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Ofqual Handbook: Technical Qualifications

From:
Ofqual
Published
12 December 2018
Updated:
12 May 2026 - See all updates

Describing Technical Qualifications (Conditions TQ4 to TQ5)

Rules about the titling of Technical Qualifications, and about assigning values for Guided Learning and Total Qualification Time

Condition TQ4 - Qualification titling

  1. TQ4.1 In respect of each Technical Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, without prejudice to the requirements of Condition E2, an awarding organisation must ensure that the title of that qualification on the Register complies with any requirements which may be published by the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, and revised from time to time.
  2. TQ4.2 For the purposes of complying with Condition E2.1(d), an awarding organisation must ensure that the concise indication of the content of the qualification given in the qualification title corresponds with the title of the relevant Outline Content.

Condition TQ5 - Total Qualification Time

  1. TQ5.1 An awarding organisation must assign to each Technical Qualification which it makes available or proposes to make available a number of hours for –
    1. (a) Total Qualification Time, and
    2. (b) Guided Learning.
  2. TQ5.2 In respect of any element of Total Qualification Time (including Guided Learning) for a Technical Qualification, where the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, specifies –
    1. (a) a range of hours, an awarding organisation must assign a number of hours within that range by applying, as far as possible, the TQT Criteria, or
    2. (b) a number of hours, an awarding organisation must assign the same number of hours.
  3. TQ5.3 In respect of those elements of Total Qualification Time (including Guided Learning) for which the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, has not set a range or number of hours, an awarding organisation must assign a number of hours by –
    1. (a) having regard to any guidance in that regard published by the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, and
    2. (b) applying the TQT Criteria, as far as possible.
  4. TQ5.4 An awarding organisation must –
    1. (a) keep under review the number of hours it has assigned to each Technical Qualification for each of Total Qualification Time and Guided Learning,
    2. (b) in particular, review the numbers of hours assigned following any revision –
      1. (i) by the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, to the range, or number, of hours it has set for any element of Total Qualification Time (including Guided Learning),
      2. (ii) by the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, to any guidance in that regard that it has published, and
      3. (iii) by Ofqual to the TQT Criteria, and
    3. (c) revise the number of hours that the awarding organisation has assigned, if appropriate.
  5. TQ5.5 Following any review by Ofqual of the number of hours assigned to a qualification in respect of Total Qualification Time or Guided Learning, an awarding organisation must revise that number in any manner required by Ofqual.

Interpretation

  1. TQ5.6 For the purposes of this Condition, references to a ‘qualification’ are references to the qualification as a whole and not to individual units.

Guidance on Condition TQ5

Under Condition TQ5.2(a), where the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, specifies a range in respect of any element of Total Qualification Time for a Technical Qualification, an awarding organisation must assign a number of hours within that range by applying, as far as possible, the TQT Criteria.

An awarding organisation must use the TQT Criteria to determine the appropriate number of hours within the range specified by the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf. However, where the application of the TQT Criteria would lead to the assignment of a value which is outside the specified range, an awarding organisation must prioritise setting a number within the range.

Under Condition TQ5.2(b), where the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, has specified a single value for the number of hours in respect of any element of Total Qualification Time, rather than a range, an awarding organisation must assign that specified number of hours.

An awarding organisation should promptly notify Ofqual where it considers that the range or number specified by the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, would generate a value which is significantly different than that which the awarding organisation would arrive at by simply applying the TQT Criteria.

Under Condition TQ5.3, where the Secretary of State, or an organisation on their behalf, provides guidance in respect of any element of Total Qualification Time for a Technical Qualification, an awarding organisation must have regard to that guidance, and apply the TQT Criteria as far as possible, in assigning a number of hours to that element.