A and 15 credits from Optional Group B, while meeting the minimum Level 4 credit requirement.

Core Study Units

The NOCN qualification specification, the NOCN Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training includes mandatory and optional units. Learners must achieve 21 credits from Mandatory Group A and 15 credits from Optional Group B, with at least 21 credits at Level 4 or above.

Mandatory Group A

Unit Name	Credits
Understanding roles, responsibilities and relationships in education and training	3
Delivering education and training	6
Using resources for education and training	3
Assessing learners in education and training	6
Planning to meet the needs of learners in education and training	3

Optional Group B

Unit Name	Credits
Assess occupational competence in the work environment	6
Assess vocational skills, knowledge and understanding	6
Develop and prepare resources for learning and development	6
Develop learning and development programmes	6
Engage learners in the learning and development process	6
Engage with employers to develop and support learning provision	6
Engage with employers to facilitate workforce development	6
Identify individual learning and development needs	3
Identify the learning needs of organisations	6
Internally assure the quality of assessment	6
Manage learning and development in groups	6
Understanding the principles and practices of externally assuring the quality of assessment	6
Understanding the principles and practices of internally assuring the quality of assessment	6
Analysing English language for literacy and language teaching	3
Reading skills for literacy and language teaching	3
Speaking and listening skills for literacy and language teaching	3
Writing skills for literacy and language teaching	3
Using mathematics: personal and public life	6
Using mathematics: professional and vocational contexts	6
Using mathematics: academic subjects	6
Action learning to support development of subject specific pedagogy	15
Action research	15
Assessment and support for the recognition of prior learning through the accreditation of learning outcomes	6
Delivering employability skills	6
Developing, using and organising resources in a specialist area	15
Effective partnership working in the learning and teaching context	15
Equality and diversity	6
Evaluating learning programmes	3
Inclusive practice	15
Preparing for the coaching role	3
Preparing for the mentoring role	3
Preparing for the personal tutoring role	3
Principles and practice of lipreading teaching	12
Specialist delivery techniques and activities	9
Teaching in a specialist area	15
Understanding and managing behaviours in a learning environment (Level 4)	6
Understanding and managing behaviours in a learning environment (Level 5)	6
Working with the 14-19 age range in education and training	9

Who Is This Qualification For?

The NOCN Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training is designed for trainee teachers, educators, trainers and assessors who want to develop structured knowledge and practical teaching skills. According to the NOCN qualification specification, it prepares trainee teachers to teach across a wide range of education and training contexts and includes observed and assessed teaching practice.

This qualification is particularly suitable for:

• Aspiring teachers and trainers: Individuals who are not currently teaching but want to develop the knowledge and practical skills required for education and training practice.
• Existing teachers and trainers: Individuals who have recently started teaching or training and want to develop their professional teaching practice through a structured Level 4 qualification.
• Vocational and workplace trainers: Professionals who deliver training in work-based learning, vocational education or specialist training environments.
• Assessors seeking teaching skills: Individuals currently working as assessors who want to gain a recognised teaching qualification and broaden their education and training expertise.
• Adult and community education practitioners: Professionals working with adult learners who need knowledge of inclusive teaching, learning, assessment and learner support.
• Specialist subject teachers: Individuals who want to develop specialist teaching knowledge through the qualification's range of optional units.
• International education and training professionals: Learners outside the UK who want structured education and training knowledge based on a UK awarding organisation's qualification framework, subject to local recognition requirements.

Its content covers teaching and learning, inclusive practice, assessment, educational resources, planning and learner needs, allowing learners to develop both theoretical understanding and practical teaching capability.

Career Opportunities

The NOCN Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training provides learners with a structured foundation in teaching, learning and assessment within education and training settings. The qualification develops knowledge and practical skills in areas such as professional roles and responsibilities, planning inclusive learning, delivering education and training, using learning resources, and assessing learners, while optional units allow learners to explore specialist teaching and training interests. It is suitable for trainee teachers, trainers, assessors and education professionals in the UK and internationally who want to develop their teaching practice through a recognised Level 4 qualification, combining underpinning knowledge with practical teaching practice across a range of education and training environments.

Future Progression

The NOCN Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training provides learners with a foundation for developing teaching, training, assessment and learning-support skills across education and training environments. The qualification develops knowledge of professional roles and responsibilities, inclusive teaching and learning, lesson planning, delivery, learning resources and assessment, providing skills that can be relevant to education, vocational training, workplace learning and learner support.

Academically, learners may progress to higher-level qualifications in education, teaching, learning and development, subject to the entry requirements of the receiving institution. The qualification can also support continued professional development in areas such as teacher education, vocational training, assessment, learning and development, inclusive practice and specialist teaching.

Professionally, this qualification can support progression towards roles such as Teacher or Tutor, Vocational Trainer, Learning and Development Trainer, Adult Education Tutor, Workplace Assessor, Training Coordinator, Learning Support Practitioner, Community Education Tutor and Specialist Subject Trainer, depending on the learner’s experience, teaching practice, subject expertise and employer requirements. The knowledge and practical skills developed through the qualification provide a foundation for planning learning, delivering education and training, using appropriate resources, supporting diverse learners and assessing learning outcomes.