IfATE's Technical qualifications Categories explained
In accordance with section A2D2 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (the Act), as amended by the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) specified categories of technical qualifications for approval on the 30 of September 2022.
This page details all categories of technical education qualification which IfATE has specified that may be approved under section A2D5 of the Act. They include various categories of level 2 and level 3 technical qualifications and a singular category for level 4 & 5 qualifications (known as ‘Higher Technical Qualifications’).
Further details on our approval of T Level technical qualifications (which has been specified as a category of technical qualifications that may be approved under section A2D3 of the Act) can be found on the T Level specific guidance page.
Categories of technical education qualification which IfATE has specified that may be approved under section A2D5 of the Act relate to occupational standards through four broad qualification groups, as follows.
Qualifications that align to an occupational standard(s) on the occupational maps
IfATE defines ‘align’ to mean:
- a qualification which covers as many of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) in an occupational standard(s) as possible within a course of education
Example: A qualification which covers as many of the KSBs listed in the Domestic Electrician standard that can be delivered in a course of education. Its purpose is to confer on an individual the competence to practice as a domestic electrician.
Qualifications that build upon an occupational standard on the occupational maps
IfATE defines ‘builds upon’ to mean:
- a qualification which demonstrates a link to an occupational standard and offers learning outcomes in addition to the KSBs in that linked standard
Example: A qualification which builds upon the Early Years Educator standard and seeks to provide an individual with specialist competence in early years nutrition.
It is the expectation that most qualifications will build upon a single standard to maintain occupational focus.
Qualifications that selectively cover outcomes from a standard(s) on the occupational maps
IfATE defines ‘selectively covers’ to mean:
- a qualification which covers selected outcomes from within a standard(s) but does not seek to cover the majority element of any one standard
Example: A qualification which includes outcomes from several standards in the Health and Science and Care Services routes and seeks to confer on an individual the competence to practice emergency first aid.
Qualifications that do not align to, build upon, or selectively cover any standard(s) on the occupational maps
- qualifications in this group have no relation to a standard which currently exists on the occupational maps. We expect these to be rare, and will be approved by exception only
Table 1 below details all categories of technical qualifications currently specified by IfATE. Awarding bodies are invited to submit qualifications for approval within these categories. Awarding bodies should therefore determine which category their qualification fits into prior to submission and refer to IfATE’s published information on the approval process to establish the approval cycle in which each category will be considered.
If you are unsure where your qualification fits within the below categories, please email us.
Table 1: Table of IfATE Technical Qualification Categories explaining each category’s relationship to standards, core aim and statutory test which is applied to approval alongside the employer demand test. The table also includes the DfE funding offers available for each category, a link to relevant criteria and information on the cycle in which the category will first be available for submission. An example has been included against each category to provide clarity to users.
Qualifications that align to an occupational standard(s) on the occupational maps.
|
Category |
Relationship to standard(s) |
Core aim |
Category test |
Link to category criteria |
Criteria available (Cycle) |
Example qualification |
|
Level 2 occupational entry technical qualifications 16-19 and adults |
Aligns to an occupational standard |
Enables entry to the aligned occupation, although further learning/training in work may be required to reach ‘full’ occupational competence |
Alternative approval |
Category criteria level 2 occupational entry technical qualifications 16-19 and adults |
Level 2 Cycle 1 |
Examples of technical qualifications approved within this category can be found within IfATE’s list of approved qualifications |
|
Level 3 occupational entry technical qualifications 16-19 and adults |
Aligns to an occupational standard which is not covered by T Levels |
Enables entry to the aligned occupation, although further learning/training in work may be required to reach ‘full’ occupational competence |
Alternative approval |
Category criteria level 3 occupational entry technical qualifications 16-19 and adults |
Level 3 Cycle 1 |
Examples of technical qualifications approved within this category can be found within IfATE’s list of approved qualifications |
|
Level 3 occupational entry technical qualifications adults only |
Aligns to an occupational standard which may be covered by T Levels |
Enables entry to the aligned occupation, although further learning/training in work may be required to reach ‘full’ occupational competence |
Alternative approval |
Category criteria level 3 occupational entry technical qualifications adults only |
Level 3 Cycle 1 |
Examples of technical qualifications approved within this category can be found within IfATE’s list of approved qualifications |
|
Level 4 and 5 Higher Technical Qualifications |
Aligns to an occupational standard |
Allow students to enter their chosen profession or progress onto higher education in a related subject |
Alternative approval |
Category criteria level 4 and 5 Higher Technical Qualifications |
HTQ Cycle 4 |
Examples of technical qualifications approved within this category can be found within IfATE’s list of approved qualifications |
Table 2: IfATE Technical Qualification Categories that build on occupational standard on the occupational maps.
| Category | Relationship to standard(s) | Core aim | Category test | Link to category criteria | Criteria available (Cycle) | Example qualification |
| Level 2 additional specialist technical qualifications 16-19 and adults | Builds on an occupational standard | Enables an individual to specialise within an occupation having achieved the specialist qualification in addition to their prior achievement of competence in the core occupational outcomes | Additional specialist competence | Level 2 additional specialist technical qualifications 16-19 and adults | Level 2 Cycle 1 | Examples of technical qualifications approved within this category can be found within IfATE’s list of approved qualifications |
| Level 3 additional specialist technical qualifications 16-19 and adults | Builds on an occupational standard | Enables an individual to specialise within an occupation having achieved the specialist qualification in addition to their prior achievement of competence in the core occupational outcomes | Additional specialist competence | Category criteria level 3 additional specialist technical qualifications 16-19 and adults | Level 3 Cycle 1 | Examples of technical qualifications approved within this category can be found within IfATE’s list of approved qualifications |
Table 3: IfATE Technical Qualification Categories that selectively cover outcomes from a standard(s) on the occupational maps.
|
Category |
Relationship to standard(s) |
Core aim |
Category test |
Link to category criteria |
Criteria available (Cycle) |
Example qualification |
|
Level 2 cross-cutting function technical qualifications 16-19 and adults |
Selectively covers related outcomes from a variety of occupational standards which together build to allow an individual to perform a specific function within the workplace |
Enables an individual to demonstrate competencies which support progression opportunities, and/or enhance employability, within a variety of occupational areas |
Significant outcomes |
Level 2 Cycle 3 |
Level 2 Emergency first aid selecting outcomes from across a range of occupational standards |
|
|
Level 3 cross-cutting function technical qualifications 16-19 and adults |
Selectively covers related outcomes from a variety of occupational standards which together build to allow an individual to perform a specific function within the workplace |
Enables an individual to demonstrate competencies which support progression opportunities, and/or enhance employability, within a variety of occupational areas |
Significant outcomes |
Level 3 Cross Cutting Function 16-19+ adult |
Level 3 Cycle 3 |
Level 3 Management and Leadership selecting outcomes from across a range of occupational standards |
|
Level 3 occupational progression qualifications 16-19 and adults |
Covers a limited number of outcomes within an occupational standard where sufficiently full coverage of the standard cannot be obtained in a course of education |
Enables an individual to demonstrate achievement of outcomes which employers identify as supporting progression into or within the occupation |
Significant outcomes |
Level 3 Cycle 2 |
No available example |
Table 4: IfATE Technical Qualification Categories which do not align to, build upon or selectively cover any standard(s) on the occupational maps.
|
Category |
Relationship to standard(s) |
Core aim |
Category test |
Link to category criteria |
Criteria available (Cycle) |
Example qualification |
|
Level 2 employer-proposed technical qualifications - adults only |
Due to the lack of relationship to a standard on the occupational maps, we expect these to be rare, and their development will be approved by exception only |
Enables entry to an occupation for which no occupational standard currently exists, although further learning/training in work may be required to reach ‘full’ occupational competence |
Significant outcomes |
Level 2 Cycle 2 |
No available example |
|
|
Level 3 employer-proposed technical qualifications - adults only |
Due to the lack of relationship to a standard on the occupational maps, we expect these to be rare, and their development will be approved by exception only |
Enables entry to an occupation for which no occupational standard currently exists, although further learning/training in work may be required to reach ‘full’ occupational competence |
Significant outcomes |
Level 3 Cycle 2 |
No available example |
Published 10 January 2023
Last updated 8 November 2024
(SK, AG)