Guidance

Higher technical qualifications: terms and conditions

Published 26 October 2026

Applies to England

Higher technical qualification (HTQ) is a government-backed quality mark. The Department for Education (DfE) awards the quality kite mark to level 4 and level 5 technical qualifications that it has approved against defined approval criteria. Following DfE approval, applicants may use the HTQ quality mark in their promotional and course materials.

This document sets out DfE’s terms and conditions for approving technical qualifications and awarding the HTQ quality mark.

1. Introduction

1.1. DfE approves HTQs. These terms and conditions are between DfE and an organisation (‘applicant’) submitting a level 4 or 5 qualification to be approved by DfE and awarded the HTQ quality mark.

1.2. DfE wants the applicant to understand these terms and conditions from the outset and has incorporated them into the online HTQ approval application process.

1.3. Applicants seeking HTQ approval must agree to these terms and conditions when submitting their application.

1.4. These terms and conditions will not prevent DfE from exercising any of its statutory functions.

1.5. DfE reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time by publishing such amendments.

1.6. The HTQ quality mark and the word mark ‘Higher technical qualification’ are registered trademarks. Any misuse of the trademarks could lead to action for trademark infringement.

2. Conditions of application and approval

2.1. Applicants acknowledge that DfE will approve qualifications according to its published approvals criteria.

2.2. DfE reserves the right to amend its published HTQ approvals criteria at any time. 

2.3. HTQ applicants must comply with these conditions from the date of application. Where approval is granted, applicants must continue to meet these conditions for as long as the qualification remains approved.

2.4. Applicants must submit one application per qualification (including where the qualification maps to one or more occupational standards). 

2.5 Where an individual or organisation engaged in the development or validation process has a vested interest or conflict of interest (for example, a commercial partnership with the applicant), this should be declared within the evidence submission, and in such circumstances, DfE may seek additional information.

2.6. The applicant understands that where external providers are delivering their approved HTQs, the applicant will retain responsibility for ensuring quality of delivery by those external providers.

2.7. An approved HTQ must have a unique title and cannot share the same name as any other course offered by the applicant or its delivery partners. The only exception is where the same approved HTQ is delivered outside England without any changes. In that case, it may keep the same title. If a version of the HTQ delivered outside England is modified in any way from the approved HTQ, it must be given a different title so that it is clearly distinguishable from the approved qualification.

2.8. Applicants confirm that they will not include the words ‘Higher technical qualification’ or the abbreviation ‘HTQ’ within any qualification’s title, prior to or after approval. Approved qualifications should be marketed as HTQs following the conditions set out in these terms and conditions of approval. This condition does not prevent applicants following UCAS’s advice to reference HTQs after the course title in the UCAS collection tool.

2.9. Only qualifications that have been approved, and only the approved pathways within those qualifications, may be marketed or described as HTQs.

2.10. A learner who leaves a course early may only receive an exit qualification supported by the HTQ quality mark if that exit qualification is approved by DfE as an HTQ and the learner has achieved that qualification. This does not preclude exit qualifications being awarded under the awarding organisation or provider’s usual policies, but such awards cannot carry the HTQ quality mark unless they are on the approved list of HTQs.

2.11. Applicants acknowledge that they may need to rename their qualification if DfE advises that the link between the qualification and the occupations it aligns to is not sufficiently clear.

2.12. Applicants must confirm that, where their qualification relates to an occupation that has a mandatory statutory regulator with whom individuals must be registered in order to practice in the occupation, their qualification is already recognised by the relevant statutory regulator.

2.13. If Ofqual , the Office for Students (OfS) or, where relevant, a statutory regulator notify the applicant that they have commenced or intend to commence any regulatory action that may affect the ongoing regulation of the qualification or registration of the provider, then DfE will be informed to assess what steps it may need to take, including the potential to withhold approval or withdraw DfE approval from the qualification.

2.14. Applicants confirm that any additional content is only included to the extent permitted as set out in DfE’s published approvals criteria.

2.15. Applicants confirm that they own all intellectual property rights, including the copyright for the documents submitted as part of the HTQ approval process. Where a third party owns all or any intellectual property in any of the documents, applicants confirm that they have obtained the necessary licenses, permissions or consents to use and submit the documents in support of their HTQ application, as well as for delivering the HTQ, should it be approved.

2.16. Where the HTQ is delivered by the applicant but is validated by a degree-awarding partner (a ‘validated course’), the applicant must confirm that they have obtained the prior written consent from the degree-awarding partner before seeking HTQ approval from DfE.

2.17. All OfS-regulated qualifications must have been fully validated by the awarding higher education institution prior to submitting an application. Qualifications that have not been through a full validation process will not be considered for approval at that time.

2.18. Applicants will have the opportunity to reconsider their application at any point during the approvals process and are free to withdraw should they wish to.

2.19. Applicants acknowledge that approval will subsist for an indefinite period. However, DfE can withdraw approval at any time, including if it considers that:

• the approval criteria or these terms and conditions are no longer met, including any updated criteria introduced after approval was granted
• the applicant no longer meets the regulatory requirements for approval

If DfE is considering withdrawing approval for any reason, including as part of an HTQ review, it will discuss this with the applicant before making a final decision.

2.20. If the applicant decides to cease delivery or decides not to offer the qualification prior to the first teach date of the qualification, they will inform DfE of their decision promptly, so that DfE can consider whether to withdraw its approval.

2.21. Applicants acknowledge that HTQ approval does not guarantee public funding. Information about the eligibility for student finance can be found on GOV.UK.

2.22. Applicants agree that DfE may share information contained within their pre-submission, full application or qualification with Ofqual, OfS, Skills England, Ofsted, the Student Loans Company and any relevant statutory regulator, where this is necessary for the exercise of that organisation’s statutory functions or DfE’s statutory functions. Applicants have the right to identify any commercially sensitive information shared with DfE that is not to be shared more widely.

2.23. Providers may receive requests for learners to transfer onto an HTQ course from another course or provider. Decisions on whether to recognise prior learning remain at the discretion of the provider. However, before a transfer can be approved, applicants must ensure that the requirements set out in 2.24 and 2.25 have been met.

2.24. Any credit transfer from a previous qualification, or recognition of prior learning (RPL), must relate to specific content within the HTQ. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that prior achievement or learning directly aligns with content that would otherwise be delivered through the HTQ. This would mean thorough consideration of any content studied outside the approved HTQ course before it can be considered. Where a provider permits credit transfer or RPL, they must ensure that the learner is provided with sufficient teaching to ensure that each learning outcome related to knowledge, skills and behaviours covered in the course has been taught to the learner, and any delivery agreement with a course provider sets this out.

2.25. Consideration should be given to the currency of the content the learner has previously studied. In line with general sector practice, we would consider study over 5 years old likely to be out of date given how quickly sectors are changing. We would also ask providers to consider whether, within that period, the occupational standard has been revised, which may have resulted in some of the content no longer being relevant. Any content that is in scope for consideration for a learner transferring onto a course or having credit taken into account must not be out of date, as that could cause employers to question the currency of that learning. The creation or revision dates of the relevant occupational standards can be provided on request to enable providers to make a judgment related to individual learners.

3. HTQ quality mark terms of use

3.1. In Reforming Higher Technical Education: Government Response, published in July 2020, the government confirmed that approved HTQs would be clearly badged with a government-backed quality mark, so they are readily identifiable and signal high quality to learners and employers.

3.2. Applicants are responsible for sub-licensing the HTQ quality mark to providers that deliver an approved HTQ. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that sub-licensees also receive, understand and follow these guidelines.

3.3. Organisations may use the quality mark to identify approved qualifications and raise awareness of HTQs. It should be used as an endorsement mark alongside existing provider and qualification branding.

3.4. Third parties, such as careers advisers and industry training bodies, may also use the quality mark in promotional materials to highlight the employer-led quality of approved qualifications. This helps prospective students easily identify and find HTQs when making course choices.

3.5. Everyone using the quality mark must ensure that any advertising, marketing and promotion of products or services do not undermine or diminish the reputation, image and prestige of HTQs.

3.6. The quality mark may only be used in relation to qualifications approved and awarded the HTQ quality mark.

3.7. It must not be used in a way that could reasonably be interpreted as endorsing:

• any qualification not on the approved HTQ list
• non-HTQ pathways, options or routes
• your organisation as a whole

3.8. Organisations using the quality mark must: 

• use the HTQ quality mark where details of a relevant approved HTQ are promoted – for example, the qualification is:
  • being promoted on an internet page or page in a print prospectus promoting a single course
  • immediately next to a relevant course listing on a page where multiple qualifications are covered
• include relevant details when promoting an approved qualification, such as the name and level of the occupational standards that the approved HTQ is aligned to

Higher technical qualifications: overview includes further information.

3.9. Organisations using the quality mark could:

• use the quality mark on a page explaining the wider programme in more detail
• use the quality mark on certificates – only for awards of qualifications that have approval, and only where the HTQ name is distinct from non-HTQ names
• use the quality mark in the main copy of a web page to direct readers to a section explaining what HTQs are

Prohibited use of the quality kite mark

3.10. Organisations using the quality mark must not:

• use the quality mark on a website homepage, landing page or elsewhere as a general endorsement of your full programme of qualifications
• use the quality mark to imply that a qualification with multiple optional occupational pathways will prepare students for careers in each of the aligned occupations, rather than in one of the occupations
• use the quality mark to imply that earlier versions of the qualification are also approved HTQs
• use the quality mark on permanent building signage
• use the quality mark if HTQ approval is withdrawn
• use the quality mark on materials intended to promote a course that is delivered outside England

Monitoring and compliance of use of the quality kite mark

3.11. Organisations that own an approved HTQ must:

• monitor HTQ quality mark usage within their own organisation and by sublicensed providers and inform DfE promptly of any and all non-compliance with these guidelines
• share on request any materials carrying the HTQ quality mark, for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with these guidelines
• co-operate with DfE to resolve issues where it reasonably determines that it appears that there is non-compliance with these guidelines

3.12. Where an applicant or its delivery partners fail to comply with the HTQ quality mark terms of use as set out in these terms and conditions, DfE may withdraw approval.

Logo design

3.13. The HTQ logo must be use as supplied.

You must not:

• distort the shape
• change the colour
• remove elements
• redraw or create the logo from scratch

Colours

3.14. The HTQ quality mark is available in colour as a print or digital file. The logo must be used as supplied and not altered in any way. The colour version of the quality mark is the primary version and should be used. The mono (black or white) version must only be used if the entire design is single-colour. Do not use a greyscale version.

3.15. You must consider the background when placing the logo, as the user is responsible for accessibility compliance. Dark colours should be avoided. When placing over photography, always use a clean or light area of the image. If the logo must be applied to a dark background, use the version with the white keyline to ensure that the surrounding cog motif is still visible.

Exclusion zone

3.16. When using the logo, you must maintain clear space between the logo, page edges and other elements. This applies to all variants of the logo.

Minimum size

3.17. Consider legibility when placing the logo for print or digital use. These are the absolute minimum sizes, and should only be applied where necessary:

• print – 25mm
• digital – 100px.

4. Reviews and changes to approved qualifications

Reviews

4.1. DfE may review approved HTQs from time to time to determine whether the approval criteria continue to be met and whether there is any other reason why approval ought to be withdrawn. The first review will normally take place 5 years after approval. DfE reserves the right to vary the timing and frequency of reviews, taking account of relevant factors – for example, learner enrolments or the time elapsed since approval.

As part of any review, DfE will engage with the applicant and provide a reasonable opportunity for the applicant to submit information it considers relevant.

4.2. DfE will consider all relevant information and circumstances (including any information provided by the applicant), including, but not limited to, whether:

• any modifications to the qualification are needed
• the HTQ approvals criteria continue to be met (including revised criteria that post-dates approval)
• continued HTQ approval is in the best interest of employers and learners

4.3. The applicant agrees to cooperate with DfE and to provide DfE all such reasonable assistance as may be needed to conduct and complete the HTQ review.

4.4. DfE will inform the applicant of any approval decision. The applicant accepts that it is DfE’s sole decision whether to withdraw HTQ approval following an HTQ review.

Minor and major changes

4.5. Applicants may make minor and major changes to approved HTQs in accordance with their own internal change processes.

4.6. Applicants must contact DfE to discuss any proposed major changes to approved HTQs and must comply with any advice given by DfE prior to making changes or updates. Approval may be withdrawn where major changes are implemented without notifying DfE or where changes are inconsistent with DfE’s requirements.

4.7. DfE will determine the appropriate level of review depending on the nature of the proposed changes or updates.

Reviewing qualifications when occupational standards are revised

4.8. Applicants may need to make changes to qualifications because of revisions to the aligned occupational standards. DfE will inform applicants when occupational standards are revised. These may include changes to the content of the occupational standard or more fundamental changes to the occupation on which the standard is based. Where changes relate to content, applicants should update their qualifications where identified by DfE to align with the new requirements.

4.9. Applicants must make changes to their qualification no later than 6 months from the date the revised occupational standard is published. Applicants can submit their amended materials at any point during this 6-month period, and DfE encourages applicants to complete and submit their changes as soon as is practical. If changes are not made to DfE’s satisfaction within the specified timeframe, approval could be withdrawn from the qualification.

4.10. Revisions to occupational standards because of changes to the occupation on which they are based are more complex and may result from Skills England no longer recognising an occupation. Consequently, it may be necessary to withdraw an occupational standard or merge it with one or more others. When this happens, DfE will contact the applicant and discuss the potential impact on the approved HTQ and the specific timelines for any resulting action. This may include withdrawing approval and the quality mark from the qualification, in line with the withdrawal of the occupational standard.

4.11. Statutory regulators may require applicants to change qualifications to maintain relevant regulatory approval or recognition. The applicant accepts that DfE may withdraw approval at any time if it considers that the HTQ approvals criteria are not met – for example, if the applicant is no longer regulated by Ofqual, OfS or the relevant statutory regulator, or an applicant has refused to make a change required by Ofqual, the OfS or a statutory regulator.

4.12. Upon receipt of the changed materials, DfE will complete an internal review and inform the applicant of its decision.