diff --git a/GetIntoTeachingApi/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidator.cs b/GetIntoTeachingApi/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidator.cs
index 24b3a7696..ea4fb7e00 100644
--- a/GetIntoTeachingApi/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidator.cs
+++ b/GetIntoTeachingApi/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidator.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ public TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidator(IStore store)
             RuleFor(request => request.DateOfBirth).NotNull();
             RuleFor(request => request.AcceptedPolicyId).NotNull();
             RuleFor(request => request.CountryId).NotNull();
-            RuleFor(request => request.PreferredEducationPhaseId).NotNull();
+
+            RuleFor(request => request.PreferredEducationPhaseId)
+                .NotNull()
+                .Unless(request => request.SubjectTaughtId != null);
 
             RuleFor(request => request.AddressLine1).NotEmpty().Unless(request => request.CountryId != TypeEntity.UnitedKingdomCountryId)
                 .WithMessage("Must be set candidate in the UK.");
@@ -112,11 +115,6 @@ public TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidator(IStore store)
                 .When(request => request.Candidate.PreferredEducationPhaseId == (int)Candidate.PreferredEducationPhase.Secondary)
                 .WithMessage("Must be set when preferred education phase is secondary.");
 
-            RuleFor(request => request.PreferredEducationPhaseId)
-                .Must(phase => phase == (int)Candidate.PreferredEducationPhase.Secondary)
-                .When(request => request.Candidate.IsReturningToTeaching())
-                .WithMessage("Must be secondary when past teaching positions are present.");
-
             RuleFor(request => request)
                 .Must(request => HasOrIsPlanningOnRetakingEnglishAndMaths(request) && HasOrIsPlanningOnRetakingScience(request))
                 .When(request => request.PreferredEducationPhaseId == (int)Candidate.PreferredEducationPhase.Primary)
diff --git a/GetIntoTeachingApiTests/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidatorTests.cs b/GetIntoTeachingApiTests/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidatorTests.cs
index 3c888e0b1..9a3532d36 100644
--- a/GetIntoTeachingApiTests/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidatorTests.cs
+++ b/GetIntoTeachingApiTests/Models/Validators/TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUpValidatorTests.cs
@@ -89,9 +89,31 @@ public void Validate_CountryIdIsNull_HasError()
         }
 
         [Fact]
-        public void Validate_PreferredEducationPhaseIdIsNull_HasError()
-        {
-            _validator.ShouldHaveValidationErrorFor(request => request.PreferredEducationPhaseId, null as int?);
+        public void Validate_PreferredEducationPhaseIdIsNull_NotReturningToTeaching_HasError()
+        {
+            var request = new TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUp
+            {
+                PreferredEducationPhaseId = null,
+                SubjectTaughtId = null,
+            };
+
+            var result = _validator.TestValidate(request);
+
+            result.ShouldHaveValidationErrorFor("PreferredEducationPhaseId");
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void Validate_PreferredEducationPhaseIdIsNull_ReturningToTeaching_HasNoError()
+        {
+            var request = new TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUp
+            {
+                PreferredEducationPhaseId = null,
+                SubjectTaughtId = Guid.NewGuid(),
+            };
+
+            var result = _validator.TestValidate(request);
+
+            result.ShouldNotHaveValidationErrorFor("PreferredEducationPhaseId");
         }
 
         [Fact]
@@ -623,20 +645,6 @@ public void Validate_PreferredEducationPhaseIsSecondaryAndPreferredTeachingSubje
             result.ShouldNotHaveValidationErrorFor("PreferredTeachingSubjectId");
         }
 
-        [Fact]
-        public void Validate_HasPastTeachingPositionsAndPreferredEducationPhaseIsPrimary_HasError()
-        {
-            var request = new TeacherTrainingAdviserSignUp
-            {
-                SubjectTaughtId = Guid.NewGuid(),
-                PreferredEducationPhaseId = (int)Candidate.PreferredEducationPhase.Primary,
-            };
-
-            var result = _validator.TestValidate(request);
-
-            result.ShouldHaveValidationErrorFor("PreferredEducationPhaseId").WithErrorMessage("Must be secondary when past teaching positions are present.");
-        }
-
         [Fact]
         public void Validate_HasPastTeachingPositionsAndPreferredEducationPhaseIsSecondary_HasNoError()
         {