These BTECs and vocational qualifications may soon have rarity value 📜
Hundreds of BTECS and other vocational qualifications will be defunded from later this year
Many overlap with new ‘T Level’ qualifications, which will remain and effectively replace them
Others being discontinued include courses with very few students over the past few years
For many of these qualifications, this year’s graduating cohort will be the last ones able to earn them
England’s learners will soon say goodbye to dozens of vocational courses being defunded or replaced - including qualifications in early education, construction, IT and more.
The Government has recently completed a rapid review of Level 3 vocational qualifications, including numerous ‘BTECs’, which were set to be defunded at the end of the 2024/25 academic year by the previous, Conservative-led Government. Many had overlapped with the new T Level qualifications, a series of industry-focused, post-GCSE courses loosely equivalent to A Levels, that have been slowly rolled out since 2020.
Under the new review’s provisional outcomes, published last month, some 70% of courses initially slated for defunding have been saved - or have had their funding extended for now. Some that do cover the same content as T Levels will be allowed to coexist with them for the time being, while many courses in key sectors like agriculture, finance and accounting, healthcare, and engineering will also be able to stick around. Awarding organisations with courses marked for defunding are also able to appeal, with these closing on 24 January.
However, according to the new list, hundreds of qualifications remain on the chopping block in 2025. This is for a variety of reasons, including consistently having less than one hundred students taking them, alternatives (including new T Levels) being available, the course involving less than 150 hours of guided learning, and those that were already due to end or have funding cut from the end of the academic year. Many early years education courses are also set to end - as they no longer meets the Department for Education’s criteria of “full and relevant Early Years Educator qualifications”.
Here is the full list of Level 3 courses currently set to lose their funding this year. We’ve sorted them by awarding organisation (or exam board) so that you can easily search for the one that your school, college, or training organisation uses.
The Government plans to stop funding hundreds of vocational qualifications this year - with many to be replaced by new 'T Levels' | (Image: National World/Adobe Stock)
1st4sport
Level 3 Certificate in Coaching
Level 3 Diploma in Sporting Excellence
Level 3 NVQ Diploma In Personal Training
Active IQ
Level 3 Diploma In Sports Massage Therapy
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Personal Training
Level 3 Award In Designing Exercise Programmes for Older Adults
AIM Qualifications
Level 3 Diploma in Building, Installation and Property Maintenance Skills
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Cyber Security
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security
Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment
Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
Level 3 Award in Business Administration
Level 3 Certificate in Business Administration
AQA
Level 3 Certificate in Applied Science
Level 3 Extended Certificate in Applied Science
Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE)
Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Spray Foam Insulation and Application
Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment
Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement
Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment
Awards for Training and Higher Education (ATHE)
Level 3 Diploma in Information and Digital Technologies
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Diploma in Business and Management
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Level 3 Certificate in IT User Skills
BIIAB
Level 3 Diploma in Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)
Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
BPEC Certification
Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating
Level 3 Diploma in Gas Engineering
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Domestic Plumbing and Heating
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Domestic Plumbing and Heating (Gas Fired Water and Central Heating Appliances)
Level 3 Diploma in Stonemasonry
Level 3 Electrotechnical Qualification
Level 3 Diploma in Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems
Level 3 Heating and Ventilating Craftsperson Qualification (Industrial and Commercial)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Plastering (Construction)
Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Stonemasonry (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Testing, Inspecting and thorough Examination Occupations (Construction) - Testing, Inspecting and thorough Examination of Plant, Machinery, Equipment or Accessories
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Testing, Inspecting and thorough Examination Occupations (Construction) - Leak Detection in Waterproof Systems
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Testing, Inspecting and thorough Examination Occupations (Construction) - Installing Construction Anchors and Site Testing of Construction Fixings
Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Steelfixing
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction)
Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Land Drilling
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Site Inspection
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Plastering (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Testing, Inspecting and thorough Examination Occupations (Construction) - Dynamic Pile Testing
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wall And Floor Tiling (Construction)
Level 3 Diploma in Bricklaying (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Insulation and Building Treatments (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Decorative Finishing – Painting and Decorating (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Cladding Occupations (Construction)
Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
Level 3 Diploma in Civil Engineering
NCC Education
Level 3 Diploma in Computing
NCFE
Level 3 Applied General Certificate for Early Years, Childcare and Education
Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator)
Level 3 Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy - Birth to Seven (Early Years Educator)
Level 3 Applied General Award for Early Years, Childcare and Education
Level 3 Award for Special Educational Needs Coordinators in Early Years Settings
Level 3 Award in Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare
Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (England)
Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education
Level 3 Certificate in Childcare and Education
Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)
Level 3 Certificate in Data
Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning
Level 3 Award in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
Level 3 Applied General Award in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Applied General Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing
Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration
Technical Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator)
Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
Technical Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)
Technical Level 3 Certificate in Childcare and Education
Technical Level 3 Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Diploma in Skills for Business: Customer Service
OCR
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in IT
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in IT
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Engineering Principles
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Engineering
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma in Engineering
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Applied Science
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma in Applied Science
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Applied Science
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Applied Science
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT
Level 3 Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma in IT
Level 3 Diploma in Administration (Business Professional)
Open Awards
Level 3 Certificate in Mentoring Children and Young People
Level 3 Diploma in the Principles of Aseptic Pharmaceuticals Processing
Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians
Open College Network London (OCN London)
Level 3 Certificate in Neuro Linguistic Programming
Level 3 Award in Supporting Children and Young People's Speech, Language and Communication
Level 3 Award in Digital Skills: Teaching and Learning
Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI)
Level 3 Award in Digital Construction with Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Level 3 Award in 3D Modelling for Architecture
Level 3 Certificate in Digital Construction with Building Information Modelling
Level 3 Diploma in Digital Construction with Building Information Modelling
Level 3 Award in Digital Skills for Educators
Level 3 Certificate in Digital Skills for Educators
Level 3 Certificate in Community Health Facilitation
Level 3 Award In Business Development Skills
Pearson/Edexcel
BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Computing
BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Information Technology
BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Computing
BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Information Technology
BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Health and Social Care
BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care
BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Applied Science
BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Applied Science
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Civil Engineering
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Building Services Engineering
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Building Services Engineering
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Children's Play, Learning and Development
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in ICT Systems and Principles
BTEC Level 3 Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Computing
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Diploma in Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)
BTEC Level 3 Award in Networking and Architecture
BTEC Level 3 Award in Business Processes
BTEC Level 3 Award in Cloud Services
BTEC Level 3 Award in Coding and Logic
BTEC Level 3 Award in Mobile and Operating Systems
BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Programming
BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Software Development Contexts and Methodologies
BTEC Level 3 Award in Principles of Coding
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Engineering
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Knowledge
BTEC Level 3 Foundation Award in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Technical Knowledge)
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Composites Engineering (Knowledge)
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Applied Human Biology
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Dental Technology
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Human Biology
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport, Fitness and Personal Training
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in IT
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business Information Systems
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Computer Science
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Computer Systems and Network Support
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Computing for Creative Industries
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Computer Engineering
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Machining (Development Knowledge)
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (England)
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production
BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Music Technology
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Music Technology
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment
BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Civil Engineering
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment
BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)
A host of BTECs are among the courses being defunded | (Photo: Adobe Stock)
ProQual
Level 3 Diploma in Steel Erecting
Level 3 Diploma in the Installation of Pipework Components in Construction
Level 3 Diploma in Moving Loads in Construction
Level 3 Diploma in Welding Construction Pipework
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Testing, Inspecting and thorough Examination Occupations (Construction)
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Construction Plant or Machinery Maintenance (Construction)
Level 3 Certificate in Design, Engineer, Construct! The Digital Built Environment
Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator)
Level 3 Award in Understanding Language Development
Level 3 Diploma in Engineering
Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support Work
Transcend Awards
Level 3 Certificate for Teaching Assistants Specialising in Physical Education
VTCT/Skillsfirst
Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (Early Years Educator)
Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy
Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Massage
Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
Level 3 Combined Diploma in Personal Training
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Gym Based Exercise)
Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
WJEC/Equdas
Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice
Level 3 Applied Certificate in Medical Science
Level 3 Applied Certificate in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Applied Diploma in Health and Social Care
Level 3 Applied Diploma in Medical Science
YMCA Awards
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner)
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) in Indoor and Outdoor Environments (603/3505/1)
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner), Outdoor Exercise and Sports Conditioning
Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training (Practitioner)
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Gym-Based Exercise)
What do you think about the shift from BTECs and vocational qualifications to T Levels - will it streamline the process, or are choices for students being lost? Have your say and make your voice heard by leaving a comment below.
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