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Qualifications

The National Qualifications Framework (see the table below) is a good place to start looking at qualifications. It shows how the main types of qualifications relate to each other and how you can progress from one level of course to the next.

National Qualifications Framework

Click anything in the table to learn more about it.

Key:

Level 4+ Higher Education
Level 3 A Levels & Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma BTEC Level 3,
OCR & others
Advanced Apprenticeship
Level 2 GCSEs Higher
Diploma
BTEC Level 2,
OCR & others
Apprenticeship
Level 1 Foundation Diploma BTEC Level 1,
OCR & others
Entry Level Entry Level qualifications
  Other courses

“The higher the level, the greater the depth of knowledge and skills”

How do the levels work?

Qualifications in the national framework are arranged in levels, from Certificates of Achievement at Entry Level to courses such as A Levels and Advanced Diplomas at Level 3. Beyond that there are degrees and other higher education qualifications, which have their own Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).

The higher the level, the greater the depth of knowledge, skills and understanding you have to demonstrate to gain the qualification.

.
A Levels and Baccalaureate
Academic qualifications
BTEC First, OCR & others
BTEC Introductory, OCR & others
BTEC National, OCR & others
Functional Skills
GCSEs
Vocational qualifications
.