Last updated: 04 Jul 2008

Regulatory arrangements for the tests and trials

The regulatory arrangements for the QCF tests and trials are based on the existing regulatory criteria for awarding bodies' procedures and qualifications, as published in The statutory regulation of external qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2004).

Basing the QCF tests and trials on the existing criteria ensures that public confidence is maintained and that learners, providers and end-users can be confident that provision available during the test and trial phase is of high quality, is transparent and is readily understood and valued.

The regulators recognise that the existing criteria were not written to support a unit-based qualifications framework underpinned by a credit accumulation and transfer system. To reflect this a joint QCA, DCELLS and CCEA consultation on regulatory arrangements for the QCF, was launched on 29 November 2007, and closed on 29 February 2008.

Responses to the consultation were considered and revised versions of both the regulatory arrangements and the implementation proposals drafted to reflect the feedback given. It is intended that the regulatory arrangements designed to support the implementation of the QCF across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be available from August 2008 subject to confirmation by Ministers in the three countries

Accrediting qualifications for the tests and trials

All awarding bodies submitting units to the unit databank and qualifications for accreditation during the framework trials will be required to use the working specification for framework tests and trials and meet the criteria in The statutory regulation of external qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2004). In addition, all awarding bodies participating in the trials are required to have access to the regulators' 5-day accreditation process.

Qualifications will be accredited in accordance with these regulatory criteria. They will be submitted for accreditation via the web-based accreditation (WBA) system. A user guide for the WBA application is available to download from the 'Tests and trials' page.

The period of accreditation for qualifications will be limited to the duration of the tests and trials.

The regulators will develop a post-accreditation monitoring plan to monitor the bodies submitting and awarding units and qualifications in the trials. This will include considering a sample of units and qualifications in the trials. Evidence from the monitoring activities will feed into the overall evaluation of the test and trial phase and the development of new regulatory criteria and supporting guidance.

Unit and qualification certificate design requirements

The regulators have issued the miminum design requirements for unit and qualification certificates within the QCF. These requirements can be downloaded from this page.