Recognition of qualifications, apprenticeships, training and professional development programmes helps to ensure that engineering education is robust, attractive, and meets the standards established by the engineering profession.
Ongoing reforms to the education and training landscape are leading to significant growth in apprenticeships and other work-based programmes, with industry and employers taking a more active role in shaping provision.
The Approval and Accreditation of Qualifications and Apprenticeships (AAQA) Standard sets out how licensed professional engineering institutions recognise learning programmes that meet the outcomes required for the formation of competent, committed engineering professionals.
Further education providers and employers ›
Information to help you get training programmes recognised and ensure your training offer is competitive, relevant and meets profession-wide standards
Further education students and apprentices ›
Get a head start by choosing an approved training programme and connecting with a professional engineering institution, right from the start.
Search for your course here ›
Search our database if your course opens up the start of your exciting journey to professional registration.
What is the focus of the approval process?
The focus is on outcomes rather than inputs. Focusing on outcomes means that a range of diverse and innovative provision can be approved, while still meeting the requirements for knowledge, understanding and skills that tomorrow’s engineers and technicians will need.
The approval process looks at the overall design, coverage and assessment strategy and seeks evidence that satisfactory quality assurance arrangements are in place. This is central to ensuring that qualifications and apprenticeships meet the needs of individuals, their employers and society.
Why is approval important?
Approval is a mark of assurance that the standards set by the engineering profession are being met. It provides clear and transparent evidence to government, funders, aspiring technicians and engineers, and others of real engagement with the engineering profession.
Why approval is important to education and apprenticeship providers:
It offers a structured way to assess, evaluate and improve the quality of their provision
It provides the opportunity for ongoing communication between providers and the profession
The qualification or apprenticeship programme will count towards professional registration, attracting prospective students and employers
Approval is accepted as a rigorous process by several international accords, allowing international recognition of approved qualifications.
Why approval is important to individuals:
By choosing an ‘approved’ qualification or apprenticeship, individuals are on a structured pathway to professional registration as an EngTech, ICTTech or IEng
Having completed an approved qualification or apprenticeship, application for registration is more straightforward.
Which programmes and qualifications are eligible for approval?
Qualifications or apprenticeships may focus on education (i.e. the underpinning knowledge and understanding) or the development of competence to meet the requirements for professional registration as EngTech, ICTTech or IEng, or on both education and competence.
The level of output required for approval
To be approved, a technician related qualification or apprenticeship must meet or exceed one or more of the following:
- Level 3 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) or the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) in England and Northern Ireland
- Level 6 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
- Level 3 of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales.
- For IEng, to meet the requirements in full, the level of underpinning knowledge and understanding is higher (level 6 RQF or level 9 in Scotland).
Where to find the list of approved qualifications and apprenticeships
These are listed on the Engineering Council’s public searchable Recognised course search.
Providers might also display the Engineering Council Approved Qualification or Approved Apprenticeship logo, so look out for this mark of quality.
The first edition of the Approval and Accreditation of Qualifications and Apprenticeships (AAQA) Standard was published on 31 August 2020 with learning outcomes implemented by 31 August 2024.
The AAQA Standard replaces the previous Approval of Qualifications and Apprenticeships Handbook (AQAH). The scope of this Standard is broader than AQAH to enable approval and accreditation of a wider variety of programmes, including those designed to develop engineering competence.
Licensed PEIs with access to our Partner Portal can download Word versions of the Submission Form Templates and the Output Standards and Competence Matrices.
Technician Registration Initiatives
A range of technician registration initiatives has therefore emerged in recent years, to tackle the national shortage of professionally registered technicians with the title Engineering Technician (EngTech) or Information and Communications Technology Technician (ICTTech).
The Engineering Council is working on many of these initiatives with partners, including government and charity funded campaigns, professional engineering institutions, employers, Awarding Organisations and other relevant organisations and societies.
AAQA Toolkit
An AAQA Toolkit has been published to assist all users of AAQA, see the link under useful documents for the Toolkit document and the AAQA Quick Guide and FAQs.
Please note that submission documents have been published which Licensed PEIs may wish to adapt (even if just to add their logo) before issuing the awarding organisations or providers seeking programme recognition.