Qualification Bypasses
The LTA recognises that some people may already hold extensive prior qualifications, experience (playing, coaching, teaching) and training that make a Qualification bypass an appropriate option.
The below table outlines who may be eligible to bypass a Qualification(s), the criteria, and next steps:
| Person Specification | Bypass Criteria | What to do next |
| Coaches with foreign or commercial Qualifications that amount to between 3 and 14 face to face contact days in total | No Qualification bypass is available but coaches can join Coach Accreditation if the qualification meets specific standards. Coaches wishing to do a Qualification with the LTA, will need to start at LTA Assistant. | More details on this page |
| Coaches with foreign or commercial Qualifications that amount to 15+ face-to-face contact days in total | Coaches in this category are eligible to access the LTA Tennis Coach Course (L3) directly without the need to complete the LTA Assistant & LTA Instructor qualification. Please note this does not mean you are awarded a Level 2, it just means you can go directly to the Level 3 course. | More details on this page |
| Teachers with a PGCE or QTS qualification | Able to bypass LTA Assistant if you have completed your teacher training and can provide your certificate of completion. |
Contact the Workforce Development Centre to enquire about LTA Instructor (L2). Please note you will be required to complete an LTA Instructor Readiness Test |
| Qualified coaches from other sports (UKCC Level 2) | No bypass available | Contact the Workforce Development Centre to enquire about LTA Assistant (L1). |
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Former professional tennis players
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People who meet this criteria may be eligible for our Player to Coach Programme or a bespoke support plan into coaching |
Each individual will be reviewed on a case by case basis, taking into account the individuals overall profile of Qualifications, experience (playing, coaching and/or teaching), and CPD training. Previous and current coaching experience will be considered, as well as the coaching environment the player wishes to work in once Qualified. More details on this page under Player to Coach Programme. |
Each step of the LTA Qualification pathway progressively develops key coaching knowledge and skills. By not undertaking qualifications from Assistant up, prospective coaches will not have an opportunity to develop their core coaching knowledge and skills in a tennis-specific context across communication, demonstrations, feeding, health and safety, risk assessment, and the basics of technical and tactical development and skill acquisition, among other areas.
Furthermore, courses at LTA Instructor and LTA Coach build on the robust foundations introduced at LTA Assistant which means that anyone not undertaking qualifications from the base of the pathway, will be significantly disadvantaged and not extract the full benefit of higher levels of the pathway.
We want those undertaking LTA curriculums to be set up for success, have a positive course experience and most importantly, extract the most they can from each level of the pathway. For this reason, we do not consider bypasses for any individual that does not meet these criteria.