Recognition - Process up until 24th June 2011

Thursday, 04 March 2010 12:02

The information in this section is valid until 24th June 2011. For more details on the new process please see the information on our new regulatory approach.

What is recognition?

We formally recognise awarding organisations by checking they have adequate resources to award their qualifications. There are no charges at any stage of the process. Any costs to an awarding organisation are those involved in having the resources in place to meet its criteria requirements to learners.

More details of the recognition process can be found in The statutory regulation of external qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2004. The regulatory requirements that apply to the organisations that operate within the QCF are set out in the Regulatory arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework.

The existing recognition process

The recognition application form requires organisations to submit all proposed policies and procedures for review. It requires 22 documents:

• List of partnership/franchising/licensing agreements
• Organisation chart
• Details of committee structures
• Person specifications and job roles for key members of staff
• Financial Strategy
• Diversity and Equality policy and procedures
• Reasonable adjustments and special considerations policy and procedures
• Malpractice procedures
• Sample credit certificate design
• Sample Qualification certificate design
• Enquiries and appeals policy and procedure
• Flowchart detailing market research process
• Flowchart illustrating the number and type of teams/posts involved in the quality assurance process
• Terms and reference of committees or groups responsible for market research, identification of demands, stakeholder liaison
• Assessment arrangements - handbooks supplied to assessors and centres
• Identification of demand/development of rationale for a qualification development - terms of reference of groups/committees
• Flowchart showing the stages of the qualification development process
• Procedure for the development and ongoing review of units
• Procedure for the development and ongoing review of rules of combination
• Procedure for the development and delivery of assessment based on QCF units
• Procedure to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory arrangements
• Position statement on the use of Welsh and Irish

Where an awarding organisation offers education and training or other services there must be a clear distinction between its awarding and other functions.

When making an application, each awarding organisation is required to declare its plan of provision, detailing proposed sector subject areas, qualification types and levels. This gives the regulator an indication of qualifications likely to be developed.

Awarding organisations' wishing to operate within the QCF must seek 'approval of' their qualification(s) by the appropriate sector skills council (SSC), which you can find at the website of the UK Commission for Employment and Skill. Each submission needs to have a letter of support from the relevant sector skills council.

Documents related to the application process can be accessed below:

• Banking documents checklist
• Becoming a recognised Awarding Organisation - Frequently asked questions

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to request an application form for becoming a recognised awarding organisation.

Following recognition

To apply for further recognition all awarding organisations must give us advance notice and submit further supporting evidence.

The Register

Once an organisation has been recognised, details of the organisation's units and qualifications will appear on The Register. The Register includes details of units and qualifications, reference numbers for qualifications and units, and accreditation start and end dates.

Terms of recognition

Awarding organisations agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of recognition. Failure by an awarding organisation to abide by the terms of recognition could result in withdrawal of recognition.

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 May 2011 14:54 Tags: Ofqual, education, examination regulation, qualifications, assessments