Regulation

Criteria for Recognition for V Level, Foundation Certificate and Occupational Certificate

Updated 4 June 2026

Applies to England

Criterion A(V) Prior recognition

A(V).1     At the time of application to be recognised for the award of the relevant qualification, the Applicant has a pre-existing and continuing recognition under section 132 of the Act in respect of another qualification or description of qualification.

Criterion B(V) Expertise

B(V).1     The Applicant has the expertise necessary for the development, delivery and award of the relevant qualifications.

B(V).2     An Applicant’s expertise must be demonstrated through previous experience or existing capability, including through appropriate arrangements with third parties where required.

B(V).3     In particular, the expertise that an Applicant must demonstrate under Criterion B(V).1 must cover at least the following, in accordance with its Conditions of Recognition where applicable –

1. a) designing and developing qualifications
2. b) setting assessments
3. c) quality assurance of assessment materials and awards
4. d) standardising and managing the required number of Assessors, monitoring live marking and marking adjustments to marks where needed
5. e) standard setting and maintenance including –
   1. (i) identification and use of appropriate sources of evidence
   2. (ii) understanding the relative strengths and weaknesses or such sources in different contexts
   3. (iii) technical capability in producing and interpreting the required statistical evidence, and
   4. (iv) working with other awarding organisations to ensure the maintenance and comparability of standards across similar qualifications
6. f) data analysis and research capability to evaluate qualifications
7. g) post-results services
8. h) operation and management of the IT systems necessary to deliver the above requirements, together with all other aspects of the development, delivery and award of qualifications
9. i) communications –
   1. (i) with Centres and other third parties involved in the development, delivery and award of qualifications, and
   2. (ii) where an incident occurs which could have an Adverse Effect, to prevent that Adverse Effect or, where that Adverse Effect occurs, to mitigate and correct it as far as possible

B(V).4     The expertise that an Applicant must demonstrate under Criterion B(V).1 must be –

1. a) at the appropriate scale, both in terms of national coverage and in relation to each assessment series
2. b) appropriate to the number of relevant qualifications which it may make available if its application for recognition in respect of those qualifications is successful
3. c) appropriate to the numbers of Students to whom it is likely to issue certificates in respect of the relevant qualifications
4. d) appropriate to the level and purpose of the relevant qualifications, and
5. e) appropriate to the subject areas that the relevant qualifications will cover

Criterion C(V) Systems and processes

C(V).1     The Applicant has in place the systems and processes necessary for the development, delivery and award of the relevant qualifications, including through appropriate arrangements with third parties where required.

C(V).2     In particular, the systems and processes referred to in Criterion C(V).1 must cover at least the following –

1. a) delivery of qualifications, including managing Assessors, monitoring live marking, data analysis and statistical processes and the effective management of arrangements with third parties
2. b) printing and distribution of assessments and other materials
3. c) secure handling of assessments and other materials
4. d) scanning and marking of assessments
5. e) quality assurance
6. f) data sharing with other awarding organisations to support comparability of standards with other similar qualifications
7. g) post-results services
8. h) cyber security
9. i) where an incident occurs which could have an Adverse Effect, resilience and contingency arrangements to prevent that Adverse Effect or, where that Adverse Effect occurs, to mitigate and correct it as far as possible

C(V).3     The systems and processes referred to in Criterion C(V).1 must be –

1. a) at the appropriate scale, both in terms of national coverage and in relation to each assessment series
2. b) appropriate to the number of relevant qualifications which it may make available if its application for recognition in respect of those qualifications is successful
3. c) appropriate to the numbers of Students to whom it is likely to issue certificates in respect of the relevant qualifications
4. d) appropriate to the level of the relevant qualifications, and
5. e) appropriate to the subject areas that the relevant qualifications will cover

Criterion D(V) Governance

D(V).1     The Applicant has the governance arrangements necessary for the development, delivery and award of the relevant qualifications, including through appropriate arrangements with third parties where required.

D(V).2     In particular, the governance arrangements referred to in Criterion D(V).1 must cover at least the following –

1. a) quality assurance procedures
2. b) post-results services
3. c) arrangements with third parties

D(V).3     The governance arrangements referred to in Criterion D(V).1 must be –

1. a) at the appropriate scale, both in terms of national coverage and in relation to each assessment series
2. b) appropriate to the number of relevant qualifications which it may make available if its application for recognition in respect of those qualifications is successful
3. c) appropriate to the numbers of Students to whom it is likely to issue certificates in respect of the relevant qualifications
4. d) appropriate to the purpose of the relevant qualifications, and
5. e) appropriate to the subject areas that the relevant qualifications will cover