Best online specific learning difficulties courses UK (2026 comparison)

What to compare in an online specific learning difficulties course

• A regulated qualification. Lift's certificate is on the Ofqual register as 603/3007/7, awarded by TQUK. Check the qualification number on any course you compare.
• The scope. Check which conditions a course covers. Lift's certificate covers specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia: their main features, the signs to look for, how a diagnosis is reached, the law and good practice in support.
• What the course is for. Lift's certificate is a Level 2 knowledge qualification that builds understanding. It is not a specialist dyslexia teaching or assessor qualification, and it does not train you to assess or diagnose.
• How it is assessed. Lift's certificate is assessed by a portfolio of written work marked by your tutor, with no exams and no timed tests.
• Access time and extras. Of the providers we checked, one limits access to 12 months with a fee to extend, and another charges extra for printed materials. At Lift College the tutor, marking, AI Study Support, TQUK registration and certificate are included.

Specific learning difficulties course fees compared

Full course fees as each provider listed them on its own page when we checked on 29 October 2026. Where a provider sells a different qualification, the nearest match is shown. Prices change, so check each provider's own page and the qualification number before you enrol.

What the certificate covers

The four mandatory units are Characteristics, traits and diagnosis of Specific Learning Difficulties; Sources of information, support, legislation and guidance relevant to Specific Learning Difficulties; Living with a Specific Learning Difficulty; and Best practice relating to Specific Learning Difficulties. All four are knowledge units, so you do not need a job, a placement or anyone to observe you.

Who should choose which

• You support learners with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties as a teaching assistant, learning support assistant or tutor: a regulated Level 2 certificate gives you a grounding in how these conditions show and how to support people well.
• You are a parent, or have a specific learning difficulty yourself: the course covers diagnosis, the law and the support people are entitled to, and you can draw on family life in your answers.
• You need to assess dyslexia or teach as a dyslexia specialist: this Level 2 certificate is not a specialist dyslexia teaching or assessor qualification, so look for one that is.
• You want to try the course before you pay: Lift College has a 7-day free trial, monthly payments and no contract.
• You support pupils with a wider range of needs: see the Level 2 SEND certificate or the Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism.

What you get with Lift College

• The TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (RQF), qualification number 603/3007/7 on the Ofqual register: 4 units, 16 credits, 129 guided learning hours and 156 hours total qualification time.
• A named UK tutor who marks your work and gives written feedback, usually within 5 to 7 working days, plus AI Study Support while you study.
• A portfolio of written work, with no exams. If anything is not yet met, you get feedback and resubmit. TQUK quality assures the marking and issues your certificate.
• Your own pace. Many learners finish in 3 to 6 months, with no timetable and no fixed exam date. You need to be 16 or over, and there are no formal entry requirements.
• TQUK registration and certificate included, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.
• 7-day free trial, then monthly or in full, with no contract and a 14-day money back guarantee. Employers can enrol staff through an organisation account and pay by card or invoice.

The certificate shows your understanding of specific learning difficulties. It does not qualify you to assess or diagnose dyslexia or any other condition, and each employer decides what a post needs.