Finding the right qualifications provider in the UK can make a significant difference to your career, your professional development, and the value of the award you receive. With so many awarding bodies, training providers, and online learning platforms available, it is important to know what to look for and how to check that a provider and their qualifications are properly regulated and recognised.
This guide explains what a qualifications provider is, how the UK qualifications system works, how to check if a qualification is accredited and how Focus Awards delivers high-quality qualifications across a wide range of sectors.
What Is a Qualifications Provider in the UK?
In the UK, the term “qualifications provider” can refer to two different types of organisation — and understanding the difference is important.
An awarding organisation (also called an awarding body) is the body that designs, develops, and awards the qualification itself. It is regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales in Wales, or CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland. Examples of awarding organisations include Focus Awards,
A training provider (also called a centre or education provider) is the organisation that delivers the learning — the tutor-led sessions, workshops, online learning, and assessments that lead to the qualification. Training providers must be approved by an awarding body before they can deliver and certificate its qualifications.
Focus Awards is an awarding organisation — meaning we design the qualifications, set the assessment standards, and award the certificates. Our approved centres across the UK are the training providers who deliver the courses to learners.
How Are UK Qualifications Regulated?
All nationally recognised qualifications in the UK sit on a regulated framework. In England, this is the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which runs from Entry Level through to Level 8. Qualifications on the RQF are regulated by Ofqual and appear on the Register of Regulated Qualifications.
To check whether a qualification is officially regulated, you can use the Ofqual qualification checker — a free online tool that lets you search by qualification name, awarding body, or qualification number. This is one of the most reliable ways to confirm whether a course or award is genuinely accredited.
Qualifications that do not appear on the Register of Regulated Qualifications are not Ofqual-regulated. These may still have value as CPD courses or accredited CPD awards, but they are not nationally recognised qualifications in the same legal sense and cannot be treated as equivalent to RQF qualifications by employers or educational institutions.
All Focus Awards qualifications are Ofqual-regulated and listed on the Register of Regulated Qualifications. You can read more about what this means in our guide to what an Ofqual-regulated awarding body is and in our overview of regulated qualifications.
UK NARIC and the UK ENIC Qualification Check
If you are looking to check overseas qualifications against UK standards, UK NARIC — now known as UK ENIC — is the national agency responsible for providing information and guidance on international qualifications. A UK NARIC qualification check tells you how a foreign certificate or degree compares to UK qualifications, which is useful for employers, universities, and individuals who have studied abroad.
For qualifications gained within the UK through an Ofqual-regulated provider, the Ofqual qualification checker is the appropriate tool to use. For qualifications from outside the UK, use the UK ENIC service to check my qualifications free online — this service is available through the UK ENIC website.
Focus Awards qualifications are UK-based, Ofqual-regulated, and internationally recognised in a growing number of countries. They meet international standards in vocational education and are accepted by employers across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
What Types of Qualifications Does a UK Provider Offer?
A reputable qualifications provider in the UK will offer a range of qualification types at different levels. Here is a quick guide to the most common types and what they mean for learners:
| Qualification Type | What It Is |
| Award | A short qualification covering a focused area of knowledge or skill. Usually 1–12 credits on the RQF. |
| Certificate | A broader qualification than an Award. Typically 13–36 credits. Common in vocational sectors. |
| Diploma | A comprehensive qualification with substantial content. Over 37 credits. Often used for occupational competence. |
| NVQ | A work-based qualification that assesses real competence in a job role. Delivered and assessed in the workplace or a training environment. |
| CPD Award | A non-regulated or accredited CPD award used for continuing professional development. Valued by employers for staff upskilling. |
| Functional Skills | English and maths qualifications at Entry Level to Level 2, recognised as GCSE equivalents and required for many apprenticeship programmes. |
Focus Awards offers all of these qualification types across multiple sectors. Browse our full portfolio of qualifications or visit our qualifications explained page to learn more about what each type means for you as a learner or centre.
Professional Qualifications UK: What Are the Examples?
Professional qualifications in the UK are vocational or technical awards that are directly relevant to a specific job role or industry sector. They differ from academic qualifications in that they focus on practical, work-related skills and knowledge. Here are some common examples across key sectors:
- Health and Social Care: Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care, Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care, Mental Health Awareness certificates
- Sports and Fitness: Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training, Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing, Level 4 Certificate in Strength and Conditioning
- Beauty and Hair: Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy, Level 2 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing, Level 5 Diploma in Aesthetic Practice
- Teaching and Education: Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, IQA and EQA qualifications
- Business and Administration: Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration, Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership, Customer Service NVQs
- Law and Legal Services: Level 3 Award in Paralegal Practice — a practical legal qualification for those entering the legal profession
Each of these qualifications is nationally recognised, sits on the RQF, and is delivered through approved training providers across the UK.
How to Find the Right UK Qualifications Provider for Your Needs
With so many providers available — including online learning platforms, local colleges, private training centres, and specialist providers — finding the right one can feel overwhelming. Here are the key things to look for:
- Check the awarding body is Ofqual-regulated. Use the Ofqual qualification checker or the Register of Regulated Qualifications to confirm the qualification is accredited. If it does not appear, it is not a nationally recognised qualification.
- Make sure the training provider is an approved centre. Any provider delivering a Focus Awards qualification must be an approved Focus Awards centre. This ensures quality assurance standards are met and your certificate will be valid.
- Look for qualifications that meet National Occupational Standards (NOS). The best vocational and technical qualifications are built around the occupational standards for each sector. Read more in our guide to National Occupational Standards.
- Check what support is available. Good qualifications providers offer learner support, access to study materials, and clear guidance throughout the course. At Focus Awards, our approved centres have access to our virtual learning environment and our full Centre Support Hub.
- Consider online learning options. Many qualifications can now be delivered through blended or online learning. Focus Awards supports centres delivering qualifications in a range of formats — including part-time and work-based learning — to suit the needs of different learners.
Why Choose Focus Awards as Your UK Qualifications Provider?
Focus Awards is one of the UK’s leading awarding organisations for vocational education. Here is why training providers and learners choose to work with us:
- Ofqual-regulated: All our qualifications are on the Register of Regulated Qualifications and recognised in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Wide range of qualifications: From Entry Level through to Level 5, across health, sport, beauty, teaching, business, childcare, law, and more. View our full portfolio.
- Bespoke qualification development: We work with employers and providers to develop tailor-made qualifications built around specific workforce needs.
- Straightforward centre approval: Becoming an approved Focus Awards centre is a clear, supportive process. Read our guide on how to become an approved centre.
- Trusted by training providers across the UK: Read what centres say about working with us on our testimonials page.
- First past the post: Focus Awards has been recognised for excellence in the awarding sector. Read our blog on why Focus Awards is first past the post.
Whether you are a learner looking to gain a professionally recognised qualification, an employer wanting to upskill your workforce, or a training provider searching for a trusted awarding body to partner with, Focus Awards is here to help you find the right course and deliver high-quality qualifications to a national standard.
Get in touch through our contact page or explore our qualifications by sector on our qualifications overview page.
You can explore our full range of qualifications on our website at https://focusawards.org.uk/qualification/ or contact us directly at info@focusawards.org.uk or on 0333 3447 388.
