Further education NCFE Higher Level Teaching Assistant

lauraj87

Hi all,

Today I enrolled on a course for Higher Level Teaching Assistant (NCFE Accredited). It was actually a Groupon deal as I have been thinking about getting into this career for a while. It was £99 instead of £274 for a 1 year course.

Reading the course guidelines has worried me as I haven't had any further education before and according to the notes level 4 is the equivalent to a first year of a degree!! I was thinking it would be more in line with an NVQ but now I'm worried.

Does anyone have experience with this type of qualification (NCFE). Any pointers? The course does look very in depth and I'm feeling very out of my depth at the moment!

Thanks all x

jodiesmitham

Hi Laura,

Do you have a link to the course? The Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) is a status, so you cannot take a course to become one. Level 2 and 3 QCF (formerly NVQ) is the norm to become a teaching assistant. These are the typical (minimum) qualifications that schools tend to accept - teaching assistant qualifications

A Level 2 is equivalent in difficulty to a GCSE C and above. A Level 3 is equivalent to AS/A Level.

There are higher learning courses which are equivalent to a level 4 QCF (old NVQ) and I don't believe you need previous qualifications. What I *can* tell you is that you will be more qualified at the end than most teaching assistant, so your prospects are that little bit better.

Post a link to the course and I'll take a look.

saintjammyswine

As above but to add that it may be Level 4 equivalent but that it may mean that it is that level of learning rather than a full Level 4 which would be NVQ4/1st Yr Degree level.