It is studied at QCF Level 3 or 4, awarded over 2006 to 2018 and was for those new to teaching, or who wanted to start out as associate teachers, or who were teaching in the United Kingdom and required certification or qualification in the Further Education (FE) or Lifelong Learning sector of education.
Following successful completion, having achieved a pass, an Associate Teacher then had to take the more advanced CTLLS for the Certificate and after that the DTLLS for the Diploma.
The Level 4 CTLLS, however, required the candidate to be in a teaching or training role in order to be assessed 'on-the-job', as well as through the submission of assignments and a portfolio of evidence.
The PTLLS was the first stage of a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) in Lifelong learning and was required prior to achieving the CTLLS and DTLLS to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status.
Between 2007 and 2013, it was a requirement that all FE teachers obtained the PTLLS award, or the equivalent, to be able to continue to teach in the further education sector in the UK.