Higher level teaching assistant (HLTA): qualification requirements

What qualifications are needed?

No statutory criteria for HLTAs

The government no longer requires teaching assistants (TA) to take an external assessment to become higher level teaching assistants (HLTA). Instead, employers and schools can decide whether a candidate is competent and qualified enough to be an HLTA.

Their requirements may include:

• Level 2 and level 3 qualifications
• Externally assessed HLTA status
• That a candidate is judged to be meeting the HLTA professional standards

See more on these in the sections below.

EYFS

If the HLTA is to be the manager of the setting, they will require an approved level 3 qualification or above. This is in