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Guidance

Qualification descriptions

Updated 29 October 2015

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/types-of-regulated-qualifications/qualification-descriptions

1. Introduction

Section 132 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 allows organisations to apply to be recognised for ‘descriptions of qualifications’ as well as individual qualifications.

This guidance explains the different qualification types (or descriptions of qualifications) you can apply for. These may be at different levels or in different sector subject areas.

2. Qualification descriptions

  • GCSE (A* to G), general certificate of secondary education graded A* to G
  • GCSE (9 to 1), general certificate of secondary education graded 9 to 1
  • GCE AS level, general certificate of education, advanced subsidiary level
  • GCE A levels, general certificate of education, advanced level
  • entry level
  • English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
  • functional skills
  • national vocational qualifications (NVQs)
  • other general qualifications
  • free-standing mathematics
  • project
  • principal learning
  • vocationally related qualifications (VRQs)

3. Sector subject areas

We classify all qualifications using the numbered categories in the tables below. You will need to refer to these tables when making your application for recognition.

1 - Health, Public Services and Care
1.1 - Medicine and dentistry
1.2 - Nursing, and subjects and vocations allied to medicine
1.3 - Health and social care
1.4 - Public services
1.5 - Child development and well being
2 - Science and Mathematics
2.1 - Science
2.2 - Mathematics and statistics
3 - Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care
3.1 - Agriculture
3.2 - Horticulture and forestry
3.3 - Animal care and veterinary science
3.4 - Environmental conservation
4 - Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies
4.1 - Engineering
4.2 - Manufacturing technologies
4.3 - Transportation operations and maintenance
5 - Construction, Planning and the Built Environment
5.1 - Architecture
5.2 - Building and construction
5.3 - Urban, rural and regional planning
6 - Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
6.1 - ICT practitioners
6.2 - ICT for users
7 - Retail and Commercial Enterprise
7.1 - Retailing and wholesaling
7.2 - Warehousing and distribution
7.3 - Service enterprises
7.4 - Hospitality and catering
8 - Leisure, Travel and Tourism
8.1 - Sport, leisure and recreation
8.2 - Travel and tourism
9 - Arts, Media and Publishing
9.1 - Performing arts
9.2 - Crafts, creative arts and design
9.3 - Media and communication
9.4 - Publishing and information services
10 - History, Philosophy and Theology
10.1 - History
10.2 - Archaeology and archaeological sciences
10.3 - Philosophy
10.4 - Theology and religious studies
11 - Social Sciences
11.1 - Geography
11.2 - Sociology and social policy
11.3 - Politics
11.4 - Economics
11.5 - Anthropology
12 - Languages, Literature and Culture
12.1 - Languages, literature and culture of the British isles
12.2 - Other languages, literature and culture
12.3 - Linguistics
13 - Education and Training
13.1 - Teaching and lecturing
13.2 - Direct learning support
14 - Preparation for Life and Work
14.1 - Foundations for learning and life
14.2 - Preparation for work
15 - Business, Administration, Finance and Law
15.1 - Accounting and finance
15.2 - Administration
15.3 - Business management
15.4 - Marketing and sales
15.5 - Law and legal services
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