Endorsed Courses
Endorsed courses offer a flexible alternative to regulated qualifications. They allow centres to develop bespoke training solutions that meet their learners' specific needs while retaining the quality assurance of a TQUK stamp of approval.
Unlike regulated qualifications, these courses are not on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), giving you the freedom to design content that is relevant and responsive to your needs.
Understanding the course types
Our endorsed provision is divided into two distinct categories, each designed for a specific type of learner and outcome:
- Certified Learning Courses (CLCs): These represent our highest quality standard and are designed for specialist learning programmes. A CLC requires a minimum of 21 learning hours and must include rigorous assessment methods, such as a mix of formative, summative, and holistic assessments.
- Professional Development Learning Courses (PDLCs): These courses focus on enhancing professional skills within the workplace, such as team building or understanding internal systems. There is no maximum hour limit, but learners must complete the course within one year. Assessment focuses on the practical demonstration of skills.
Advertising and compliance
Endorsed courses are not regulated by Ofqual, so there are strict guidelines on how they must be advertised to ensure learners are not misled.
You must not use terms like ‘regulated’ or ‘nationally recognised’, nor should you imply that the course is equivalent to a regulated qualification. Additionally, the TQUK logo and name must only be used in a specific relation to our endorsement of the course, rather than appearing as part of the course title itself.
You must clearly state that a course is an "endorsed course" in all marketing materials. You strictly cannot claim that an endorsed course meets industry standards for employment unless specifically verified.
Fees
We operate a transparent fee structure to help you plan your provision. The centre recognition fee is £1,500, which covers the application for your first two endorsed courses. To see more fees on certification and further course approvals, please visit our Endorsed Courses page.
Quality assurance
To maintain high standards, we conduct regular reviews. CLCs are reviewed annually to scrutinise assessment samples and lesson plans, while PDLCs undergo a review every two years.
Next steps for your centre
If you are ready to expand your offering, you can review the specific titling conventions for each course type in our guide or contact our support team to begin your application.