Vocational and other qualifications quarterly: April to June 2026
Numbers of certificates issued for vocational and other qualifications in England (excluding GCSEs, AS and A Levels, Advanced Extension Awards, apprenticeship end-point assessments, Extended Project Qualifications and T Level Technical Qualifications).
Applies to England
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Context for headlines this quarter
This quarter’s trends have been affected by Pearson BTEC qualifications being reported earlier compared to 2025. Certificates being reported in quarter 1 rather than quarter 2 contributed to the large decrease in certificate numbers for qualifications at level 1/level 2 this quarter compared to quarter 2 2025. In quarter 1 2026, there was a corresponding increase of certificates. This reporting change was made to better reflect all certificates related to the January series for BTEC Tech Award qualifications in the quarter 1 figures.
Trends have also been affected by University of the Arts London issuing certificates earlier in the year compared to 2025. More certificates being issued in quarter 2 rather than quarter 3 contributed to the notable increases in certificate numbers for other general qualifications and the arts, media and publishing sector subject area for quarter 2 2026 when compared to quarter 2 2025.
This quarter’s increase in certificate numbers for English for Speakers of Other Languages qualifications may be related to changes to immigration requirements. In May 2025, the Home Office proposed changes to immigration requirements including a requirement for new applicants for certain individual visas to need B2 English, a higher standard than the previous B1. This policy change was subsequently implemented and introduced from 8 January 2026 for some visas, with changes to other visas coming into force from 26 March 2027.
This quarter’s decrease in certificate numbers for “first aid at work” qualifications may be related to changes to licence-linked training made by the Security Industry Authority in April 2026.
Key headlines
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In quarter 2 2026, a total of 1.2 million certificates were issued across 6,928 qualifications for vocational and other qualifications, a decrease in certificates of 2.1% compared with quarter 2 2025. The number of certificates issued in the 12 months from July 2025 to June 2026 (5.2 million) decreased by 0.3% compared with the previous 12 months from July 2024 to June 2025.
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Among qualification types, the largest absolute decrease in certificate numbers was for other vocational qualifications (from 155,575 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 141,935 certificates in quarter 2 2026, a decrease of 8.8%), which is mostly due to the change in data reporting by Pearson noted above and also driven by decreases in certificate numbers for several “first aid at work” qualifications. The largest absolute increase in certificate numbers was for English for Speakers of Other Languages (from 122,550 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 132,570 certificates in quarter 2 2026, an increase of 8.2%), likely due to the change in immigration requirements noted above. Additionally, there was a 13.2% increase in certificate numbers for other general qualifications (from 49,810 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 56,380 certificates in quarter 2 2026), largely due to University of the Arts London issuing certificates earlier in the year as noted above.
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Among qualification levels, the largest absolute decrease in certificate numbers was for level 3 qualifications (from 388,410 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 376,445 certificates in quarter 2 2026, a decrease of 3.1%), which is largely driven by decreases in certificate numbers for several “first aid at work” qualifications. Additionally, there was a 28.2% decrease in certificate numbers for level 1/level 2 qualifications (from 17,995 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 12,920 certificates in quarter 2 2026), largely due to the change in data reporting by Pearson noted above. The largest absolute increase in certificate numbers was for entry level qualifications (from 189,325 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 198,930 certificates in quarter 2 2026, an increase of 5.1%), which is largely driven by entry level English for Speakers of Other Languages qualifications and is likely due to the change in immigration requirements noted above.
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Among sector subject areas, the largest absolute decrease in the number of certificates issued was for health, public services and care (from 314,650 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 298,275 certificates in quarter 2 2026, a decrease of 5.2%), which is mainly driven by decreases in certificate numbers for several “first aid at work” qualifications. The largest absolute increase in the number of certificates issued for a sector subject area was for preparation for life and work (from 233,950 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 237,425 certificates in quarter 2 2026, an increase of 1.5%), which is largely driven by entry level English for Speakers of Other Languages qualifications and is likely due to the change in immigration requirements noted above. Additionally, there was a 15.2% increase in certificate numbers for education and training (from 19,555 certificates in quarter 2 2025 to 22,515 certificates in quarter 2 2026), which is largely driven by qualifications for “teaching English as a foreign language” and is possibly due to the change in immigration requirements noted above.
- The top 3 qualifications with the highest numbers of certificates issued in quarter 2 2026 were TCL Entry Level Certificate in ESOL International Speaking and Listening (Entry 3) (GESE Grade 5) (B1.1) with 32,195 certificates, followed by FAA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work with 28,560 certificates and Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) with 27,685 certificates.
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The top 3 awarding organisations with the most certificates issued in quarter 2 2026 were Pearson with 150,775 certificates, followed by City & Guilds with 137,820 certificates and NCFE with 86,180 certificates. These 3 awarding organisations also had the most certificates issued in quarter 2 2025.
- The top 3 awarding organisations with the most certificates issued in the 12 months from July 2025 to June 2026 were Pearson with 692,545 certificates, followed by City & Guilds with 544,495 certificates and NCFE with 329,455 certificates. These 3 awarding organisations also had the most certificates issued in the previous 12 months from July 2024 to June 2025.
Datasets
The dataset underlying this release is available separately and can be explored visually in our interactive visualisation for Vocational and other qualifications over time.