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

Guidance

Qualification descriptions

Updated 8 April 2022

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

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.