Updating personal information — guidance for transgender learners

SQA aims to ensure you can update your personal information quickly and easily.

We are aware of some of the requirements you, as a trans learner, may have and we hope this guidance on SQA’s change of name process is helpful.

We continually work in partnership with schools and colleges to meet the needs of every learner. You can be assured your privacy and right to confidentially will be respected and maintained at all times.

How do I change the name and gender on my SQA record or certificate?

If you currently attend school, college or are an SQA learner through your employer/training provider, your centre has the responsibility to amend your record. Please ask your teacher, lecturer or employer to update your record.

School learners

Please ask your teacher to amend your candidate record. Your teacher will support and advise you on how they will change your name and gender with SQA. You are likely to be asked by your school to provide further information but your teacher will discuss this with you. This may include:

  • a personal letter stating your intent to transition and your chosen name and gender — please note you will also require a letter of consent from your parent or carer if you are under 16 years of age
  • a letter from your doctor/lawyer/social worker/youth worker confirming your gender and name change; or
  • a Statutory Declaration of name and gender change
  • an amended birth certificate from the National Records of Scotland

These documents will not be shared with SQA. Your teacher will update your candidate record to ensure your certificate is issued in the correct name.  Please note this will not affect your Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) – this will remain the same. You do not need to provide a Gender Recognition Certificate.

College learners

Please ask your lecturer to amend your candidate record. Your lecturer will support and advise you on how they will change your name and gender with SQA. You are likely to be asked by your college to provide information but your lecturer will discuss this with you. This may include:

  • a personal letter stating your intent to transition and your chosen name and gender — please note you will also require a letter of consent from your parent or carer if you are under 16 years of age
  • a letter from your doctor/lawyer/social worker/youth worker confirming your gender and name change; or
  • a Statutory Declaration of name and gender change
  • an amended birth certificate from the National Records of Scotland

These documents will not be shared with SQA. Your lecturer will update your candidate record to ensure your certificate is issued in the correct name.  Please note this will not affect your Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) – this will remain the same.You do not need to provide a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Employer and training provider learners

Please ask your employer or training provider to amend your candidate record. Your contact will support and advise you on how they will change your name and gender with SQA. You are likely to be asked by your training provider to provide information but they will discuss this with you. This may include:

  • a letter from your doctor/lawyer/social worker/youth worker/previous teacher or lecturer confirming your gender and name change
  • a Statutory Declaration of name and gender change
  • passport in your new name
  • driver’s licence in your new name
  • an amended birth certificate from the National Records of Scotland

These documents will not be shared with SQA. Your employer or training provider will update your candidate record to ensure your certificate is issued in the correct name. Please note this will not affect your Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) – this will remain the same.You do not need to provide a Gender Recognition Certificate.

No longer attend school or college

If you no longer attend school or college, and would like to update your SQA record to your new name, you can contact SQA directly. To enable us to process and update your candidate record we would ask you to provide two items from the list below*:

  • a letter from your doctor/lawyer/social worker/youth worker/previous teacher or lecturer confirming your gender and name change
  • a Statutory Declaration of name and gender change
  • passport in your new name
  • driver’s licence in your new name
  • an amended birth certificate from the National Records of Scotland

*If you would prefer to send a photocopy of your documents you will need to send us a certified copy that is signed and dated by a professional person. If you only have one item from the list above — please get in touch and we can discuss this with you. You do not need to provide a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Please contact us by completing the form or post to:

Operations
Centre Support
Fourth Floor
The Optima Building
58 Robertson Street
Glasgow
G2 8DQ

Updating personal information for transgender learners - guidance for centres

Understanding gender identity and transgender - information for SQA staff and centres

Replacement certificate service

We will issue you with a replacement certificate in your new name if your qualifications have been achieved after 1995. Please note that if your qualifications predate 1995 you will need to contact us by completing the form to arrange your replacement certificate.

Your feedback is important to us

We welcome your feedback at any time. Please contact our Equality team.