Approvals update

Approval for National Qualifications 2022–23

Qualification approval is an important process for both centres and SQA. It ensures that a centre has the staff, reference materials, learning materials, assessment materials, equipment and accommodation needed to deliver, assess and internally verify a qualification. We also need to ensure that conditions of assessment for external assessments are understood and will be met.

You can view a list of the qualifications your centre is approved to deliver on SQA.net (under Qualifications – Approved Groupings or Approved Units) and in Navigator on SQA Connect.

Details of the requirements for approval are available on the specific qualification’s web page.

The deadline for approval applications is 30 September 2022. Certification in 2023 cannot be guaranteed if applications are received after this date. If you do not seek approval, or are unsuccessful in your approval application, you will not be able to enter and result candidates for the qualification, even if delivery is underway.

Completing the approval process before delivery has started is in the best interest of centres, SQA and candidates.

NQ approval forms, covering all types of National Qualifications and including a section on external assessment, are available on SQA Connect. You will find them under the section ‘Forms for centres delivering National Qualifications’.

If you have any questions, or need advice on completing your approval application, please contact your SQA Business Development Account Manager.

Schools have auto-approval for many qualifications but must apply for approval for qualifications that are not auto-approved. Training providers must submit approval applications for all qualifications they intend to deliver for the first time. Colleges can use their devolved authority for approval.

The following units/subject are not auto-approved:

Skill for Work Automotive Skills
Skills for Work Building Services Engineering
Skills for Work Construction Crafts
Skills for Work Early Education and Childcare
Skills for Work Energy
Skills for Work Engineering Skills
Skills for Work Health and Social Care
Skills for Work Maritime Skills
Skills for Work Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering
Skills for Work Uniformed and Emergency Services
Care*
Dance – National 5 *
Dance – Higher *
Sociology *
Psychology *
Philosophy *
Practical Electronics – National 5 *
Practical Metalworking – National 5 *
Practical Woodworking – National 5 *
Childcare and Development *
Music Technology – Advanced Higher

*Please note that freestanding units which were formerly part of the National Courses marked with an asterisk are also non-auto-approved. The requirements for approval to deliver these units are the same as those for the courses (as shown on the subject pages on the website).