Overview
Active IQ is no longer an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation. Its surrender of recognition took effect on 30 October 2026, and from that date Ofqual no longer regulates Active IQ or any qualifications it may offer.
If your centre has delivered Active IQ qualifications, particularly in fitness, sport and active leisure, now is the right time to review your awarding arrangements.
Background
NCFE acquired Active IQ in 2022. Since then, Active IQ’s end-point assessment (EPA) provision, systems and staff have been progressively integrated into NCFE.
In September 2026, Active IQ notified Ofqual of its intention to surrender its recognition, and its remaining regulated qualifications have since transferred to NCFE. Prior to the surrender, Active IQ held 47 regulated qualifications and issued 9,076 certificates in the previous year.
What this means for centres and learners
Active IQ has confirmed to Ofqual that there are no outstanding issues with its regulated provision, and that the surrender and transfer arrangements have not adversely affected learners. Centres with questions about existing registrations or certificates should contact NCFE. For centres looking ahead, however, it is a natural point to consider which awarding organisation is the best long-term partner for their sport and fitness provision.
The leading awarding organisation for fitness qualifications
Ofqual’s latest published data confirms that Focus Awards issues more fitness qualification certificates than any other awarding organisation. In the 12 months to June 2026, Focus Awards issued around 41% of all such certificates issued in England and almost three times as many as the next-largest awarding organisation, Active IQ (4,350). Our fitness certificates were also up 26% on the previous 12 months (10,045).
With Active IQ’s qualifications now transferred to NCFE, it is worth noting that Focus Awards issued more fitness certificates than Active IQ and NCFE combined (12,655 compared with 7,220).
Regulated by Ofqual since 2011, Focus Awards offers more than 70 qualifications across sport, leisure and recreation, covering [e.g. fitness instructing, personal training, sports coaching and active leisure]. We are also a CIMSPA awarding organisation partner, so our qualifications align with the professional standards employers recognise.
Changing awarding organisation need not be disruptive. Our team will guide you through centre approval, map your current provision against our qualification portfolio and help get your staff and learners set up, so you can continue delivering with minimal interruption.
If you are reviewing your options following Active IQ’s exit, we would welcome a conversation about your centre’s plans.
Ready to talk? Contact our centre approvals team today
Source: Ofqual notice on Active IQ’s surrender of recognition. For the full list of recognised awarding organisations, see the Register of Regulated Qualifications.
Market share figures: Focus Awards analysis of Ofqual’s Vocational and other qualifications dataset (certificates issued in England, July 2025 to June 2026, compared with July 2024 to June 2025). “Fitness qualifications” means regulated qualifications in sector subject area 8.1 (Sport, leisure and recreation) in gym instructing, personal training, exercise and fitness, exercise referral, Pilates and yoga, excluding school-based Technical Awards. Ofqual rounds certificate counts to the nearest 5.
