The AET teaches you how to teach; the CAVA teaches you how to assess. If you want to deliver training, take AET. If you want to assess apprentices or NVQ learners, take CAVA. Many UK learners take both — usually AET first, then CAVA.
“AET or CAVA?” is one of the most-searched questions in UK vocational education — and the answer depends entirely on what role you want. Both are Level 3 Ofqual-regulated qualifications, both can be done online in 8–14 weeks, but they prepare you for completely different jobs. This guide gives you the honest, no-marketing-fluff comparison.
The 30-second answer
£22k–£35k UK salary range. 48 study hours.
£25k–£39k UK salary range. 84 guided learning hours.
Side-by-side comparison
| AET (Level 3) | CAVA (Level 3) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Award in Education & Training | Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement |
| Purpose | Qualify to teach / train adults | Qualify to assess vocational learners |
| Level | Level 3 | Level 3 |
| Guided learning hours | 48 | 84 |
| Total qualification time | 120 hrs | 150 hrs |
| Credits | 12 | 15 |
| Bright Pathway price | £130 | £289 |
| Typical completion time | 8–10 weeks | 12–14 weeks |
| Practical assessment required? | Yes (1 micro-teach session) | Yes (observed assessments of real learners) |
| Workplace placement needed? | No | Yes — you need access to learners to assess |
| Entry requirements | None (literacy in English) | None (must have access to assessment opportunities) |
| Career it unlocks | Trainer, Tutor, FE Lecturer (with progression) | Vocational Assessor, NVQ Assessor, Apprenticeship Assessor |
| UK salary range | £22k–£35k | £25k–£39k |
| Next-step qualification | Level 4 CET / Level 5 DiT | Level 4 IQA |
The key difference, explained
What AET prepares you for
The Level 3 AET teaches you the skills of delivering learning to adults: planning lessons, using effective communication, evaluating learner progress, creating an inclusive learning environment. It’s the standard UK entry qualification for anyone wanting to teach or train, whether in further education colleges, private training providers, or in-house corporate training departments.
The course includes one practical “micro-teach” — a short session you deliver and have observed. You don’t need access to a real classroom or workplace to complete it.
What CAVA prepares you for
The Level 3 CAVA teaches you the skills of judging learning: planning assessments, observing competence, giving feedback, making valid assessment decisions, recording evidence. It’s the standard UK qualification for vocational assessors — the people who sign off NVQs, apprenticeships, and competence-based qualifications.
CAVA is assessed through a portfolio that includes observed assessments of real learners. This means you need access to actual learners (in your workplace or via a friendly contact) to complete the qualification. If you don’t, consider the Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles & Practices of Assessment (UPPA) instead — the knowledge-only version.
Pick the right one for your goal
Teach & train adults
- Become a college lecturer or FE tutor
- Run training sessions in your workplace
- Start a private training business
- Train new staff or apprentices
- Move into corporate L&D
- Study without needing learners to assess
Assess vocational learners
- Become an NVQ or apprenticeship assessor
- Assess in care, construction, beauty, hospitality
- Work as a peripatetic / freelance assessor
- Progress to IQA (Level 4) in future
- Formalise your existing subject expertise
- Assess learners you already work with
Should you do both?
Yes — most career education-and-training professionals hold both. Many training providers require their staff to be qualified to teach (AET) and assess (CAVA), which is why combined teaching-and-assessing bundles are so popular.
Doing them together also makes financial sense: when bundled, the combined cost is significantly less than buying them separately.
Teaching & Assessment Path: AET + CAVA
Both qualifications together, so you can teach and assess. £30 less than buying them separately, with instalment plans available.
Take them individually
Career paths after each
After AET, you can progress to:
- Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET) — for more experienced trainers
- Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE and Skills), the full teaching diploma (replaced the DET)
After CAVA, you can progress to:
- Level 4 IQA Award — to quality-assure other assessors (£31k–£40k roles)
- Level 4 Certificate in Leading the IQA — for senior centre-lead roles (£42k+)
The real differences in coursework
Beyond what they qualify you to do, AET and CAVA differ significantly in how you actually study them and what you’ll need to produce:
AET coursework
- 3 mandatory units covering roles and responsibilities, planning inclusive learning, and delivery.
- 1 micro-teach session (15–30 minutes) — you’ll deliver a short teaching session, video-recorded or observed by your tutor, on any topic you know well.
- Written assignments — typically 4–6 short written tasks (200–800 words each) reflecting on teaching theory and your own practice.
- No portfolio of evidence required — assessment is contained within the course.
CAVA coursework
- 3 mandatory units covering principles of assessment, assessing occupational competence in the workplace, and assessing in classroom/simulated environments.
- Observed assessments — you must carry out and document real assessments on real learners, with evidence (assessment plans, feedback records, decision sheets).
- Workplace portfolio — ongoing collection of assessment artefacts proving you’ve assessed competence in line with national standards.
- Practical demonstration needed throughout — this is why you must have access to learners during the course.
This practical difference matters: you can complete the AET from a home office with no workplace contact, but the CAVA requires you to have learners you can legitimately assess. If you don’t yet have that access, you can either (1) find a friendly contact in a relevant workplace, (2) volunteer at a local training provider to gain assessor access, or (3) start with the UPPA (Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment) — the knowledge-only version that doesn’t require observed practice.
Common mistakes people make when choosing
- Buying CAVA without thinking about workplace access. By far the most common regret we see — learners enrol on CAVA and only realise later they have no learners to assess. The Level 3 UPPA is a much better fit if you’re studying ahead of starting an assessor role.
- Buying AET when you actually want to assess. AET will teach you to deliver training — but it won’t qualify you to assess apprenticeships or NVQs. Employers in the assessing world will reject AET as proof of your assessing capability.
- Doing AET twice through different providers. AET is the same qualification regardless of provider, as long as the awarding body is Ofqual-regulated. If you’ve already done PTLLS, you don’t need to do AET — they’re the same qualification under different names.
- Assuming a degree replaces these. Even subject experts with PhDs need an AET (or above) to teach in UK further education. The qualifications are about pedagogy, not subject knowledge.
Who chooses each: typical Bright Pathway learners
Based on our enrolment data over the last year, here’s who typically picks each course:
Typical AET learner
- Experienced professional moving into corporate training
- Subject expert starting in adult education or FE
- Career-changer planning to move into training delivery
- Already-working trainer needing to formalise their qualifications
Typical CAVA learner
- Currently working in a vocational sector (care, construction, beauty, hospitality, childcare) wanting to become an assessor
- Existing trainer who already has AET and wants to assess as well
- Internal staff at a training provider transitioning into formal assessor roles
- Skilled trades professional moving into peripatetic / freelance assessing
What learners say
Bright Pathway has a 4.6 TrustScore on Trustpilot from 140+ reviews, including learners who’ve taken AET, CAVA, or both.
“I’m very happy with my experience with BP. Especially with Felicia she has been very warm and supportive. … I just completed my AET and am now moving onto my CAVA!” — Georgie, Trustpilot review, September 2026
You can read all 140+ reviews on Trustpilot here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AET and CAVA?
The AET (Award in Education and Training) qualifies you to teach or train adults — it covers lesson planning, communication, learner engagement.
The CAVA (Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement) qualifies you to assess learners’ competence — it covers assessment planning, observation, feedback, and evidence-based judgement.
They are complementary but distinct qualifications.
Should I do AET or CAVA first?
If you want to teach or train: do the AET first.
If you want to assess apprentices, NVQs or workplace learners: do the CAVA first.
If you’re unsure or want to keep options open: AET is the broader, cheaper starting point.
Can I do AET and CAVA together?
Yes — many providers including Bright Pathway offer them as a bundle. Doing them together saves money and gives you both teaching and assessing credentials, which most UK training organisations prefer.
Our Teaching & Assessment Path bundle includes AET + CAVA for £389, £30 less than buying them separately.
Which pays more — AET or CAVA jobs?
CAVA-qualified Vocational Assessor roles typically pay £25,000–£39,000, slightly higher than AET-qualified Trainer/Tutor roles at £22,000–£35,000.
The biggest pay step comes from progressing to IQA (Level 4), which pays £31,000–£40,000+, or Lead IQA at £42,000+.
How long do AET and CAVA take to complete?
The AET is 48 guided learning hours; CAVA is 84. Studying 6 hours per week, AET takes around 8 weeks and CAVA around 14 weeks.
Bright Pathway provides 12 months’ access to every course, so you can move faster or slower depending on life and work.
Is AET the same as PTLLS?
Yes — AET is the modern version of PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector). The qualification was renamed and updated in 2013, but the level, content, and recognition are equivalent.
If you have an older PTLLS qualification, it is still valid and recognised.
Do I need a degree or A-levels to do AET or CAVA?
No. Neither qualification has formal entry requirements. You need to be confident in written and spoken English, and for CAVA you need access to a workplace where you can carry out observed assessments.
Sources & methodology
Pick your starting point
Both are Ofqual-regulated, dual-accredited by Highfield and Focus Awards. Start any day · 24/7 enrolment · 12 months’ access.
Related guides
Take the next step
Courses related to this guide
- Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)The full assessor qualification for assessing in the workplace and in training settings.
- Level 4 Award in Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)For experienced assessors moving into internal quality assurance.
Ofqual-regulated qualifications, studied online. Browse all courses or talk to an advisor.
