Pearson BTEC National Tech levels (reformed)
The QIP covers all Pearson BTEC National Tech level qualifications that meet the full requirements set by the Department for Education (DfE) and contribute towards performance measures from 2018.
Wales (Wales now has a separate approval process and so it may be that not all BTEC Nationals are approved for use in Wales)
The Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals are vocational qualifications designed to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding in a subject area as preparation for employment, higher education, a higher apprenticeship or other training.
Tech levels and Applied Generals, whilst both being vocational qualifications, differ in size and purpose. Pearson BTEC National Tech levels range from 180-1,080 GLH, are aimed at students with an interest in a particular industry or occupation, and help provide entry into employment, onto an apprenticeship, or into higher education in a related vocational area. Applied Generals are for students who want to continue their education through applied learning, include a higher proportion of external assessment and may help students enter to a range of higher education courses.
Pearson (Edexcel)
603/0872/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Agriculture (360 GLH))
601/7524/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Animal Management (360 GLH))
603/0862/X (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment (360 GLH))
603/1911/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Digital Content Production (360 GLH))
603/1910/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Digital Film and Video Production (360 GLH))
603/1912/4 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Digital Games Production (360 GLH))
603/1232/4 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Digital Music Production (360 GLH))
601/9064/4 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Equine Management (360 GLH))
603/1214/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Horticulture (360 GLH))
603/1233/6 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sound Engineering (360 GLH))
601/7525/4 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Animal Management (540 GLH))
601/7570/9 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development (540 GLH))
603/0863/1 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (540 GLH))
601/9066/8 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Equine Management (540 GLH))
603/1904/5 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (540 GLH))
603/1215/4 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Horticulture (540 GLH))
603/0211/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Music Technology (540 GLH))
601/7224/1 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in 3D Design and Crafts (720 GLH))
601/7577/1 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering (720 GLH))
601/7523/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Animal Management (720 GLH))
603/1218/X (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Building Services Engineering (720 GLH))
601/7337/3 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business Information Systems (720 GLH))
601/7571/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) (720 GLH))
603/1217/8 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Civil Engineering (720 GLH))
601/7578/3 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Computer Engineering (720 GLH))
601/7338/5 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Computer Science (720 GLH))
601/7339/7 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Computer Systems and Network Support (720 GLH))
601/7340/3 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Computing for Creative Industries (720 GLH))
603/0864/3 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (720 GLH))
603/1213/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Countryside Management (720 GLH))
601/7473/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Digital Games Design and Development (720 GLH))
601/7472/9 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Digital Publishing (720 GLH))
601/7579/5 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (720 GLH))
601/7580/1 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Engineering (720 GLH))
601/9062/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Equine Management (Equitation) (720 GLH))
601/9056/5 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Equine Management (Yard Management) (720 GLH))
601/7225/3 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Fashion Design and Production (720 GLH))
601/7470/5 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Film and Television Production (720 GLH))
601/7471/7 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Film and Television Visual Effects (720 GLH))
601/7215/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Fitness Services (720 GLH))
601/7226/5 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Graphics (720 GLH))
603/2675/X (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Horticulture (720 GLH))
601/7582/5 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (720 GLH))
601/7583/7 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (720 GLH))
601/7350/6 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Music Technology (720 GLH))
601/7227/7 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Photography (720 GLH))
601/7474/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sound Production (720 GLH))
601/7585/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering (1080 GLH))
603/2676/1 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Agriculture (1080 GLH))
603/3043/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Animal Management (1080 GLH))
601/7527/8 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Animal Management with Science (1080 GLH))
603/1219/1 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Building Services Engineering (1080 GLH))
601/7572/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) (1080 GLH))
603/1216/6 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Civil Engineering (1080 GLH))
601/7586/2 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Computer Engineering (1080 GLH))
603/0861/8 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (1080 GLH))
603/2677/3 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Countryside Management (1080 GLH))
601/7587/4 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (1080 GLH))
601/7588/6 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Engineering (1080 GLH))
601/9059/0 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Equine Management (1080 GLH))
603/2679/7 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Horticulture (1080 GLH))
601/7589/8 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (1080 GLH))
601/7590/4 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (1080 GLH))
601/7351/8 (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Music Technology (1080 GLH))
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals are a family of unit-based qualifications in a range of subjects. There are five different sizes of BTEC National qualification:
Extended Certificate
Foundation Diploma
Extended Diploma
The specifications are modular in structure and are made up of a series of units, categorised by their guided learning hours (GLH).
For more detailed information on the units/structure of a Pearson BTEC National, you should review the specification of the individual qualification you are interested in on the Pearson website.
Visit the Pearson website
Agriculture and land use
Childcare and development
Countryside management
Creative media production
Forestry and arboriculture
Art & design includes: photography, graphics, 3D design & crafts, fashion design & production (all in the same suite as the Applied General art & design qualifications)
Computing includes: computing for creative industries, computer science, computer systems & network support, business information systems (all in the same suite as the Applied General computing qualifications)
Construction & the built environment includes: building services engineering, civil engineering
Creative digital media production includes: film & television production, film & television visual effects; sound production; interactive publishing, digital games design & development (all in the same suite as the Applied General creative digital media production qualifications)
Engineering includes: aeronautical engineering; computer engineering, electrical & electronic engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering (all in the same suite as the Applied General and Tech Level engineering qualifications)
Music technology includes: digital music production, sound engineering
Sport includes: fitness services (in the same suite as the Applied General sport qualifications)
Internally assessed units are graded Pass (P), Merit (M), and Distinction (D).
Externally assessed units are graded Near Pass (N), Pass (P), Merit (M), and Distinction (D).
The grades for each unit are allocated points, which are proportionate to the size of the unit. The unit grades achieved by a student are converted into points and added together to determine the final overarching qualification grade.
Extended Certificate: P, M, D, D*
Foundation Diploma: P, M, D, D*
For BTEC Nationals, units are designated as internally, externally or synoptically assessed. Internally assessed units are 60–90 GLH and externally assessed units are 90-120 GLH.
All sizes of the BTEC Nationals include synoptic assessment in the mandatory core, allowing students to draw together skills, knowledge, and understanding from across the qualification. Specific units are identified as synoptic.
Externally-assessed units are set and marked by Pearson, and at least a part of the assessment is carried out under supervised conditions.
External assessments may include:
written exams
tasks involving an additional activity (e.g. research or an investigation) prior to the supervised part of the assessment
tasks carried out under supervision over a number of sessions (students have no access to their materials between sessions)
Internally-assessed units are assessed by teachers. They are contextualised using realistic, work-related scenarios, and may be provided by local employers. These units usually involve assignments, but may be exams. They may be in the form of:
written reports/business proposals,
solving and explaining a mathematical problem
reporting on the findings of a practical investigation
Each unit in a qualification has specified assessment and grading criteria. Assessment and grading are subject to external verification.
For more detailed assessment information, you should review the specification of the individual qualification you are interested in on the Pearson website.
All BTEC National Tech Level qualifications have a minimum of 33% external assessment.
To achieve a Pass on a BTEC National qualification, students must achieve:
the points threshold for the Pass grade for the specific size of qualification
at least an N grade on all externally assessed units
at least a Pass grade on all of the internally assessed mandatory units
For specific grade ranges and unit information, you should review the specification of the individual qualification you are interested in on the Pearson website.
Externally assessed units
Students are allowed two resit opportunities
Internally assessed units
Only one resubmission of an assignment is allowed for internally assessed units. This must be done in the same academic year, within 15 working days of the student receiving the initial result.
Students who have failed their resubmission may retake the assessment by doing a different assignment, but achievement on this retake is capped at Pass grade only.
Extended Certificate: 360 hours
Foundation Diploma: 510 hours
The Foundation Diploma is either 510 or 540 GLH, depending on the subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
The assessment contains external assessments. These are available twice a year, in December/January and May/June. Most students will be taking at least one external assessment in the summer series of the second year of their programme. Therefore, HE providers will receive the vast majority of results for students taking these BTEC Nationals in August, at around the same time as they receive A level results.
Starting from 01 Sep 2016
These are current qualifications.
The results of BTEC National qualifications are reported to UCAS through Awarding Body Linkage (ABL).
Find out more about this qualification.