If you’ve started looking into NCFE CACHE qualifications, you’ve probably noticed the prices you’re seeing swing wildly from one provider to the next, sometimes by thousands of pounds for what looks like the exact same course. That’s confusing, and worth understanding properly before you commit to anything. Here’s what actually drives the cost, what the market genuinely looks like right now, and where Easy Training 123 sits within it.
Why Prices Vary So Much Between Providers
The qualification itself, its level, its credit value, its content, is fixed by NCFE regardless of who delivers it. What varies enormously is everything around it:
- Who’s delivering it. Traditional further education colleges and apprenticeship-style providers tend to charge significantly more than specialist online training providers, partly reflecting different funding structures, facilities, and delivery models.
- What’s included in the price. Some providers bundle in unlimited tutor support and resubmissions as standard; others charge extra for additional marking, observation visits, or exceeding your original completion window.
- Payment structure. A headline price doesn’t always tell the full story. Some providers show a discounted upfront price alongside a higher “regular” price, or split the cost into a deposit plus instalments that can add up differently to a single flat fee.
What the Market Actually Looks Like Right Now
Being upfront about this: pricing for NCFE CACHE qualifications spans a genuinely wide range depending on the type of provider.
Traditional colleges and apprenticeship-style routes tend to sit at the higher end. For a Level 3 Adult Care diploma, for example, some colleges charge anywhere from roughly £2,225 to £2,900, often reflecting funded apprenticeship structures, additional college facilities, and in-person delivery. Level 5 leadership diplomas through similar routes often run from around £2,100 up to £2,900, sometimes with separate observation fees on top of the headline course price.
Specialist online training providers vary much more widely, and this is where most learners comparing prices online will actually be shopping. For Level 3 Adult Care, online providers currently range from under £700 at the cheaper end, up to around £1,550 for early years-specific diplomas with a built-in placement requirement. Level 5 leadership diplomas through online providers commonly range from around £1,000 to £1,500 at the more affordable end, up to £2,400 at the upper end.
At Easy Training 123, our Level 3 diplomas are priced at £1,200, and our Level 5 leadership diplomas at £1,800.
Where Easy Training 123 Sits
At Easy Training 123, our Level 3 diplomas are priced at £1,200, and our Level 5 leadership diplomas at £1,800. Compared to traditional college and apprenticeship-style routes, which commonly run from around £2,100 up to £2,900 for equivalent qualifications, our pricing is considerably lower, often by well over £1,000, while still including full tutor support, flexible online study, and no exams, just a straightforward portfolio of evidence built around your real practice.
Compared to the very cheapest specialist online providers, pricing across the market does vary, and it’s genuinely worth comparing more than just the headline number. A lower upfront price elsewhere can come with less included: limited tutor contact hours, charges for additional resubmissions, or extension fees if you need longer than the standard completion window. At £1,200 and £1,800, our pricing reflects a genuinely regulated qualification with full support built in from the start, not a stripped-down version designed to win on price alone.
What to Actually Check Before Choosing on Price
Rather than comparing headline prices in isolation, it’s worth checking:
- Is tutor support unlimited, or capped? Ongoing guidance throughout your portfolio matters more than people expect going in.
- Are resubmissions free, or charged separately? Needing to revise an assignment shouldn’t come with a surprise bill.
- What’s the actual completion window, and is there a fee for extending it? A cheaper course with a shorter deadline, or hidden extension charges, can end up costing more in stress, or in money, than it first appears.
- Is the qualification genuinely Ofqual-regulated? Always worth checking the qualification number against the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications, regardless of price.
Is It Worth Paying More Than the Cheapest Option?
Not automatically, and not always. But it’s worth being honest with yourself about what you actually need to successfully finish the course. If you’re confident, experienced, and unlikely to need much tutor support, a cheaper, more stripped-down course might genuinely suit you. If you’d value full support throughout, including unlimited resubmissions if something doesn’t pass first time, that level of inclusion is worth factoring into the real cost comparison, not just the number on the page.
Get Started
If you’re ready to work towards a genuinely supported, regulated qualification at a price well below the traditional college route, browse our full course listing to see our current Level 3 and Level 5 diplomas, or contact our team if you’d like to talk through what’s included before you enrol. You can also call us on 0208 2404474 or email admin@easytraining123.com.
What Our Students Have To Say
At Easy Training 123, we help you gain the skills to build a better future. But don’t just take our word for it—hear from our students and see where our courses have taken them!
Friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere. I liked how each lesson built on the last one. Worth the money.
Sarah Oke
Student
Easy Training 123 helped me build confidence fast. The lessons were short and clear. I always looked forward to class.
Patrice Ojutalayo
Student
I was nervous at first, but the trainer made it easy. Simple explanations, no rushing. I'm glad I signed up.
Blessing Oloruntoba
Student
I took a class with Easy Training 123 last month. The trainer was kind and easy to follow. I learned a lot!