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Joining
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Benefits
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Payments
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Changes to membership
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CPD
We offer membership to people who work in either teaching, learning, skills or support roles in the Further Education and Skills sector, or who are currently undertaking an initial teacher training education qualification.
Grades are allocated dependent on experience and they are: Member, Fellow, Associate, Affiliate and Student.
We also offer options for organisations to join as members.
No. When you join we will automatically assign you a level of membership depending on your experience and qualifications.
Our professional membership grades entitle the member to use post nominals. The post nominals are for Member (MSET), Fellow (FSET) and Associate (ASET).
Yes, we want to support aspiring professionals during their study time.
Student membership is free if you are studying your Initial Teacher Education qualification, for the length of your studies.
How long does the membership last?
Our membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March and you will need to renew your membership each year. Should you join after 1 April you will still need to renew on 31 March and you will pay a pro-rata fee.
Benefits explained
Membership gives you access to online and in-person benefits including:
- Events and networking: Member-only CPD events, invites to ETF events and communities
- Resources: On-demand content and resources including our eBook library
- Magazine: Access to the popular quarterly inTuition publication
- Discounts: Savings to support learning and growth, such as a 10% discount on many CPD courses
Yes, you will receive the same excellent benefits regardless of your level of membership.
InTuition is published four times a year. For Member, Fellow, Associate and Affiliate grades it will be posted to the address on your membership record, and a digital version emailed to you. Our Student members will receive the digital version only.
To receive your member discount for ETF events and conferences you will need to register with your membership number. This can be found within your profile on the website.
As an exclusive benefit of membership, members can enjoy full access to the best deals ranging from health and wellbeing support services to travel savings, cinema tickets and professional or financial advice. Once logged in, you will be able to access Rewards from your member account.
Membership starts at £80 for all grades except for Fellows who pay £100. This fee covers a year’s membership and applies to people who pay by direct debit. There is the option to pay monthly. The fees are slightly higher if you pay by credit card. Students have free membership for the duration of their ITE qualification.
Card |
Direct debit monthly |
Direct debit annually |
|
Affiliates |
£95 | £80 | £80 |
Associates |
£95 | £6.66 | £80 |
Members |
£95 | £6.66 | £80 |
Fellows |
£110 | £8.33 | £100 |
Our membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March and you will need to renew your membership each year. Should you join after 1 April you will still need to renew on 31 March and you will pay a pro-rata fee.
Direct Debits cost less to administer so we can pass this saving onto our members. You can also opt to pay monthly, spreading the cost of your annual membership. It's easy to switch to Direct Debit. Simply call the team on 0800 093 9111. You will be given at least two weeks' notice before your first instalment is taken.
Yes, you can pay by credit card for a year’s membership. It is slightly more expensive than paying by direct debit.
Yes, we offer concessionary rates for retired teachers and those on low income or unemployed at the time of applying for membership.
When it’s time to renew your membership we will email you a reminder.
You can renew your membership through your online dashboard, MySET.
To renew simply click the ‘renew’ button on the top right and then follow the prompts.
Alternatively, you call the team on 0800 093 9111 We are open from Monday to Friday, 9.30am-5.00pm
What happens if I let my membership lapse as a QTLS or ATS holder?
If you don’t renew your membership you will not lose your QTLS or ATS status, however, you will be removed from the Professional Register and your QTLS or ATS status will no longer be current. You will also no longer be able to receive any of the excellent benefits.
I'm a previous member, why am I having trouble joining again?
You may be having trouble setting up as a new member if you were previously a member or have tried to join before and are using the same email address. You can use this email address to log in to your account and renew your membership. If you’ve forgotten your password you can easily reset it.
I pay by direct debit and my bank details have changed, what should I do?
Please contact the team on 0800 093 9111 so we can update your records. We are open Monday to Friday, (9.30am-5pm).
My employer is a partner - do I still have to renew?
No, we will be in touch with your employer to discuss renewal of their partnership agreement with them directly.
Upgrading your membership from a Member to Fellow is easy, just send us an email - membership@etfoundation.co.uk - along with all the necessary supporting evidence.
If you are a student and have successfully completed your qualification you will be automatically invited to upgrade to a full member.
If you add a qualification to your portfolio required of a higher membership level, you will automatically be invited to upgrade.
Visit our membership page for more information.
It is not currently possible to pause your membership, but we do offer concession rates for members who are:
- Temporarily not working due to unemployment, ill health, parental leave or a career sabbatical
- Retired
- On an annual income of less than £16,500
If you no longer want to continue your membership, please get in touch with our helpful team on membership@etfoundation.co.uk, or call 0800 093 9111 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:00pm).
You will no longer be able to receive any of the excellent benefits.
If you are a QTLS or ATS holder and you don’t renew your membership you will not lose your QTLS or ATS status, however, you will be removed from the Professional Register and your QTLS or ATS status will no longer be current.
As a member you are expected to abide by our Code of Practice and demonstrate effective CPD. If you do not abide by our Code of Practice or demonstrate effective CPD you could lose your membership and your QTLS or ATS status.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a commitment by members to ensure they have the requisite skills and knowledge to be professionally competent. CPD is an investment in yourself, linking formal and informal learning directly to your professional practice. A systematic approach to CPD will ensure that you maintain and enhance your skills and competencies supporting your career development aspirations. It can also build confidence, strengthen your professional credibility and employability prospects.
We fully expect members to keep abreast of latest developments to ensure their skills reflect current good practice. Simply reading an article, report or research findings for example will improve your learning and is therefore considered valuable and relevant CPD.
Remember CPD is not simply doing a formal course or courses, which is a common misconception. CPD should be a mix of formal and informal learning, aimed at improving your professional practice in areas identified by you/your employer.
Our membership is a recognised benchmark of professionalism, illustrated through the various grades of membership and associated post-nominals. We set high standards of entry to our professional membership grades (Associate, Member and Fellow) which includes a clear commitment to continuing professional development.
Following the removal of the further education (FE) workforce regulations in 2012, it is no longer a mandatory requirement for all teachers and trainers in the Further Education and Training sector to make an annual and formal declaration of their CPD.
However, ETF strongly encourages all members, particularly those in the professional membership grades i.e. Associate, Member and Fellow, take appropriate steps to ensure they remain in good professional standing by staying up to date with their subject specialism, professional knowledge and competence and approaches to teaching and learning through a range of formal and informal CPD activities.
ETF does not stipulate that a minimum number of CPD points or hours must be achieved each year; we are not looking for evidence of how much time has been spent on CPD. We firmly believe that CPD is a very personal journey which should focus on your own professional development needs and the results i.e. the outputs and outcomes of the activity undertaken and, most importantly, the difference it has had or is likely to have on your professional practice and ultimately your learners.
No. Since the 2007 Workforce Regulations were revoked by the Government in 2012/13, there is no longer a requirement for you to make an annual declaration of their CPD by 31 August each year.
However, there is still a requirement for you to remain in good standing by completing annual CPD which would also confirm your professional status of QTLS when renewing each year.
Is CPD mandatory for all members, in all grades?
No, but it is strongly encouraged. ETF expects its professional members i.e. those in the grades of Associate, Member and Fellow to show a strong commitment to their own CPD. For students and affiliates, CPD is optional but recommended.
ETF does not stipulate that a minimum number of CPD points or hours must be achieved each year; we are not looking for evidence of how much time has been spent on CPD. We firmly believe that CPD is a very personal journey which should focus on your own professional development needs and the results i.e. the outputs and outcomes of the activity undertaken and, most importantly, the difference it has had or is likely to have on your professional practice and ultimately your learners.
Are there any circumstances which would exempt me from undertaking CPD?
Members, who are not currently working and are subsequently on the concessionary rate of membership are not expected to undertake CPD. However the advantages of continuing with professional development to ensure competencies and skills are maintained is highly recommended. Retired members and students/affiliates are also exempt.
What is formal CPD?
Formal CPD involves participating in organised activities, e.g. courses, training, professional formation (such as QTLS/ATS), normally where participation can be evidenced and there are clear learning objectives.
What is informal CPD?
Informal CPD involves activities such as reading (e.g. inTuition), researching information via the internet, reviewing books or articles for professional purposes, attending relevant events, plus participation in networks, communities of practice and special interest groups.
Does formal CPD have to be provided by ETF?
No. Formal CPD does not have to be provided by ETF. Formal CPD can include training or formal learning offered by your employer or other provider of CPD.
How many CPD hours or points does ETF require?
Our approach to CPD is not based on the accumulation of a specified number of points or hours. Our policy is based on results and outcomes and is very much determined by the areas of development identified by you.
Is membership contingent upon undertaking CPD?
We ask all members when joining and renewing their membership to confirm their own commitment to CPD. ETF members are required to abide by our Code of Ethics and Conduct which stipulates under Professional Competency, that members agree to “Maintain professional knowledge and competence through continuing professional development in both teaching and subject specialism”. By joining/renewing members are therefore agreeing to adhere to ETF’s CPD policy requirements.
Get in touch
Our friendly team can support you with any queries. Please email membership@etfoundation.co.uk or call 0800 093 9111 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am-5pm).