Important re-accreditation information

Registration of Learners on BTEC Firsts and Nationals

With the new BTEC Firsts and Nationals ready for teaching from September 2010, we need to make sure that all learners studying the current specifications are correctly registered with us. The deadline for registering learners on the current specification is 31st August 2010. After 31st August 2010, in line with regulatory requirements, it will no longer be possible to register learners onto the current specifications for BTEC Firsts and Nationals as these specifications will no longer be approved for new registrations.

Please double-check with your programme teams that all learners studying the current specifications have been registered. If they are not registered by 31st August 2010, they will have to be registered on the new specifications and this will result in them having to do additional work to meet the requirements of the new courses. You can check the approval end dates for all your BTEC programmes on Edexcel Online: BTEC > Qualifications > Approved Programmes.

Last Dates for Claiming Certificates for BTEC Firsts and Nationals

The last date for claiming certificates for a qualification is known as the Certificate End Date. The Certificate End Date for learners registered on the 2002 BTEC specifications is 31st August 2010. Typically, these will be the learners who registered on BTEC Firsts between September 2002 and August 2006 and on BTEC Nationals between September 2002 and August 2007. After 31st August 2010, it will no longer be possible to certificate learners on the 2002 specifications and they will need to transfer to the new specifications.

The Certificate End Date for students registered on the current BTEC First specifications is 31st August 2012 and for students registered on the current BTEC National specifications is 31st August 2013.

Registration of Learners on NVQs

With the new QCF qualifications currently coming on board, we need to make sure all learners studying the current NVQ specifications are correctly registered with us. From March 2010, through to December 2010, the current suite of NVQ qualifications expire for new registrations. Once expired, no further registrations can be made. You can check the dates to which your NVQ programmes are approved via Edexcel Online: NVQ > Qualifications > Approved Programmes.

Key Skills accreditation

With the new Functional Skills qualifications being available from 1 September 2010, the final date to register learners on the core Key Skills programmes is 31 August 2010. Core Key Skills programmes are Application of Number, Communication and Information & Communication Technology at levels 1-4. Learners registered on all core key skills programmes will have to complete the course for final certification on 31 August 2012.

The accreditation for wider Key Skills programmes at levels 1-3 has been extended with registration available until 31 August 2012. Wider Key Skills are Improving own Learning and Performance, Working with Others, and Problem Solving. The table below shows the new accreditation dates:

Level 4 wider Key Skills programmes have the same accreditation dates as core Key Skills.

This information is also available on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications.