If you are considering the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching, one of the first and most important questions to get clear on is:
“What actually counts as teaching hours?”
This is one of the most misunderstood areas of Further Education Teacher Training, and it is also one of the main reasons learners either delay enrolling unnecessarily or begin the course without the right teaching context in place.
This article explains what does and does not count as teaching hours for the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching, including guidance on one-to-one teaching, online delivery, audience size, and learner age. If you are aiming to qualify as an FE Teacher, getting this right from the start matters.
Why teaching hours are a core requirement
The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching is a practice-based qualification. It is designed to develop competent teachers who can plan, deliver, and evaluate learning in real Further Education and skills settings.
To achieve the qualification, you must complete:
- 150 hours of teaching practice
- 10 observed teaching sessions
These requirements are not set by individual training providers. They are embedded within awarding-body expectations and reflect what is required of teachers working professionally in the FE sector.
Put simply, if you are not actively teaching, you will not be able to generate the evidence needed to complete the qualification.
How teaching hours are defined
Teaching hours are defined by the nature of the activity, not the format, setting, or group size.
Awarding-body specifications, including those used by organisations such as Focus Awards, define teaching practice through what the teacher is doing, rather than how many learners are present.
To count as teaching hours, you must be actively involved in:
- Planning learning
- Delivering structured teaching
- Facilitating learner understanding and skill development
- Supporting progress towards learning outcomes
- Reviewing and reflecting on learning
If those elements are present, the teaching activity will normally be valid.
What counts as teaching hours?
Teaching hours can be accumulated across a wide range of Further Education contexts, including:
- Classroom-based teaching
- Live online teaching sessions
- Workplace or employer-led training
- Adult and community education
- Teaching within private training providers
- Offender learning and rehabilitation settings
What matters is not where the teaching takes place, but your responsibility for the learning.
If learners are relying on you to help them understand new knowledge, develop skills, or work towards learning outcomes, the activity is likely to count.
Does one-to-one teaching count?
Yes, one-to-one teaching can count towards the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching where it is clearly evidenced as teaching rather than support.
This is a common area of confusion, largely because informal support is often mistaken for teaching.
One-to-one sessions normally count when they are:
- Planned and structured
- Outcome-focused
- Designed to develop new knowledge or skills
- Evidenced through session plans, records, and reflection
One-to-one sessions do not count when they are purely pastoral, informal mentoring, catch-up chats, or general support with no structured learning aims.
It is important to understand that Further Education includes many teaching contexts where one-to-one delivery is standard practice, such as Functional Skills, ESOL, SEND provision, workplace learning, and adult re-engagement programmes. Teaching hours are therefore judged by teaching activity, not audience size.
Does group size matter?
No. There is no minimum or maximum group size for teaching hours on the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching.
Teaching may take place:
- One-to-one
- In small groups
- In larger classes
- In mixed-ability settings
- Online with variable cohort sizes
A well-planned one-to-one session is just as valid as a session delivered to a full classroom, provided it meets the definition of teaching practice.
Does the age of learners matter?
Yes, but only to a point.
The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching is a qualification for the Further Education and skills sector, which broadly covers learners aged 16 and over.
Teaching hours normally count when you are teaching:
- Learners aged 16–18
- Adult learners (19+)
- Apprentices
- Workplace learners
- Community and voluntary sector learners
Teaching learners under the age of 16 does not usually count, as this falls outside the FE and skills sector. Where teaching roles are mixed, only sessions delivered to learners aged 16+ can normally be included.
Do online teaching hours count?
Yes, live online teaching counts.
Examples include:
- Live virtual classrooms
- Online workshops
- Interactive webinars with learner participation
What does not count is passive activity such as uploading resources, pre-recorded videos, or setting independent tasks without live teaching interaction.
Online teaching must still demonstrate planning, delivery, engagement, and review of learning.
What does not count as teaching hours?
The following activities do not usually count towards the 150 teaching hours:
- Lesson planning and preparation
- Marking or assessment administration
- Informal mentoring
- Pastoral support with no teaching element
- Observing other teachers without delivering content
- Shadowing sessions
These activities are important parts of a teaching role, but only active teaching delivery can be counted.
Evidence is essential
Teaching hours must be clearly evidenced. This may include:
- Teaching timetables or schedules
- Session plans
- Attendance records
- Observation reports
- Reflective accounts
Without evidence, hours cannot be claimed. This is one of the most common issues faced by learners who begin the qualification without fully understanding the requirements.
Professional standards and sector alignment
The expectations placed on trainee teachers align with the Education and Training Foundation Professional Standards, which focus on teaching behaviours, planning, assessment, and reflective practice.
These standards recognise the wide range of delivery contexts within Further Education and do not restrict teaching practice based on group size or delivery format.
A final word
The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching is not designed for people who are not teaching and have no realistic plan to start teaching.
However, if you are delivering structured learning in any FE context and want to develop into a confident, competent FE Teacher, the qualification is both achievable and respected.
Understanding what counts as teaching hours before you enrol will save you time, stress, and frustration later.
If you are unsure whether your current role meets the requirements, Future Step Education can offer clear guidance before you commit.
To find out more about initial teacher education for the FE sector, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.
Thank you for reading.
