The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) recently consulted on several proposed policy changes around mandatory qualifications. The consultation ran from 15th December 2022 – 17th February 2023 and received nearly 330 written responses.
In response to consultation feedback, IfATE have
- expanded what is meant by ‘labour market requirement’. This now includes qualifications which support progression through an established career path. Therefore filling skills gaps at a later stage in an apprentice’s career
- expanded ‘regulatory requirement’ to ‘regulatory and legal requirement’. This will make sure that essential qualifications required by central regulators, as well as qualifications which fulfil other legal requirements but are not viewed as ‘regulations’, continue to be mandated
- included a provision to allow, in exceptional circumstances, qualifications to deliver content with goes beyond that which is set out in the occupational standard
- developed their position on coherence with other approvals processes. This will make sure comparable qualifications are considered for inclusion as mandated qualifications
IfATE have adopted their other proposals unchanged.
Further details can be found in the following documents:
- Mandatory Qualifications Decisions
- New Mandatory Qualifications Criteria
- Analysis of Responses to the Mandatory Qualifications Consultation
You can also visit IfATE for further guidance.