UEFA C Licence
The UEFA C Licence is where your formal coaching journey begins. This internationally recognised qualification equips you with the skills to create positive, developmental experiences for players of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whether you’re coaching children at your local club, working with adult amateur teams, or laying the groundwork for a professional career, the UEFA C Licence gives you the knowledge and credentials to coach with confidence.
As a UEFA C Licence holder, you’ll learn to enhance players’ enjoyment, knowledge, and skill through a holistic approach that goes far beyond drills and tactics. You’ll understand how to create environments where players thrive, develop their love for football, and reach their potential.
The UEFA C Diploma is built around four interconnected pillars, each requiring a minimum of 10 hours of reality-based education. This structure ensures you develop well-rounded coaching competencies rather than just technical knowledge.
At the heart of the UEFA C Licence is understanding what it means to be an effective grassroots coach. You'll develop your personal coaching philosophy and learn how your values and beliefs shape the experiences you create for players.
You'll learn to:
Great coaching isn't just about what you teach—it's about the atmosphere you create. The UEFA C Licence teaches you to build motivational climates where players feel safe to learn, make mistakes, and grow.
You'll learn to create environments that include:
You'll also master:
The UEFA C Licence takes a person-first approach to player development. You'll learn to see each player as an individual with unique needs, wants, and abilities—and develop them technically, physically, psychologically, and socially.
Knowing Your Players:
Physical Development:
Psychological Development:
Social Development:
Understanding football itself is essential to coaching it well. The UEFA C Licence develops your knowledge of how the game works and how to teach it effectively.
Players and Tactics:
Training Methods:
You’ll understand the key benefits and principles of three core training approaches:
You’ll also learn basic training principles including specificity, progression, and appropriate loading.
Playing Formats:
Match Environment:
The UEFA C Diploma requires a minimum of 60 hours of education, structured to balance theory with practical application.
| Component | Minimum Hours |
|---|---|
| Guided interactive content (not including self-study) | 50 hours |
| Work experience | 10 hours |
| Theory and practical units off the pitch | 30 hours |
| Practical units on the pitch (including work experience) | 30 hours |
In the UK, the course typically runs over 16-20 weeks and includes:
This blended approach means you can study around work and family commitments while still getting essential hands-on experience.
To achieve your UEFA C Licence, you’ll need to demonstrate competence in both theory and practice across all four pillars.
You must understand and be able to explain:
Grassroots Coach:
Environment:
Player:
Game:
You must demonstrate an ability to apply these principles through:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 16-20 weeks (60+ hours total) |
| Cost | £650 full price |
| Funded Price | From £95 (85% funding available) |
| Grassroots Club Discount | £500 (£150 off for affiliated clubs) |
| Minimum Age | 16 years |
| Prerequisites | Introduction to Coaching Football or FA Level 1 |
| Additional Requirements | Valid Safeguarding Children certificate, Introduction to First Aid in Football |
| Validity | 3 years (renewable with 15 hours CPD) |
| Delivery | Blended: online modules + 6 face-to-face days |
The UEFA C Licence is designed for grassroots coaches working with players of all types:
This course is ideal if you’re:
You don’t need any previous playing experience. What matters is your passion for helping players develop and your commitment to learning.
The UEFA C Licence opens doors to coaching roles across grassroots football:
Roles you can take on:
Earning potential:
Progression pathway:
The UEFA C Licence is your gateway to higher qualifications. After holding your C Licence for at least 12 months and gaining coaching experience, you can apply for the {UEFA B Licence}—the minimum requirement for coaching in professional academies.
We believe cost shouldn’t stop anyone from becoming a qualified coach. Several funding programmes can significantly reduce your course fees.
England Football Learning offers substantial funding for coaches from underrepresented groups:
With partial funding, you pay just £95 instead of £650.
If you coach at an FA-affiliated grassroots club, you automatically qualify for £150 off the course fee. You’ll need your club’s National Club ID number when applying.
With grassroots discount, you pay £500.
For a complete breakdown of costs across all qualification levels, visit our Costs and Funding page
To enrol on the UEFA C Licence, you must have completed the Introduction to Coaching Football course (or the older FA Level 1 in Coaching Football). You’ll also need valid Safeguarding Children and Introduction to First Aid in Football certificates. You must be at least 16 years old, living in England, and actively coaching a group of players in organised or competitive fixtures.
The course runs over approximately 16-20 weeks. This includes online modules you complete at your own pace, six face-to-face practical days, and work experience coaching your own team. The extended timeframe supports spaced learning—giving you time to apply what you’ve learned between sessions.
The full price is £650. However, with partial funding you could pay as little as £95. If you coach at an affiliated grassroots club, you receive £150 off automatically, paying £500. Fully funded places are also available through partner programmes. Visit our {Costs and Funding page} for complete details.
The UEFA C Licence qualifies you to coach grassroots players of all ages and abilities: children, teenagers, adults, veterans, and disabled players. You can coach youth teams, adult amateur teams, run school football programmes, and work at holiday camps. It’s the standard qualification for anyone coaching children’s football in the UK.
Yes. The UEFA C Licence (also called the UEFA C Diploma) replaced the FA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football. If you hold the old FA Level 2, it remains valid, though you’ll need to complete CPD to keep it current. The UEFA C follows the same pathway position but aligns with UEFA’s international coaching convention standards.
The UEFA C Licence is your foundation qualification for grassroots coaching. It focuses on creating positive developmental experiences for players of all backgrounds and abilities. The {UEFA B Licence} is the next level up, focusing on individual player development within team structures, and is the minimum requirement for coaching in professional academies. You need to hold your UEFA C for at least 12 months before applying for the B Licence.
Yes. You must be actively coaching a group of players who regularly train and play in organised or competitive fixtures. This is essential because the course includes work experience components and practical assessments where you’ll be observed coaching your own team. If you’re not currently coaching, we recommend volunteering at a local club before applying.
Assessment covers both theory and practice. You’ll need to demonstrate understanding of all four pillars (Grassroots Coach, Environment, Player, Game) through theory assessments, and show practical competence by planning, delivering, and reviewing coaching sessions. You’ll maintain a personal coaching logbook throughout the course documenting your development.
Yes. The UEFA C Licence is recognised across all 55 UEFA member nations. If you qualify in England, your licence is valid for coaching in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and every other European country. This makes UEFA qualifications valuable for coaches considering international opportunities.
Yes. The UEFA C Licence is recognised across all 55 UEFA member nations. If you qualify in England, your licence is valid for coaching in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and every other European country. This makes UEFA qualifications valuable for coaches considering international opportunities.
The UEFA C Licence is your first step toward becoming a recognised football coach. Whether you want to give back to grassroots football, build skills to help your local youth team, or lay the foundation for a professional coaching career, this qualification gives you the knowledge, skills, and credentials to coach with confidence.
Our next courses are filling now. Apply today to secure your place and begin your coaching journey.
