Deliver another qualification

Already an approved SQA centre?

Before offering a new qualification you must check you have the relevant approval.

Learners may not be certified if you do not have approval.

Follow these steps to check you are approved and ready to deliver the qualification.

There are different processes and forms depending on the level of qualification you would like to offer.

Use the tabs below to open each section individually. Alternatively you can show all the sections.

To offer SQA qualifications, you must go through our approval process. There are two types: systems approval and qualifications approval.

Systems approval: confirms that your centre has the management and quality assurance systems that you will need to support the delivery, assessment and internal verification of SQA qualifications.

Qualification approval: confirms that your centre has the staff, reference materials, learning materials, assessment materials, equipment and accommodation needed to deliver, assess and internally verify the qualifications listed on your application.

When you offer your first SQA qualification, you need to apply for both.

If you are already an approved SQA centre, you only need qualification approval.

Approval means we check your centre has the necessary staff, reference materials, learning materials, assessment materials, equipment and accommodation needed to deliver, assess and internally verify the new course you wish to offer. 

Download our poster to share information on qualifications approval with your colleagues.

Visit SQA Connect

Visit SQA Connect to check if the course/units require approval for your centre. Find it under My Centre (approved groupings and approved units).

You can also check the approval requirements (auto-approved or not) in the National Qualification Catalogue (666 KB).

Colleges must complete the DAQAA form (174 KB) to inform us of any new auto-approval courses they are offering.

Apply to offer the NQ course/units

You must complete the NQ Qualifications Approval Application form and Staff Supporting Document, then receive approval before you start offering the course/units.

See Section B of our Systems and Qualifications Approval guide (733 KB) for guidance on completing the form.

NQ approval forms, covering all National Qualifications and including a section on external assessment, are available on SQA Connect under the section ‘Approval for National Qualifications’. There is also a specific application form for the Baccalaureate Inter-disciplinary Project.

Please refer to the Key Dates document on SQA Connect for submission deadlines.

Visit SQA Connect

Visit SQA Connect to check if the subject requires approval for your centre. This can be found under My Centre (approved groupings and approved units).

Apply to offer the HNVQ course/units

You must complete the Qualifications Approval Application form and Staff Supporting Document, then receive approval before you start offering the course/units.

See Section B of Systems and Qualifications Approval guide (733 KB) for guidance on completing the form.

Please note that NQ and HNVQ qualifications have different criteria .

You may have to complete additional forms depending on your requirements.

Further details on our quality assurance

Questions?