Recognition and Accreditation

Recognising awarding organisations and accrediting their qualifications.

To become a recognised awarding body and submit qualifications within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the Qualifications and Credit framework (QCF), a two-stage process must be completed:

• the recognition process
• the application for accreditation of qualifications.

All qualifications are accredited against the criteria laid out in The statutory regulation of external qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2004) and The regulatory Arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework 2008.

Qualifications are accredited jointly by the 3 qualifications regulators for Northern Ireland (CCEA), England (Ofqual) and Wales (DCELLS). The processes for recognition and accreditation are managed by Ofqual on behalf of the regulators. Further information on how we regulate and on the recognition and accreditation processes is available at

How We Regulateofqual.gov.uk

Becoming recognised

Organisations that wish to become recognised need to first enter into early dialogue with the regulators and then complete the recognition process. Once all the required documentation has been successfully received by us, we will let you know within 3 months whether your application has been successful or not and if any special conditions have been imposed.

Application form for recognitionofqual.gov.uk

Information on early dialogue and process requiredofqual.gov.uk

Accrediting qualifications

Once an organisation is recognised by the qualifications regulators it can then submit qualifications for accreditation through the web-based accreditation system.

Web-based accreditation systemUsername and Password required

Downloads

Arrangements for monitoring and reporting publicly on external qualifications PDF, 218K