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Guidance

Application for recognition: supporting information

Guidance on how to apply to be recognised by Ofqual to provide regulated qualifications.

Updates to this page

From:
Ofqual
Published:
30 September 2015
Last updated:
2 September 2025
Show all updates

  1. Minor changes to reflect updates in the recognition process.

  2. Updates have been made throughout the 'Supporting information: application for recognition' and 'Recognition application: guidance for the Criteria' documents.

  3. Updates have been made to 'Criterion B: Integrity', to reduce the risk of applications containing specific personal information.

  4. '7. If you are unhappy with our decision', '7.1. Application rejection', and '7.2 A decision to reject an application post-evaluation or panel meeting' sections updated.

  5. New wording for guidance contained within 'Recognition application: guidance for the Criteria', A.6.

  6. Updated the supporting information to clarify the circumstances under which Ofqual will do an internal review of rejections of recognition applications

  7. The supporting information incorrectly stated that a copy of our review would be shared prior to the panel meeting, as part of the review process. This has now been rectified.

  8. Updated 'Recognition application - guidance for the Criteria' to provide additional guidance to end-point assessment organisations, particularly around Criterion C1(b) finances and Criterion D.

  9. Updated the guidance for existing, regulated awarding organisations within the document 'Supporting information: application for recognition'. Updated the guidance on identity and constitution for organisations seeking recognition to reflect the need for them to operate within the UK, Gibraltar, a member state of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association, within the documents 'Supporting information: application for recognition' and 'Recognition application: guidance for the Criteria'.

  10. Updates to 'Supporting Information' HTML attachment, including link to updated Privacy Statement.

  11. Updated to reflect the new application process.

  12. Updated the supporting information to reflect the change in regulatory arrangements in Northern Ireland.

  13. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Supporting information: application for recognition

Ref: Ofqual/25/7205/1

HTML

Recognition application: guidance for the Criteria

Ref: Ofqual/25/7205/2

HTML

Details

You should use this supporting information if you are:

  • applying to become a new awarding organisation
  • an existing awarding organisation and wish to expand your recognition to include further specified qualifications or descriptions of qualifications

(Guidance updated in February 2025)

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