Vocational and recreational courses, portfolios and certificates

See also Community and Life Skills and Volunteering Opportunities and Alternative Academic Qualifications for other alternative options.
Still have questions? Join the Home Education UK Exams & Alternatives Facebook group to get support from fellow home-educators.
== Vocational and Recreational Courses, Portfolios and Certificates ==
(Listed in alphabetical order by subject area)
=== Accounting ===
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)offer a range of qualifications for accounting, bookkeeping and business. See our Accounting page for more information.
=== Art ===
For more info see the Art page. Alternative qualifications include:
* Trinity Arts Awards, a range of project-based arts study, leading to OFQUAL-accredited qualifications. Full details on the Arts Award page.
* Online College of Art and Design (OCAD)'s OFQUAL-regulated Art level 2 and 3 diploma courses (not BTECs) in art and some other courses on music and photography. 
=== Dance ===
Dance grades from a number of organisations are OFQUAL-accredited. Grades 6 and higher carry UCAS points for university application. See the Dance page.
=== Drama / Speech and Drama ===
See the alternatives section of the Drama page for more information and options, including the following.
* LAMDA exams
* New Era Academy
* RSLA Awards
* Trinity Drama and Speech exams
=== Film ===
See the Alternative Courses and resources section of the Film Studies page for more information.
=== Music ===
See the Music page for more information about alternative music qualifications and opportunities, including the following:
* ABRSM and Trinity music grades - OFQUAL-accredited at Levels 1 and 2. 
* Access to Music - Open days and taster courses for various music tech courses.
* Birmingham Contemporary Music Workshops and Events for Young People 
* Practical Musicianship exams which can be an alternative to Music Theory for some.
* Rock School Awards (RSL) from introductory grades to university-level degrees
* Trinity Rock Rock and Pop Music Exams
=== Computing, Gaming and IT ===
Any qualifications or awards that involve taking practical tests can be problematic. For academic qualifications accessible to home educated students see the IT/ITC and Computer Science pages.
Gaming: 
See the Computer Game Design page for options, including:
* The Cambridge Nationals iMedia course. This is available to home educated children through Teachallaboutit. 
* Cymru ALN - HE EOTAS pioneered a pilot for a Level 2 modular Gaming Qualification in association with Pembrokeshire FE College (LA run). The Pilot Summer School in July 2017 led to a recognised certificate at L2. Contact the group via the link above to find out if any further courses are planned.
Cybersecurity:
* Cyberfirst offer residential and online courses in cybersecurity for year 9 and older. They also offer one-day workshops/intros for younger teens. Some courses are free and others are subsidised. Cyberfirst courses can also be found via the Smallpeice Trust.
* Cyber EPQ is a Level 3 guided learning course on cyber security.
Office/IT skills:
* IDCL (formerly EDCL) is the International Computer Driving Licence. It is a practical qualification that can demonstrate useful office skills on your CV. There are other British Computer Society vocational qualifications which can be taken at adult education centres throughout the year. Some centres might have age restrictions. ICDL Level 1 - Level 3 is offered with remote invigilation for home educated learners by TeachAllAboutIt.
* The British Computer Society offer Level 1 qualifications to children from age 9, as well as ICDL Level 2 Core & Extra & 3 qualifications (Level 2 Extra may be considered equivalent to a GCSE, Level 3 offers 24 UCAS points)
Digital Enterprise:
* iDEA - the Duke of York's Digital Enterprise Award scheme is free and studied online. It gives you a verifiable certificate at Bronze, Silver or Gold level.
=== Employability ===
* Prince's Trust Qualifications - The Personal Development and Employability qualification (OFQUAL-regulated) is available through Knoyle Learning (formerly Wiltshire Exam Centre). The Award consists of 2 units, and the Certificate requires 6. There are currently 9 units available to choose from. The Certificate is slightly larger in size than a GCSE/IGCSE, though not a direct equivalent. 
* Springpod offers virtual work experience opportunities and degree tasters to young people across the UK. Working with well-known organisations such as BT and the NHS, they typically last two weeks and are completed via a series of webinars, activities and assignments. Springpod also list a number of apprenticeship vacancies.
* See also the Community and Life Skills Awards and volunteering opportunities page for information about other aspects of employability and volunteering.
* Leadership and Management qualifications are offered by some cadet groups. See Cadets Scouts and Girl Guiding page
=== Food Technology/Cooking ===
See the Food Tech page. Groups, such as sea cadets, sometimes offer catering courses. See the Cadets Scouts and Girl Guiding page.
=== First Aid/Safety/Policing ===
* Cadet groups are aimed at teens and preteens and often offer qualifications and experiences in first aid, life-saving, policing and community safety, as well as Duke of Edinburgh. See Cadets Scouts and Girl Guiding page for more information.
* British Red Cross - Opportunities for volunteering and internships, plus qualifications in First Aid
* Qualsafe offer First Aid and Mental Health awards: Useful additions to a CV and a requirement for some jobs. The courses are run by lots of different organisations and can vary in price. For the cheapest option check your local volunteer agency or local council website for information.
* First Aid qualifications can also sometimes be taken through scouts and girl guiding groups (Eg Explorer Scouts). See cadets scouts and Girl Guiding page.
=== Science and Engineering ===
* CREST Awards The awards can be a good introduction to investigative science for younger children, or, for older teens, can enhance university or job applications. All levels up to Bronze are assessed by a supporting adult. Silver and Gold are assessed externally; candidates upload the project work online.
* John Muir Award - environmental award scheme with three levels: Lowest level can be taken from age 8. Higher levels are for secondary age and older.
* Royal Horticultural Society's Certificate and Diploma in Horticultural, practical and theory exams can be studied by distance learning, or face-to-face. The certificate and diploma courses are made up of modules, all of which can be taken individually and accumulated. RHS level 1 courses are designed for 14-19 year olds and adults with special educational needs. 
* Cyberfirst nline and residential courses in cybersecurity (also advertised via the Smallpeice Trust website - see below). 
* Smallpeice Trust online and residential science and engineering courses.
* Insight into University offer virtual experiences allowing students to explore STEM studies at university and the career opportunities that these subjects lead to.  It provides access to information on university and student life, STEM projects and activities set by leading UK universities and global STEM companies, first year undergraduate lectures, live interactive sessions with academics, admissions tutors, employers and current students. (Bursaries are available).
** The Industrial Cadets Challenger Experience is aimed at years 5-11/P5-S3. It is a day/half day STEM experience delivered in school, so unlikely to be available for individual home educated children.
** The Industrial Cadets Experience Routes into STEM bronze course is aimed at year 9-10/ S3-S4. It is a 20 hr course studied flexibly over 3 weeks to explore STEM apprenticeships, university, and career routes. Completion leads to the Industrial Cadets Bronze Award.
** The Industrial Cadets insight into university experience is a virtual or residential course aimed at year 11-12/S5-6. It is a 30 hour course completed flexibly over 8 weeks in the summer. It gives an insight into STEM studies at university and the careers they lead to. Completion leads to the Industrial Cadets Silver Award. 
* Science Fairs and Projects eg the Big Bang Fair, FIRST LEGO Robotics competitions etc. There have been some great results for home ed teams in national competitions. See the EPQ page for examples of projects and competitions.
* see also our University Summer courses page.
=== Sign Language ===
Signature's list of BSL Qualifications
The Institute for British Sign Language (iBSL) which offered qualifications in BSL and Deaf awareness ceased trading as of February 2023 and surrendered its status as an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation. iBSL will continue to issue results and certificates to students after 3 March 2023, if they have a valid entitlement, while it continues to trade. Qualifications awarded under these arrangements will remain Ofqual-regulated qualifications. 
There is a GCSE in BSL currently being planned and is expected to be available for teaching from September 2025. The results of the consultation will be posted here. 
=== Sports and games ===
See our page on PE for sporting qualifications and alternatives.
=== Transport and Logistics ===
"Charted Institute for Logistics and Transport offer a distance learning course (Level 2 ) accessible to home-educators (my son is doing it age 16) - great for anyone into trains/planes/ships/buses/lorries and passenger services."
=== See also... ===
The Community and Life Skills, Awards and Volunteering Opportunities page, which includes information on:
* AQA Unit Award Scheme - portfolio-building scheme
* ASDAN - Ofqual-regulated life and work skills qualifications and short courses.
* Cadets - Police, Navy, Fire Brigade, Army cadets etc. often offer the opportunity to gain Duke of Edinburgh awards, First Aid certificates and other qualifications and experiences.
* iDEA - an award completed online that includes digital, enterprise and employability skills
* Library Hack
* Millennium Volunteers
* National Citizen Service - volunteering, a residential trip, and presentation/group working skills
* Saltire Awards - For volunteers age 12-25 in Scotland
* Scouts - opportunities to gain Duke of Edinburgh awards, other certificates and volunteering experience
* Young Commissioners
Category:Alternative Qualifications
Category:Post 16 Options