If you have been researching a Level 5 teaching qualification, you have probably hit a wall of acronyms — DTLLS, DET, DiT, QTLS, FE ITE. The short version is this: the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) was replaced by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills), known as the DiT, from 1 September 2024. This guide explains exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and which qualification you should enrol on now.
What is the DET, and why was it replaced?
The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training — itself once called the Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) — was for years the standard full teaching qualification for the post-16 further education and skills sector. It covered teaching, learning and assessment, theories and principles of education, inclusive practice, and wider professional development.
The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) to produce an updated framework so that initial teacher education (FE ITE) qualifications would map directly onto what employers actually want from a competent FE teacher. The result is the new Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills), built around the Learning and Skills Teacher (LST) occupational standard approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. From 1 September 2024, the DiT replaced the DET as the recognised qualification for the sector and the route to QTLS.
DET vs DiT: the differences at a glance
The headline changes when moving from the DET to the DiT (FE and Skills) are:
- A new foundation. The DiT is mapped to the Learning and Skills Teacher occupational standard, so the content reflects the knowledge, skills and behaviours employers in the sector actually expect.
- A sharper practical focus. There is greater emphasis on real classroom delivery, including digital and technology-integrated teaching, rather than generalist theory alone.
- The Minimum Core is handled differently. The standalone Minimum Core unit that applied to the DET is no longer a separate requirement in the same form under the DiT.
- The same destination. The DiT remains a Level 5 initial teacher education qualification that provides the route to Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status through the Society for Education and Training (SET).
Do existing DET holders need to upgrade?
This single point trips up a lot of prospective and existing teachers, and many provider pages skip over it. If you already hold the Level 5 DET (or the older DTLLS), you do not need to retake or upgrade to the DiT. Your qualification remains nationally recognised, and anyone already working towards the DET before the transition can still complete it. The DiT is the version that new learners enrol on from September 2024 onward. If your only goal is to confirm an existing DET is still valid — it is.
Which one should you enrol on now?
If you are starting fresh, the answer is straightforward: enrol on the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE and Skills), the DiT. It is the current, QTLS-eligible qualification, and it aligns with the present-day occupational standards that colleges, independent training providers and adult education employers expect.
You should choose the DiT if you want to teach in the post-16 FE and skills sector — colleges, adult and community education, work-based learning or independent training providers; if you are already in a teaching, training or tutoring role and want a full, recognised teaching qualification; if you intend to progress to QTLS status, which is recognised as equivalent to QTS for school teaching; and if you have Level 2 English and Maths and a specialist subject you can teach.
One practical point worth knowing before you enrol: the DiT is built on real teaching practice, so you need access to a genuine FE teaching placement to complete the observed elements. If you do not currently have one, ask about our Trainee Practitioner Positioning programme, which helps learners meet the practical requirement.
How the DiT leads to QTLS
Since 2012, teaching professionals who are members of SET and hold QTLS have been recognised as equivalent to school teachers with QTS. To apply for QTLS you need a Level 5 initial teacher training qualification — which the DiT provides — alongside meeting SET’s remaining eligibility criteria. In other words, the DiT is not just a certificate; it is the gateway to full professional recognition in the FE and skills sector.
Ready to start? Bright Pathway delivers the Ofqual-regulated Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE and Skills) fully online, with expert tutor support and a placement-support option for learners who need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not harder so much as differently focused. The DiT places more weight on practical, observed teaching mapped to the Learning and Skills Teacher standard, while the DET leaned more on generalist theory. Most learners already teaching find the practical emphasis intuitive.
Yes. It is an Ofqual-regulated qualification within the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and is recognised across the further education and skills sector.
The DiT typically takes a minimum of around 18 months, depending on your prior experience and how much time you can dedicate. Delivery is fully online through a virtual learning environment with tutor support.
Yes. Because the qualification is assessed partly through observed teaching, you need access to a genuine FE teaching placement.Â
Yes. Learners who began the DET before the transition can complete it, and the qualification remains recognised. New starters should enrol on the DiT.
