The qualification of Certificate of Educational Studies (COES) from The College of Teachers recognises the professional elements of a candidate's training.

Learning at this level should involve building knowledge and/or skills in relation to an area of work or a subject area and is appropriate for many job roles. This qualification is appropriate for both teachers and others who work in education alike.

The COES can be an 'attendance plus' qualification and often consists of the equivalent of 18 hours spent on workshops, seminars or professional training days. It requires the candidate to attend and participate in identified training and identify how they benefited from it.

In general terms most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 HE credits assigned to them. 10 HE credits at Level 1 usually, but not always, consists of ten two-hour sessions. 20 HE credits at Level 1 to Level 3 usually, but not always, consist of 20 two-hour sessions at the same level. The basic HE calculation is that for every two hours of tuition you are given you will engage in eight hours of private study. (Oxford University)

The assessment at this level is variable from Centre to Centre as the courses are variable from Centre to Centre.

The COES on a Practitioner band is available to teachers or other practitioners who wish to gain a Practitioner qualification. The COES is only allocated HE credit as part of a programme of Practitioner or Master Practitioner. HE credit is not awarded to other courses unless that course is accepted by the Centre as being in part or similar to their final outcomes at Practitioner or Master Practitioner band. The COES is placed on The College of Teachers Qualification Framework (COTQF) and if the COES is assessed at Practitioner band, the candidate may be awarded five HE credits.