Awarding and accrediting

Qualifications Scotland has two distinct parts, Qualifications Scotland Accreditation and Qualifications Scotland the awarding body.

Awarding

As an awarding body, Qualifications Scotland develops, maintains, and improves a framework of qualifications. These can be gained at Scotland’s schools, colleges, employers and training providers.

They include:

• National Qualifications. These are studied at school and college, and include National 1–5, Highers, and Advanced Highers.
• Higher National Qualifications. These are often studied at college. They are made up of units which are qualifications in their own right. They can act  as a bridge to study at university, and are currently being redesigned under the ‘Next Gen’ project.
• A range of vocational qualifications, developed with industry partners, and responding to perceived skills needs.

A more detailed overview of our range of qualifications can be found in our qualifications portfolio.

Accrediting

As an accrediting body, Qualifications Scotland sets and maintains standards for many other awarding bodies.

We accredit qualifications such as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs), which provide evidence that learners can do their jobs well. Our accreditation role is similar to work by Ofqual in other parts of the UK.

Qualifications Scotland Accreditation provides extensive support and quality assurance which offers a badge of quality for awarding bodies and their customers,. 

Working with standards setting organisations and others in development of:

• National Occupational Standards (NOS)
• the qualification structures and related support
• credit rating qualifications for the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

 Our accreditation function also plays an important role in supporting Foundation Apprenticeships and the wider Developing the Young Workforce policy, and our qualifications form part of the majority of Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeships.

As the Scottish qualifications regulator, we are called Qualifications Scotland Accreditation to avoid any confusion with Qualifications Scotland awarding.

Visit Accreditation