Technical qualification categories
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-01)

All the technical education qualification categories that Skills England may use for approval.

This guidance has been transferred from the previous skills body the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) following its closure on 31 May 2025. The guidance is under review and may be subject to change.

Skills England may use the technical education qualification categories, specified under section A2D2 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/22/contents) (the Act), to approve technical qualifications.

Level 2 and level 3 technical qualifications, and level 4 and level 5 Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) may be approved under section A2D5 of the Act.

Level 3 T Level technical qualifications may be approved under section A2D3 of the Act.

The technical education qualification categories relate to:

occupational standards that are published on the occupational maps (https://occupational-maps.skillsengland.education.gov.uk/)

four qualification groups

The qualification groups use the following definitions:
- align: a qualification which covers as many of the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in an occupational standard as possible in an education setting
- builds upon: a qualification that links to an occupational standard and adds extra learning outcomes, in addition to the KSBs in the linked occupational standard
- selectively covers: a qualification that includes some outcomes from within an occupational standard or standards but not the majority element of any one occupational standard
Some qualifications have no relation to an occupational standard or standards. These qualifications will be approved by exception only.

The four qualification groups and the categories within each group are listed below.

Qualifications that align to an occupational standard or standards

Level 2 occupational entry technical qualifications - 16 to 19 and adults

Level 3 occupational entry technical qualifications - 16 to 19 and adults

Level 3 occupational entry technical qualifications - adults only

Level 4 and 5 Higher Technical Qualifications

Level 3 T Level technical qualifications

Qualifications that build on an occupational standard or standards

Level 2 additional specialist technical qualifications - 16 to 19 and adults

Level 3 additional specialist technical qualifications - 16 to 19 and adults

Qualifications that selectively cover outcomes from an occupational standards or standards

Level 2 cross-cutting function technical qualifications - 16 to 19 and adults

Level 3 cross-cutting function technical qualifications - 16 to 19 and adults

Level 3 occupational progression technical qualifications - 16 to 19 and adults

Qualifications that do not align to, build on or selectively cover any occupational standard or standards

Level 2 employer-proposed technical qualifications - adults only

Level 3 employer-proposed technical qualifications - adults only

The attachment relates each qualification category to its:
- relationship to the occupational standard or standards
- core aim
- approval test
- category criteria
Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for guidance on where your qualification fits.