Qualifications and awarding bodies
Table 1 lists abbreviations and website addresses for the awarding bodies that offer NQF accredited
qualifications included on the career development framework for school support staff. A full contact list of all
awarding bodies is also available at www.dfes.gov.uk/section97/awarding_bodies.shtml
Table 2 shows the awarding bodies for each of the accredited further education qualifications included on the
framework listed by level and in alphabetical order. For details of higher education providers, visit
www.ucas.com
Table 1 Awarding bodies
Abbreviation
Awarding body
Website
1st4sport
AAT
ABBE
ABC Awards
ACCA
AQA
ASDAN
1st4sport Qualifications
Association of Accounting Technicians
Awarding Body for the Built Environment
ABC Awards
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
Award Scheme Development Accreditation
Network
ASET
British Computer Society
CABWI Awarding Body
Council for the Advancement of Communication
with Deaf People
Council for Awards in Children's Care and
Education
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
www.1st4sportqualifications.com
www.aat.co.uk
www.abbeqa.co.uk
www.abcawards.co.uk
www.accaglobal.com
www.aqa.org.uk
www.asdan.co.uk
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
City & Guilds
Chartered Management Institute
Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding
Body
Central YMCA Qualifications
EMTA Awards Limited
Edexcel Limited
Education Development International plc
English Speaking Board (International) Ltd
First Aid Qualifications
Hospitality Awarding Body
International Association of Bookkeepers
Institute of Leadership & Management
Institute of the Motor Industry
Joint Examining Board
Meat Training Council
NCFE
National Examination Board in Occupational
Safety and Health
www.cieh.org.uk
www.cipd.co.uk
www.city-and-guilds.co.uk
www.managers.org.uk
www.cpcab.co.uk
ASET
BCS
CABWI
CACDP
CACHE
Cambridge
ESOL
CIEH
CIPD
City & Guilds
CMI
CPCAB
CYQ
EAL
Edexcel
EDI
ESB
FAQ
HAB
IAB
ILM
IMI
JEB
MTC
NCFE
NEBOSH
www.aset.ac.uk
www.bcs.org/bcs
www.cabwi.co.uk
www.cacdp.org.uk
www.cache.org.uk
www.cambridgeesol.org
www.cyq.org.uk
www.eal.org.uk
www.edexcel.org.uk
www.ediplc.com
www.esbuk.org
www.firstaidqualifications.com
www.hab.org.uk
www.iab.org.uk
www.i-l-m.com
www.motor.org.uk
www.jeb.co.uk
www.meattraining.org.uk
www.ncfe.org.uk
www.nebosh.org.uk
Abbreviation
Awarding body
Website
NOCN
OCNW
OCR
OU
PAA/VQSET
QFI
RIPH
RSPH
Sports Leaders
UK
TCL
VTCT
WAMITAB
National Open College Network
Open College of the North West
Oxford, Cambridge & RSA Exams
Open University
PAA/VQSET
Qualifications for Industry
Royal Institute of Public Health
Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
Sports Leaders UK
www.nocn.org.uk
www.ocnw.com
www.ocr.org.uk
www.open.ac.uk
www.paa-uk.org
www.ediplc.com
www.riphh.org.uk
www.rsph.org
www.bst.org.uk
Trinity College London
Vocational Training Charitable Trust
Waste Management Industry Training and
Advisory Board
Workers’ Educational Association
www.trinitycollege.co.uk
www.vtct.org.uk
www.wamitab.org.uk
WEA
www.wea.org.uk
Notes
The former Business and Technician Education Council (BTEC) is now part of Edexcel, although its
qualifications still use the BTEC brand name.
RSA qualifications are part of OCR.
From 1 October 2005, City & Guilds Pitman qualifications have been completely migrated to City & Guilds.
The Hospitality Awarding Body business transferred to City & Guilds on 1 October 2005. Existing HAB
qualifications and services will continue to operate in the normal way and contact details at HAB will remain
the same until further notice.
Table 2 Qualifications
Level 1 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Award in community sports leadership
Award in healthy eating
Award in library and information skills
Award in providing a healthier school meals service
Award/certificate/diploma in health and social care
Certificate for IT users (ECDL part 1)
Certificate in accounting
Certificate in British Sign Language
Certificate in business administration
Certificate in coaching
Certificate in coaching hockey
Certificate in coaching rugby union
Certificate in communication tactics with deaf people
Certificate in deaf awareness
Certificate in deaf community and culture
Certificate in deafblind awareness
Certificate in ESOL skills for life
Sports Leaders UK
Edexcel
NOCN
ASET, City & Guilds, NCFE
Edexcel, OCR
BCS
City & Guilds
CACDP
EDI
1st4sport
1st4sport
1st4sport
CACDP
CACDP
CACDP
CACDP
Cambridge ESOL, City & Guilds,
Edexcel, EDI, ESB, OCNW, TCL
OCR
City & Guilds
PAA/VQSET
OCR
OCR
CACHE
CIEH, RIPH, RSPH
CIEH, RSPH
Certificate in introducing business administration
Certificate in IT systems support – PC maintenance
Certificate in laboratory technical skills
Certificate/diploma for IT users (new CLAiT)
Certificate/diploma in bookkeeping
Foundation award in caring for children
Foundation certificate in food hygiene
Foundation certificate in health and safety in the workplace
Literacy/English:
Certificate in adult literacy
Key skills in communication
GCSE in English
National certificate in business and ICT
Numeracy/mathematics:
Certificate in adult numeracy
Key skills in application of number
GCSE in mathematics
NVQ for IT practitioners
NVQ for IT users
NVQ in business and administration
NVQ in cleaning and support services
NVQ in hospitality
NVQ in laboratory and associated technical activities
NVQ in sport, recreation and allied occupations
AQA, ASDAN, CACHE, City & Guilds,
EAL, Edexcel, EDI, NCFE, NOCN,
OCR, VTCT
Most awarding bodies
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
OCR
AQA, ASDAN, CACHE, City & Guilds,
EAL, Edexcel, EDI, NCFE, NOCN,
OCR, VTCT
Most awarding bodies
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
BCS, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI, OCR
City & Guilds, EDI, Edexcel, OCR
City & Guilds, HAB, MTC, WAMITAB
City & Guilds, HAB
City & Guilds, PAA/VQSET
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
Level 2 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Award in administration
Award in food safety in catering
Award in library and information skills
Award in nutrition awareness
Award in paediatric first aid
Award in playwork
Award in using ICT as a tool for learning
Award/certificate in support work in schools (pilot)
Certificate for IT users
Certificate for IT users (ECDL part 2)
Certificate for teaching assistants
Edexcel, OCR
RSPH
NOCN
Edexcel
Edexcel
NOCN
NOCN
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
ABC Awards, EDI, NCFE
BCS
ABC Awards, CACHE, Edexcel, NCFE,
OCR
FAQ
AAT, City & Guilds, IAB
CACDP
City & Guilds, EDI
CACHE
City and Guilds
1st4sport
1st4sport
1st4sport
1st4sport
ABC Awards, IAB
HAB
City & Guilds
AQA, CPCAB, NCFE
CACDP
Edexcel
CACHE
CACDP
ASET
Cambridge ESOL, City & Guilds,
Edexcel, EDI, ESB, OCNW, TCL
1st4sport
ASET
Edexcel, EDI, OCR
CPCAB
PAA/VQSET
CACDP
FAQ
CACHE
CACHE
NCFE
FAQ
CACHE
CMI, ILM
NOCN
Edexcel, NCFE
Certificate in basic first aid
Certificate in bookkeeping
Certificate in British Sign Language
Certificate in business administration
Certificate in child care and education
Certificate in cleaning science
Certificate in coaching
Certificate in coaching football
Certificate in coaching hockey
Certificate in coaching rugby union
Certificate in computerised bookkeeping
Certificate in conflict handling and prevention
Certificate in conflict management
Certificate in counselling skills
Certificate in deafblind support work
Certificate in early years care and education
Certificate in early years practice
Certificate in electronic notetaking for deaf people
Certificate in emergency first aid in the workplace
Certificate in ESOL skills for life
Certificate in first aid for sport
Certificate in first aid for those caring for children
Certificate in health and social care
Certificate in introduction to counselling skills
Certificate in laboratory technical skills
Certificate in lipspeaking
Certificate in paediatric first aid
Certificate in playwork
Certificate in pre-school practice
Certificate in sports coaching
Certificate in sports first aid
Certificate in supporting playwork practice
Certificate in team leading
Certificate in working with people who have learning disabilities
Certificate/diploma for IT practitioners (general)
Level 2 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Certificate/diploma for IT practitioners (ICT systems support)
Certificate/diploma for IT users (CLAiT plus)
Certificate/diploma in accounting
Certificate/diploma in administration
Diploma for IT practitioners (software development)
Diploma for IT users
Diploma in applied science
Diploma in hospitality
First certificate/diploma in health and social care (replaces level
2 first diploma in caring)
First diploma in early years
GCSE
Intermediate certificate in food safety
Literacy/English:
Certificate in adult literacy
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
OCR
ACCA, City & Guilds, NCFE, OCR
OCR
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
City & Guilds
Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel
Key skills in communication
GCSE in English
National certificate in information technology
Numeracy/mathematics:
Certificate in adult numeracy
Key skills in application of number
GCSE in mathematics
NVQ for IT practitioners
NVQ for IT users
NVQ for teaching assistants
NVQ in accounting
NVQ in advice and guidance
NVQ in business and administration
NVQ in children's care, learning and development (replaces
NVQ in early years care and education)
NVQ in cleaning and support services
NVQ in customer service
NVQ in desktop publishing
NVQ in food and drink service
NVQ in food processing and cooking
NVQ in health and social care (replaces level 2 NVQ in care)
NVQ in information and library services
NVQ in instructing exercise and fitness
NVQ in laboratory and associated technical activities
(educational)
NVQ in multi-skilled hospitality services
NVQ in playwork
Edexcel
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
CIEH, RIPH, RSPH
AQA, ASDAN, CACHE, City & Guilds,
EAL, Edexcel, EDI, NCFE, NOCN,
OCR, VTCT
Most awarding bodies
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
OCR
AQA, ASDAN, CACHE, City & Guilds,
EAL, Edexcel, EDI, NCFE, NOCN,
OCR, VTCT
Most awarding bodies
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
BCS, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI, OCR
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
AAT, Edexcel
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR, OU
City & Guilds, EAL, Edexcel, EDI, OCR,
IMI
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI
City & Guilds, HAB, MTC, WAMITAB
CABWI, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI,
HAB, IMI, OCR, QFI, VTCT
City & Guilds
City & Guilds, EDI, HAB
City & Guilds, HAB
City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI, OCR, OU
City & Guilds
CYQ, Edexcel, City & Guilds, OCR
City & Guilds, PAA/VQSET
City & Guilds, HAB
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel
Level 2 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
NVQ in sport, recreation and allied occupations: activity
leadership
NVQ in sport, recreation and allied occupations: coaching,
teaching, instructing
NVQ in team leading
City & Guilds, CYQ, Edexcel, OCR
Level 3 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
A-level
Advanced certificate in food safety
Advanced certificate in information, advice and guidance
Advanced VCE in health and social care
Advanced VCE in hospitality and catering
Award in assessing candidates using a range of methods
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
CIEH, RIPH, RSPH
NOCN
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
AQA, Edexcel, OCR
Most awarding bodies
Award in supervising food safety in catering
Award/certificate/diploma for IT practitioners (general)
Award/certificate/diploma for IT practitioners (ICT systems
support)
Award/certificate/diploma for IT practitioners (software
development)
Award/certificate/diploma in administration
Award/certificate/diploma in business
Award/certificate/diploma in counselling
RSPH
Edexcel
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
Award/certificate/diploma in support work in schools (pilot)
Award/diploma in applied science
Certificate for specialist leaders of behaviour and attendance
Certificate for teaching assistants
Certificate in coaching
Certificate in communication and guiding skills with deafblind
people
Certificate in computerised accounts
Certificate in ESOL subject support
Certificate in first line management
Certificate in laboratory technical skills
Certificate in lipspeaking
Certificate in occupational health and safety
Certificate in off-site safety management
Certificate in personnel practice
Certificate in tutoring in sport
Certificate in working with people who have learning disabilities
Certificate of professional development in work with children and
young people
Certificate/diploma for IT users
Certificate/diploma in accounting
Certificate/diploma in business administration
Diploma in child care and education
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
CIPD, CMI, Edexcel, EDI, ILM, OCR,
OU
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
Edexcel, OCR
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
ABC Awards, AQA, City & Guilds,
CPCAB, NCFE, Edexcel
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
Edexcel
City & Guilds
CACHE, Edexcel, NCFE, OCR
1st4sport
CACDP
City & Guilds
City & Guilds, OCNW
ILM
PAA/VQSET
CACDP
NEBOSH
OCR
CIPD
1st4sport
NOCN
CACHE
City & Guilds, EDI, NCFE, OCR
ACCA, IAB, OCR
City & Guilds, EDI
CACHE
Level 3 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Diploma in cleaning services supervision
Diploma in early years practice
Diploma in pre-school practice
Diploma in supporting playwork practice
Introductory certificate in first line management
National award/certificate/diploma in early years
National certificate/diploma in health studies
National certificate/diploma in hospitality supervision
NVQ for IT professionals
NVQ for IT users
NVQ for teaching assistants
NVQ in accounting
NVQ in advice and guidance
NVQ in British Sign Language
NVQ in business and administration
City and Guilds
CACHE
CACHE
CACHE
ILM
Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
BCS, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI, OCR
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR
AAT, City & Guilds, Edexcel
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR, OU
CACDP
City & Guilds, EAL, Edexcel, EDI, IMI,
OCR
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI
NVQ in children's care, learning and development (replaces
NVQ in early years care and education)
NVQ in coaching (association football)
NVQ in customer service
NVQ in health and social care (children and young people)
NVQ in information and library services
NVQ in instructing physical activity and exercise
NVQ in laboratory and associated technical activities
NVQ in learning, development and support services for children,
young people and those who care for them
NVQ in playwork
NVQ in professional cookery
NVQ in property and caretaking supervision
NVQ in sport, recreation and allied occupations: coaching,
teaching, instructing
Progression award in counselling skills
Progression award in early years care and education
Progression award in library and information services
Support competence achieved in the workplace (unit
certification)
City & Guilds
CABWI, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI,
HAB, IMI, OCR, QFI, VTCT
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI,
OCR, OU
City & Guilds
City & Guilds, CYQ, OCR
City & Guilds, PAA/VQSET
Edexcel, OCR, OU
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel
City and Guilds, HAB
ABBE
City & Guilds
City & Guilds
City & Guilds
City & Guilds
CIPD, City & Guilds, EAL, Edexcel, EDI,
OCR, OU, PAA/VQSET
Level 4 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Award in conducting internal quality assurance of the
assessment process
Certificate for IT professionals
Certificate for specialist leaders of behaviour and attendance
Certificate in accounting
Certificate in early tears practice
Certificate in FE teaching stage 1
Most awarding bodies
BCS, OCR
City & Guilds
ACCA
OU
ABC Awards, City & Guilds, Edexcel,
JEB, OCNW, OCR
Level 4 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Certificate in supporting learning in primary schools
Higher professional diploma for IT practitioners
NVQ for IT professionals
NVQ in accounting
NVQ in advice and guidance
NVQ in British Sign Language
NVQ in business and administration
NVQ in careers education and guidance
NVQ in children's care, learning and development (replaces
NVQ in early years care and education)
NVQ in health and social care (children and young people)
OU
City & Guilds
City & Guilds, OCR
AAT
City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR, OU
CACDP
City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI, OCR
OCR
CACHE, City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI
NVQ in interpreting
NVQ in laboratory and associated technical activities
NVQ in learning, development and support services for children,
young people and those who care for them
NVQ in property management
CACDP
City & Guilds, PAA/VQSET
Edexcel, OCR, OU
Level 5 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Certificate in management studies
Diploma in management
Higher national certificate/diploma in advanced practice in work
with children and families
Higher national certificate/diploma in computing (general)
Higher national certificate/diploma in computing (ICT systems
support)
Higher national certificate/diploma in computing (software
development)
Higher national certificate/diploma in hospitality
Edexcel
CMI, ILM
Edexcel
Level 7 qualifications
Awarding body(ies)
Executive diploma in management
CMI, ILM
City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI, OCR, OU
ABBE
Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel