A new era for vocational education

V Levels, Occupational Certificates and Foundation Certificates

The qualification landscape is changing, but your future doesn’t have to be uncertain. With V Levels, Occupational Certificates and Foundation Certificates, the AQA Group is already ahead of the curve, providing a clear route forward and ensuring centres can continue to deliver with confidence.

Combining AQA’s expertise in delivering high-stakes qualifications and TQUK’s dynamism and passion for vocational education, we’re uniquely placed to create an offering that’ll redefine technical education for learners and providers. 

What are V Levels?

Put simply, they’re a vocational alternative to A-levels.

A-levels are academic and classroom-based, but V Levels are vocational and focus more on applied learning. Think of the real hands-on stuff: practical tasks, projects, workplace experience or assessments based on real-world scenarios. That’s what we’re talking about!

So similar to T Levels then? Well, not really. They’re playing in the same ballpark, but V levels don’t focus on a single occupation and don’t require long industry placements.

Much more flexible, they allow learners to combine vocational and academic study to keep their options open for whatever they want to do next. Learners might choose to do only V Levels, or a mix of V Levels and A-levels.

V Levels will set a new standard in vocational assessment. They:

Simplify the complex vocational landscape for learners and providers.

Give learners the flexibility to combine academic and vocational study.

Provide clearer pathways for learners, including progression to higher education or training, apprenticeships or skilled employment.

Replace current vocational qualifications like BTECs.

What are Occupational Certificates and Foundation Certificates?

Know what career you want to pursue? Occupational Certificates at Level 2 are two-year qualifications designed to help learners develop the knowledge and skills needed for a specific occupation, providing a clear pathway into skilled employment or an apprenticeship.

They’ll also get involved with employability skills, enrichment and pastoral support so they’re ready with all the skills – like communication and teamwork – that you need out there in the job world.

If a leap to Level 3 is a little too much of a stretch, new Foundation Certificates are designed to last one year and bridge the gap between level 2 achievements and level 3 qualification of choice. They sit at level 2 themselves, but are part of a ‘further study pathway’ that will also cover the employability, enrichment and pastoral aspects of the Occupational Certificates.

When’s it all happening?

The new qualifications will be available in four phases, with rollout beginning in September 2027 and continuing through to September 2030.

    • Accounting & Finance

    • Digital Systems & Data

    • Education

    • Digital Systems & Data

    • Education & Early Years

    • Catering & Hospitality:

      • Culinary Skills

      • Hospitality

    • Early Years Practitioner

Phase 1 (September 2027)

    • Applied Research & Technology

    • Construction Design

    • Engineering Design

    • Engineering & Manufacturing

    • Health

    • Healthcare & Clinical Technologies

    • Legal Services

    • Leisure, Exercise & Sports

    • Management, Procurement & Supply Chains

    • Marketing & Retail

    • Social Care

    • Business, Administration & Law

    • Construction & the Built Environment

    • Engineering & Manufacturing

    • Health & Care Services

    • Science

    • Sport, Fitness & Exercise Science

    • Business & Finance Administration:

      • Accounts & Finance Assistant

      • Assistant administrator

      • Digital administration

    • Health & Care Services:

      • Adult care worker

      • Healthcare support worker

    • Construction (On-site):

      • Bricklayer

      • Carpentry & Joinery

      • Stonemasonry

    • Construction (Finishing trades):

      • Domestic Plumber

      • Floor Layer

      • Painter & Decorator

      • Plasterer

      • Wall & Floor Tiler

    • Engineering & Manufacturing:

      • Autocare Technician

      • Engineering Operative

      • Furniture Maker

      • Welder

    • Healthcare & Science:

      • Healthcare Science Assistant

      • Pharmacy Services Assistant

    • Sports & Leisure:

      • Community Sport & Leisure Operations

Phase 2 (September 2028)

    • Agriculture & Land Management

    • Animal Care & Management

    • Protective Services

      • Agriculture, Land Management & Animal Care

      • Hair, Beauty & Aesthetics

      • Hospitality & Catering

      • Protective Services

    • Agriculture, Environmental & Animal Care:

      • Animal Care

      • Dog Groomer

      • Equine Groom

      • General Farm Worker

      • Land-based Service Engineer

    • Hair & Beauty:

      • Barbering Professional

      • Beauty Therapist

      • Hairdressing

      • Nail Services Technician

    • Horticulture & Floristry:

      • Floristry

      • Forestry & Arboriculture

      • Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative

      • Land-based Service Engineer

Phase 3 (September 2029)

    • Art & Performing Arts

    • Creative Media & Design

    • Travel & Tourism

    • Creative Media & Design

    • Performing Arts

    • Travel & Tourism

    • Creative & Design:

      • CAD Technician (2D Design)

Phase 4 (September 2030)

“From its inception, TQUK has championed vocational learning as the answer to so many people’s dreams of a promotion, a career change or upskilling in the workplace.

“We have also always believed that vocational learning has a place in schools, and these reforms deliver exactly that.  

“Preparing students for life-long careers in areas of work that they love can only bring positive change to our society, keeping young people engaged in their own development and giving employers first-class workers right out of school. 

“Working with AQA on the development of these qualifications will be the realisation of our own dream, the reason why we were acquired back in 2022: to place vocational education right where it belongs, at the heart and start of students’ life-long learning. “

Andrew Walker
Managing Director
Training Qualifications UK

“These qualifications will draw on the best of AQA Group – the assessment expertise and resources of AQA and the dynamic and responsive vocational knowledge of TQUK.

“AQA’s commitment to quality is absolute: we want our V Levels and Level 2 Certificates to be the best available, and we invite colleges, other providers and employers to work with us to help make sure that we collectively seize the great opportunity ahead.”

Colin Hughes
Chief Executive Officer
AQA