Short answer
An online course lets you qualify around your job and family. You study when it suits you, you do not travel and you spend less than you would on classroom days. You also come out more confident, more up to date and better at your job.
Most people who ask us this question already work full time. They know a qualification would help, but they cannot picture giving up evenings to sit in a classroom. Studying online removes most of that problem, and the benefits go further than convenience.
Online courses: learner benefits
Reduced pain/effort
No commute, no parking and no sitting in a classroom after a full shift. You log in from home on your own device and pick up where you stopped last time. Your effort goes into learning, not into getting there.
Saving time and money
You save the hours you would spend travelling and the cost of fuel, train fares and unpaid time off. With 365 days of access to the online course, you can study in the evening, at the weekend or in a quiet lunch break without losing pay.
Increased happiness
Learning something new and seeing yourself get better at it lifts your mood. Many of our learners tell us the course gave them something to look forward to that was theirs alone.
Getting refreshed and renewed
If you have done the same job for years, a course lets you look at it with fresh eyes. You pick up new ideas, question old habits and go back to work with more energy for it.
Improved personal satisfaction
Finishing a qualification you chose, at your own pace, feels very different from sitting through a compulsory training day. You set the pace and you earn the certificate.
Improved self-image
A recognised qualification changes how you see yourself. You stop thinking of yourself as someone who helps out with training and start thinking of yourself as a qualified teacher, trainer, assessor or IQA.
Increased pleasure
Studying online can be enjoyable. Short units, feedback within 24 to 72 hours and a tutor you can message make steady progress feel rewarding.
Making life easier
Everything sits in one place: the learning materials, your submissions, your feedback and your tutor. You are not keeping track of printed handouts or trying to remember what was said in a session three weeks ago.
Staying current and viable
Standards and expectations change in every sector. A current qualification shows employers that you are keeping up, and it keeps you eligible for roles that ask for it.
Becoming more effective
What you learn goes straight into your work. Planning a session, giving feedback and assessing fairly are skills you use the next day, so you improve while you study.
Improved personal status
Colleagues and managers notice when someone qualifies. It often leads to being asked to train new starters, sign off competence or take on a quality role.
Increased income
Qualified teachers, assessors and IQAs can apply for jobs and freelance work that are closed to people without the certificate. For many learners that means a pay rise, extra paid work or both. See what FE tutors and assessors earn, by region.
Helping create a better world and workplace
Good teachers and assessors raise standards for everyone around them. When you train people well, they work more safely, more confidently and more skilfully, and the people they serve benefit too.
The best time to qualify is the time you already have: an evening, a weekend, a lunch break.
Where to start
If you are not sure which qualification fits, take the Course Quiz. It asks a few questions about your role and tells you where to begin. If you would rather talk it through, Book a Call and speak to one of us.
Questions people ask
Is an online qualification the same as a classroom one?
Yes. The certificate is issued by the awarding organisation and is the same whichever way you study.
How long do I have to finish?
You have 365 days of access to the online course.
Is everything done online?
The learning and your submissions are online. Some qualifications also need practical evidence, such as the micro-teach on the L3AET or assessing real candidates on the L3CAVA.
How quickly is my work marked?
Within 24 to 72 hours.