How to become an approved centre and how to obtain approval to offer our qualifications. These documents should help potential new centres as well as existing centres.

• Systems and Qualification Approval Guide (810 KB)
• Quality Assurance Criteria - SQA Advanced/Higher National and vocational qualifications (235 KB)

• Qualification Verification Criteria: Guidance for centres (462 KB)
• Qualification Verification Guidance for Schools (809 KB)
• Qualification Verification Guidance for Scotland’s Colleges (268 KB)
• Qualification Verification Guidance for Employers and Training Providers (ETPs) (392 KB)

• Co-ordinator Induction Guide (254 KB)
• Systems Verification Criteria Guidance for centres (409 KB)
• The Systems Verification Process (1.02 MB)
• Systems Approval and Verification Support Materials (0.96 MB)
• Systems Verification Key Messages 2026 (138 KB)
• Systems Verification CPD for SQA coordinators (104 KB)

Forms

• Prior Verification Request and Evaluation Form (901 KB)
• Combined Assessment support form (829 KB)

Guidance

• Combined Assessment Toolkit: Information and guidance for centres (1.10 MB)
• Guide to Assessment (649 KB)

• Use of Alternative Assessment Sites and Partnership Arrangements: Information for Centres (71 KB)
• AAS declaration form

• Internal Verification Toolkit HNVQ (95 KB)
• Development visits

Support for centres offering internally assessed qualifications.

• Internal verification: a guide for centres (140 KB)

From 1 April 2026, verification for centres delivering SVQs will follow a risk-based selection model. This is a departure from annual verification and is in line with our other qualifications.

To support this revised model, all centres delivering SVQs must notify us of the following changes at their centres:

• any changes in partnership agreements
• the appointment of unqualified assessors or internal verifiers

Please use this MS Form to advise us of any of the above changes at your centre.

• Notification of Changes Impacting SVQ Delivery

All centres delivering HNVQ qualifications must seek approval from Qualifications Scotland to make any adjustments to qualification assessment conditions.

Please use application for adjustment to assessment conditions form to seek approval for the use of:

• simulation
• a realistic working environment