Direct Claim Status FAQs

Direct Claim Status (DCS) allows centres to claim certificates for learners without prior EQA sign-off. For details on how it is awarded, eligibility, and transferring DCS from another awarding organisation, see our DCS page. 

No – a list of qualifications that are not eligible for DCS can be found on the DCS page.  

DCS is awarded per qualification. The number of learners sampled depends on whether you are applying for DCS in one EQA review, over two EQA reviews, or maintaining DCS. 

Achieving DCS 

To achieve DCS after one EQA review, your report must: 

• be graded 1 exclusively for all criteria 

• have no outstanding actions from previous EQA review report 

• include at least three learner portfolios sampled (two must be completed and marked as ‘final’, others may be ‘new’ or ‘mid’ status  

• all learners must be graded A for reliability of assessment. 

Achieving DCS after 2 EQA reviews 

To achieve DCS after 2 EQA reviews, your centre must have two consecutive reviews over a maximum of 18 months and your EQA report must: 

• be graded 1, 2 or 3 for all criteria (with at least one month gap between reviews) 

• have no outstanding actions from the previous report 

• include at least three learner portfolios sampled per review (minimum of three completed ‘final’ portfolios across both reviews, other learners sampled can have ‘new’ or ‘mid’ status) 

• all learners must be graded A or B for reliability of assessment.  

Maintaining DCS 

To maintain DCS, your report must:

• be graded 1, 2 or 3 for all criteria 

• have no outstanding actions from previous report 

• include at least one completed learner portfolio sampled as ‘final’, other learners sampled can have ‘new’ or ‘mid’ status 

• all leaners must be graded A or B for reliability of assessment.  

This is the first report that meets the DCS criteria under the 2 review pathway. DCS is not yet awarded, but will be if the next review also meets the criteria and takes place within 18 months of the first visit. 

‘DCS Pending’ appears on the report when most criteria have been met, but an insufficient number of final learners have been sampled. Requirements are as follows:   

• One review: At least three learners sampled, with two marked as ‘final’ 

• Two reviews: At least three learners sampled at each review, with three ‘final’ portfolios across both. 

• Maintaining DCS: At least one learner portfolio sampled and marked as ‘final’. 

No. Certificates are only automatically signed off if DCS is achieved or maintained. For any other outcome, the EQA must sign them off. You must have had a review before submitting any claims. The SLA for EQAs to sign off claims is three working days.  

Yes, DCS can be extended to lower-level nested qualifications if requested by the EQA in the report. For queries, contact [email protected].  

Yes. DCS is extended for 12 months from the date of the EQA review. If the review takes place after expiry, DCS will lapse, and you will need to work towards achieving DCS again.  

Yes. DCS may be removed if:  

• criteria are not met during an EQA review (an action plan will be set). 

• concerns are raised through complaints, investigations, or malpractice (in line with JCQ policies) 

• a qualification is no longer eligible under NCFE’s Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny (CASS) strategy.  

Meeting the minimum sample size alone is not enough. You must also meet all DCS criteria, including having the required number of completed ‘final’ portfolios. Learners marked ‘new’ or ‘mid’ count towards the sample but not towards the completed portfolio requirement. EQAs will also retrospectively sample learners previously certificated under DCS. 

DCS is awarded at account level. If one review results in loss of DCS, this applies to all registrations for that qualification across your centre’s account.  

DCS can be removed across all qualifications in a QA group, even if some qualifications were not directly sampled. This can happen when issues are identified in the overall centre quality assurance procedures. Specifically, DCS will be lost if: 

• section 2 of the report is graded as ‘some actions outstanding’ or ‘no action taken’ 
• any section of the report is grade 4 or 5 
• section 5, ‘Reliability of assessment’, is graded C or D 

This ensures that where risks are identified, they are applied consistently across the whole QA group – not just the qualifications sampled. 

We require a minimum number of learners to be sampled before DCS can be awarded. This is to ensure that quality and consistency in assessment practice can be evidenced. 

If your centre does not meet this minimum requirement, DCS can’t be awarded.  

Yes. You can request this via this webform. Transfers are subject to NCFE approval and evidence. DCS transfers will be applied for a maximum of three months, after which an NCFE review is required to maintain DCS.