HTQ Cycle 5 - Register Your InterestThe cycle 5 primary application window opens March 2024. We will be hosting a series of support webinars in the near future to help you with changes to the process and submissions. If you are interested in applying, please register your interest. We will send you useful tips and key updates.
The following resources are available to support applicants in making their HTQ submission.
Please contact HTQ.approvals@education.gov.uk if you have any accessibility requirements.
Full terms and conditions document
Terms and conditions for approval of HTQs by IfATE
Cycle 5 application form
The link to the application form for cycle 5 will appear here when the primary window opens.
For cycle 5 there will be two application windows, each are a month in duration.
The application windows for cycle 5 will be as follows:
- Primary window: Monday 11th March 2024 – Friday 12th April 2024
- Secondary window: Monday 23rd September 2024 – Friday 25th October 2024
We strongly recommend all new applicants and all Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisations submit in the primary window to ensure their applications are approved before the cycle cut off in March 2025.
Knowledge, skills and behaviours coverage within the qualification
Download the qualification structure and the KSB mapping spreadsheets for the occupational route your qualification aligns to.
We expect coverage of all KSBs in the occupational standard; for some KSBs we may accept partial coverage, especially where full coverage of the KSB may be more safely and reliably delivered in the workplace. This is also consistent with section 4 I, II and III of the criteria.
Full instructions are included on the spreadsheet for ease of use offline.
If you need any help, please contact us at HTQ.approvals@education.gov.uk.
Agriculture, environmental and animal care
Business and Administration
Care services
Catering and hospitality
Construction
Creative and design
Digital
Education and early years
Engineering and Manufacturing
Health and Science
Legal, finance and accounting
Protective services
Sales, marketing and procurement
Attend a webinar
The HTQ approvals team will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday 6th December at 10am. This is an opportunity to find out about the HTQ approvals process and the timelines for cycle 5.
We ask you to watch the videos below before attending a webinar or individual support session so that you can familiarise yourself with our processes and approvals criteria. Any questions you have when you have watched these can be answered in the webinar or during an individual support session.
Individual support sessions
We ask applicants to attend a support session prior to submitting their application. It is important that colleagues who are responsible for the qualification design and delivery within the organisation attend support sessions to fully understand the evidence requirements to support their application.
Applicants will need to have a support session before being able to access the online application form.
Booking is now open for the one-to-one sessions with IfATE
If you have questions, please contact htq.approvals@education.gov.uk and we will aim to respond within five working days.
Resources to help you with your application:
Videos
- Video 1: What is the HTQ Quality Mark? (5 minutes 28 seconds)
- Video 2: Understanding Occupational Standards (5 minutes 16 seconds)
- Video 3: Understanding KSB Mapping and Qualification Structure (5 minutes 43 seconds)
- Video 4: KSB Mapping Examples (13 minutes 07 seconds)
- Video 5: Exploring Employer Engagement Question one (9 minutes 48 seconds)
- Video 6: Exploring Employer Engagement Question two (9 minutes 24 seconds)
Documents
- Cycle 5 Approvals Criteria (PDF, estimated reading time: 10 minutes)
- Application preparation checklist (PDF, estimated reading time 5 minutes)
- Offline Application Form (Word document, reading time: 5 minutes). Here you can read the questions you will need to complete and see the word limits for each question.
Future opportunities for approval
We will provide applicants with the timelines for future cycles as soon as possible to give them maximum time to align their qualifications to available occupational standards within the relevant routes.
To prepare for submission we urge applicants to begin aligning their qualification to the relevant occupational standard’s KSBs and review the qualification’s content and assessment to ensure they are in the best position to be approved.
We will continue to ensure that the most up to date occupational standards are available on our website and will keep applicants updated on any revisions.
Last updated 29 November 2023
(SW, AG)