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Technical Qualifications (TQs) are intended to deliver the skills needed to enter or progress in the workplace. These can be delivered in a classroom environment, but some will also consist of workplace learning and assessment. The qualification covers the required teaching and assessment content. It is owned and developed by the awarding organisation (AO). AOs create and manage qualifications; they define what needs to be taught and how it should be assessed. A range of providers deliver these qualifications, with AOs quality assuring and awarding certification.
The most basic level of training is level 1. Level 2 is one step up from that and is the equivalent to GCSE. Level 3 is a further step up from level 2 and equivalent to skills-focused T Levels or academic A Levels.
TQs and apprenticeships are available to train people for occupations across the economy from level 2 up to degree and post-graduate level (6 to 7).
The reforms’ core aim is to ensure that, by 2030, all TQs are built around occupational standards. These standards are approved by The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE). A qualification will only be approved if it relates to an existing occupational standard.
The Government has consulted widely on level 3 and level 2 qualifications. Feedback confirmed that reform is needed because:
In 2022 we launched a new employer-led process for approving level 3 and level 2 TQs. This will ensure that all TQs deliver on employers’ skills needs by:
Our new process will ensure that the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) that students learn are useful to employers. Students can be confident that they are learning the right skills for successful careers.
Occupational standards set out the KSBs that students must learn to be competent in their jobs. We have already supported groups of employers to develop occupational standards for apprenticeships, T Levels, and Higher Technical Qualifications. As set out in the Government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper, they will now guide level 3 and level 2 TQ approvals. This will create a simpler skills system in which employers and students can have full confidence.
The employer-developed occupational standards are shown on our occupational maps. These maps are a useful tool for providers and learners in the delivery of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG). They bring together essential information about:
AOs must align their qualifications to the occupational standards. Providers can use the occupational maps to better understand the types of qualifications that may be submitted for approval.
We lead on the approvals process and approve qualifications that meet our criteria.
Our approvals process is built around our employer demand test. Put simply, ‘is there likely to be demand from employers for a student who has achieved the submitted technical qualification’? To meet this criterion, AOs must:
The employer voice is an essential part of this process, helping to ensure high quality qualifications.
We work closely with the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual as part of the approvals process. We share information provided by AOs as part of their submission with DfE and Ofqual.
Any queries in relation to the approvals process should be sent to the Post-16 delivery team.
DfE has overall responsibility for funding decisions.
They consider our approved qualifications against their funding approval criteria. AOs should ensure that they are familiar with DfE’s funding requirements set out in their Qualifications funding approval manual.
Any funding queries relating to level 3 and level 2 TQs should be sent to qualifications.approval@education.gov.uk.
Ofqual-regulated qualifications and AOs must comply with the General Conditions of Recognition and relevant level conditions.
AOs must be approved by Ofqual to offer qualifications in the relevant Sector Subject Area(s). AOs intending to submit qualifications that are outside of their scope of recognition, must contact Ofqual before they submit their qualifications to our approvals process. Technical qualifications (TQs) are called technical occupation qualifications (TOQs) in Ofqual regulations.
As part of the application process, Ofqual may inform us of any ongoing or impending regulatory action. When making approval decisions we will consider this and any other relevant information.
IfATE may decide not to approve a qualification if it believes that issues raised by Ofqual have not been sufficiently addressed.
Any queries related to Ofqual requirements should be sent to strategic.relationships@ofqual.gov.uk.
AOs will only be required to submit one set of documents for approval to us and Ofqual.
We will not charge fees for submissions for approval in submission cycles set out in the consultation.
On 12 December 2024, DfE announced that AOs will be invited to submit further new level 3 qualifications in spring 2025. New approved qualifications will be available for first teach from August 2026.
AOs must submit their qualifications and the required supporting evidence during the submission window: from 9am 10 March – to 21 March 5pm.
AOs must complete the level 3 spring submission form. Please refer to the level 3 criteria and guidance when completing the form.
We will not accept submissions outside of the main submission window.
AOs must justify why they could not meet the deadline due to:
AOs should communicate this at the time of the event and include evidence.
We will accept level 3 qualifications within these routes:
We will accept level 3 qualifications within these categories:
AOs can download a list of occupational standards in scope for the spring submissions.
AOs should contact the Post-16 delivery team if they are considering submitting a qualification against an occupational standard not listed. Some standards are undergoing review or have reviews scheduled to start during the submission window.
We will update this list when occupational standards become available, and if there is a need to remove standards from scope of approval.
Mapping templates and qualification structure documents are available on our support and resources page.
Additional specialist qualifications build on the outcomes in a current occupational standard(s), enabling a learner to specialise in an occupational area.
These qualifications will target a set of specialist duties, which describe the competencies or activities relevant for an individual undertaking the specialist role.
The duties must demonstrate development beyond, but at the same level as, the associated occupational standard(s), rather than overlapping with existing KSBs.
These qualifications will be either:
Predefined areas and duties in scope:
These were developed based on existing qualification provision and validation sought through an external survey and internal teams at IfATE.
We have suggested a link to the occupational standard that the areas build on, however AOs can determine the appropriate link between specialist duties and occupational standards.
Specialist areas may also contain sub areas. We have made it clear where a duty applies to a sub area. For example:
Specialist area: Adapting and developing exercise
Sub areas: Adapting exercise for antenatal and post-natal clients
Example indicative duties
When developing a qualification based on our predefined specialist area, AOs
AOs should contact the Post-16 delivery team if they are considering submitting a qualification in a specialist area that we have not predefined. Unlike cycle 1, you do not have to submit a formal proposal.
We encourage AOs to continue to engage with us for one-to-one support and guidance leading up to the submission window. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss the qualification(s) that you intend to develop and submit. We can also explain and clarify queries about our approvals process, qualification categories and criteria requirements.
If you are new to the process, please email us to request an initial one-to-one meeting.
We have completed cycle 1 of the approvals process. Qualifications approved in this cycle are available for first teach from August 2025.
The following information is relevant to cycle 1 and is available for reference:
Categories in scope and associated criteria
Occupational standards in scope
Support and resources including pre-recorded webinars
Information on managing changes to approved qualifications.
Last updated 7 March 2025
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