Post-16 vocational qualifications are available from Level 1 to Level 6 for learners over the age of 16.
This page explains how these qualifications work in Wales.
Post-16 vocational qualifications cover a range of levels, sizes and subjects to suit a variety of learners and sector needs.
Unlike AS and A levels, these qualifications have different titles that reflect their size, including:
They may be taken by learners who have just left school and want to take vocational qualifications instead of or alongside AS and A levels. They may also be taken by people who are already in work and are looking to develop their skills or achieve certain certification to help them progress in their career.
Vocational qualifications are practical in nature and are a great way to open up pathways into further education, university or other higher education, apprenticeships or to head straight into the world of work.
Some post-16 vocational qualifications focus on theory and the application of knowledge in practical contexts. These qualifications are mainly taught in schools and colleges and may be taken alongside AS and A levels.
Other post-16 vocational qualifications are designed to reflect employer needs and focus on developing practical skills. They cover a wide range of sectors and levels to develop occupationally relevant knowledge, practical abilities and industry-recognised competence. They may form part of an apprenticeship or be taken independently. These qualifications are mainly offered by work-based learning providers and colleges.
There are hundreds of different vocational subjects available to post-16 learners.
Subjects cover everything from IT skills, accounting and logistics to architectural joinery, barbering and children’s care, play, learning and development.
Some of the most popular subjects taken by learners in Wales include:
Post-16 vocation qualifications are divided into what’s know as approved and designated qualifications. You can find out more about what these terms mean in our Designation Handbook.
Grading structures vary from qualification to qualification, but the majority will be graded in one of the following ways:
Schools, colleges and work-based learning providers can find details of all the available post-16 vocational qualifications, including the qualification titles, numbers, and start and end dates, on our Qualifications in Wales (QiW) database.
Due to the huge variety of different post-16 vocational qualifications available, there are no fixed prior learning requirements.
The majority of learners will have previously completed a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification, such as a GCSE or equivalent, and will be expected to have achieved a C or above in GCSE Cymraeg or English and mathematics.
For some post-16 vocational qualifications, especially for those developing occupational competence, learners may be expected to progress through the various levels available within the particular subject. For example, you may not be able to take a Level 3 qualification unless you have completed the Level 2 equivalent.
After completing post-16 vocational study, those who are not already in work have a number of pathways to choose from, including:
As a regulator, we must ensure that the qualifications awarded by recognised awarding bodies meet our expectations for rigour and value.
In order to do this, we set certain criteria that these qualifications must meet and regularly review this criteria on a sector by sector basis.
