To achieve an advanced award you need to complete two mandatory units. The advanced certificate requires two mandatory plus two optional units. For the advanced diploma you need to achieve two mandatory units plus four optional units.

There are five groups of units:

  • mandatory units
  • general option units (covering for example, team work, development, mentoring and assessment). Available at level 3 only
  • information option units (suitable for roles such as administrator, receptionist, PA, librarian or data manager)
  • resources option units (suitable for roles such as technician, IT support or caretaker), and
  • support option units (suitable for roles such as midday supervisor, after school coordinator, sports coach or learning support), and
  • parent support units (for information on this endorsed pathway see our parent support endorsed pathway page).

Mandatory units

General option units

Information option units

Resources option units

Support option units


For more information e-mail: swis@tda.gov.uk