Introducing V Levels
Occupational Certificates and Foundation Certificates
The new standard in vocational assessment
AQA will be developing and delivering all the new 16–19 qualifications being introduced as part of the post-16 reforms in England. This includes new V Level qualifications, Occupational Certificates and Foundation Certificates. The intentions of these qualifications are to make post-16 routes clearer, improve quality and better reflect what employers need. This will mean that, whatever their ambitions, learners will have a clearer set of choices available to them as they decide what to do next. While these qualifications are predominantly intended for learners aged 16–19, the DfE have confirmed adults will be able to take them too.
The first subjects for all three of these new qualifications will be available to learners from September 2027. They include Accounting and Finance, Digital Systems and Data, Catering and Hospitality, and Education and Early Years. Further subjects will be introduced in stages from 2028.
What are V Levels?
V Levels will be a high-quality vocational alternative to A-levels. They’re intended for learners who prefer applied learning but are not ready to focus their studies on a single occupation.
V Levels will:
- simplify a complex vocational landscape
- give learners flexibility to combine academic and vocational study
- make future pathways clearer for learners, including progression to higher education or training, apprenticeships or skilled employment
- be the same size as one A-level
- replace current vocational qualifications like BTECs.
How are V Levels different from existing qualifications?
While A-levels are academic and classroom based, V Levels are vocational qualifications and are more applied. They might include practical tasks, projects, workplace experience or assessments based on real-world scenarios.
Unlike T Levels, V Levels don’t focus on a single occupation and don’t require long industry placements. They allow learners to combine vocational and academic study to keep their options open for whatever they want to do next. Learners might choose to do only V Levels, or a mix of V Levels and A-levels.
What are Occupational Certificates?
Occupational Certificates will be two-year, Level 2 qualifications, designed for learners who want to prepare for a particular occupation and progress into skilled employment or an apprenticeship. They will be taken as part of an ‘occupational pathway’ which will also include employability, enrichment and pastoral support – for example, teamwork and communication skills – to help learners prepare for adult life, in society and the workplace.
What are Foundation Certificates?
Foundation Certificates will be one-year, Level 2 qualifications, designed for learners who want to pursue further study at Level 3 (including V Levels, A-levels or T Levels) but are not yet ready for a Level 3 course. They will be taken as part of a ‘further study pathway’ which will also include employability, enrichment and pastoral support.
Which subjects are available when?
The new qualifications will be available in four phases, starting in September 2027.
- Phase 2 - September 2028
- Phase 3 - September 2029
- Phase 4 - September 2030
Note: The information in this table, particularly for phases 3 and 4, is indicative.
See the Department for Education Post-16 pathways: implementation plan for further information.
Why choose AQA?
AQA is the UK’s largest exam board and an education charity with over 120 years of experience in designing and delivering high-quality assessments. Our V Levels will be developed in collaboration with Training Qualifications UK (TQUK), part of the AQA Group, ensuring strong links to technical and vocational education, and close engagement with colleges and other vocational providers.
The AQA Group stands ready to work with colleges and other post-16 providers to bring these new qualifications to life, making sure they are engaging, rigorous, accessible and meet the needs of learners and employers. We recognise the challenges that providers will face over the coming years. We want to support providers working with us to make the shift to the new qualifications as straightforward as possible, so providers can focus on teaching, engaging and advising their learners to make the most of the new opportunities.
120+ years
of history as an independent, non-profit charity
1M+ learners
Certified globally since 2013
4.2M+ certificates
Issued each year for GCSEs, A-levels and related awards
240+
Level 1–6 qualifications across 30+ sectors
What happens next?
What happens next?
The Department for Education has just finished consulting on the subject content for the first phase of the new vocational qualifications and will be confirming the details soon.
If you have any questions, or want to find out more, please email us on vlevels@aqa.org.uk
These qualifications will draw on the best of AQA Group – the assessment expertise and resources of AQA and the dynamic and responsive vocational knowledge of TQUK. AQA’s commitment to quality is absolute: we want our V Levels and Level 2 Certificates to be the best available, and we invite colleges, other providers and employers to work with us to help make sure that we collectively seize the great opportunity ahead.”
Colin Hughes - Chief Executive Officer AQA