Regulation

Accreditation criterion

The criterion we use to take decisions on accreditation.

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 3 November 2014
• Last updated: 10 September 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 10 September 2026

     The list of qualifications subject to an accreditation requirement has been amended to include V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates

  2. 12 May 2026

     Technical Qualifications (within T Levels) have been added to the list of qualifications subject to an accreditation requirement, with effect from 1 June 2027.

  3. 10 July 2024

     Updated to reflect the removal of the accreditation requirement for Technical Qualifications (TQs) within T Levels. Converted from PDF to HTML format.

  4. 18 February 2019

     Added detail about the accreditation requirement for GCSE computer science being temporarily revised.

  5. 12 December 2018

     Added Technical Qualifications to the list of qualifications subject to an accreditation requirement.

  6. 27 January 2018

     Removed the variation to the accreditation requirement on GCSE computer science.

  7. 19 January 2018

     Added detail about the accreditation requirement for GCSE computer science being temporarily revised.

  8. 8 June 2016

     New version (replacing Ofqual/14/5552) which updates Appendix 1 to set out accreditation end dates for all legacy GCSEs, AS and A levels.

  9. 15 December 2015

     Corrected error in attachment

  10. 3 November 2014

      First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Accreditation criterion

Ref: Ofqual/24/7139

HTML

Details

This document sets out the accreditation criterion we use to take decisions on accreditation for all qualifications which are subject to an accreditation requirement, currently:

• all GCSEs
• all AS and A levels
• all V Levels 
• all Foundation Certificates 
• all Occupational Certificates

With effect from 12:01am on Tuesday 1 June 2027, Technical Qualifications (within T Levels) will be subject to an accreditation requirement.