Applications for Inclusion in or Alignment with the NFQ

Applications for Inclusion in, or Alignment with, the National Framework of Qualifications

The National Qualifications Authority set out arrangements for the implementation of the Policies and Criteria for the Inclusion in, or Alignment with, the National Framework of Qualifications of the Awards of Certain Awarding Bodies in 2006. To view these policies please click here:

Policies and Criteria for Inclusion / Alignment (94 KB)

Policies and criteria for the alignment of the awards made by certain international sectoral certifying bodies in Ireland

Groups A, B, C and D – applications for inclusion in or alignment with the National Framework of Qualification

The policies identify four different groups:

Group A: Certain Irish Bodies which make awards on a statutory basis
Group B: Certain Irish Bodies which regulate professions
Group C: Certain Bodies from outside the State which make awards in Ireland
Group D: Certain international sectoral certifying bodies which issue certification in Ireland

The Authority invites applications from bodies within Groups A, C and D to have their awards included in or aligned with the Framework. To this end, the Authority has drafted application forms relevant to each Group.

Group A

The application forms for Group A comprise two forms:

Stage 1 - Application for Eligibility (Group A) (35 KB)

Stage 2 - Application to have awards included in Framework (Group A) (50 KB)

Group B

New descriptors for professional awards and a revised policy and procedures for alignment of the awards of professional bodies to the NFQ were approved by NQAI and HETAC respectively in November 2011.

The legislation for the establishment of Qualifications and Quality Assurance Ireland (QQAI -working title), which will subsume both NQAI and HETAC, continues its passage through the Oireachtas. It is not intended that these new descriptors and policy will be implemented until the new body is established. The Bill maintains the NFQ and provides for much continuity of function between the existing bodies and QQAI. The existence of an updated policy framework in this area (the Descriptors and Policy) should enable the new body to proceed with alignment at an early stage. While the timetable for adoption of the legislation is not clear it is expected that it will be enacted in 2012.

The new descriptors for professional awards and the revised policy and procedures for alignment are available here.

Group C

Important update 16 September 2011

'The recently published Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 provides for the establishment of a new single national agency, Qualifications and Quality Assurance Ireland (QQAI) replacing HETAC, FETAC, NQAI and IUQB.

In the light of the necessary preparations for the amalgamation, and to ensure quality of service to our stakeholders over the coming period, no further applications for alignment under the Group C policies and criteria will be accepted from 16th September 2011. Applications already received will be processed to completion as appropriate.

The NQAI looks forward to the amalgamation and working with our stakeholders in building on the work to date and in the performance of the functions of the new amalgamated body.'

Group C relates to international awarding bodies operating in Ireland. The application forms for Group C are subdivided:

For a body located in the UK that makes awards in Ireland, with the exception of Ofqual recognised Awarding Organisations

Stage 1 - Application for eligibility (Group C) (36 KB)

Stage 2 - Application to have awards aligned with Framework (Group C) (50 KB)

For Ofqual recognised Awarding Organisations

In March 2011, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) and the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) put in place a revised agreement for the quality assurance and alignment of the qualifications of Ofqual recognised awarding organisations, awarded to learners in the Republic of Ireland, with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The alignment process relating to the revised agreement opened on 28 March 2011. Further details are available here.

For Bodies outside Ireland and the UK

For a body located outside the State (but not in the UK) which makes awards in Ireland

Stage 1 - Application for eligibility (54 KB)

Stage 2 - Application to have awards aligned with Framework (37 KB)

Group D

In June 2010, the Authority adopted policies and criteria for the alignment of the awards of certain International Sectoral Certifying Bodies with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The policies and criteria are intended to provide the opportunity for international sectoral awards, such as those made in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector, to be aligned with the NFQ.

The policies and criteria are being tested on a pilot basis. A number of applications have been received from International Sectoral Certifying Bodies that wish to align their qualifications with the NFQ and these application are being processed. No further applications are being accepted currently.

Application forms and related information are available below

For information, the application for eligibility form for alignment under the Group D pilot project is available below.

Pilot Stage 1 – Application for eligibility (Group D)

Pilot Stage 2 – Application Form (Group D)

Pilot Stage 2 – Application Form Award Information (Group D)

NFQ Level Indicators and Major Award Type Descriptors