International FAQs

We work with centres and partners across a range of international markets. 

You can view our current international centres and locations here. 

There are three ways to work with NCFE internationally, depending on your organisation's needs and the type of learning you want to deliver. 

Regulated qualifications: These are qualifications developed by NCFE and regulated by Ofqual. They sit on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are recognised across the UK and internationally. 

Customised qualifications: These are learning programmes developed by your organisation and independently accredited by NCFE. They allow you to create content tailored to your learners or local market while benefiting from NCFE's quality assurance and accreditation. 

AIQ International Programmes: These are ready-made programmes developed by NCFE and AIQ specifically for international delivery. Centres can deliver these programmes without creating their own content. 

Not sure which option is right for you? Our International team can help you explore the different routes and identify the best fit for your organisation and learners. You can email our International team at [email protected] or call +44 (0)191 239 8000.  

AIQ International Programmes are ready-made programmes developed and owned by NCFE and AIQ specifically for international markets. 

Approved centres can deliver these programmes without needing to create or develop their own content, making them a straightforward option for organisations looking to offer quality-assured learning internationally. 

AIQ International Programmes are not regulated by Ofqual and are not included on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. 

There are currently four AIQ International Programmes available for approved international centres. 

As with all NCFE international provision, centres must meet our approval and quality assurance requirements, as well as any relevant requirements in the country where delivery takes place. 

The best option will depend on what you're looking to achieve:

If you already have your own training programme and would like it independently recognised, a customised qualification may be the right route. 

If you'd like to deliver an existing NCFE qualification, you should explore our regulated qualifications, subject to international availability and approval requirements. 

If you're looking for a ready-made programme designed specifically for international delivery, an AIQ International Programme may be the best fit. 

If you're unsure which route is right for you, our International team can help you understand the options available and identify the most suitable approach for your organisation and learners.

Not all qualifications are available for international delivery. 

Some regulated qualifications can be delivered overseas, subject to centre approval and any relevant local regulatory or licensing requirements. If you're interested in a specific qualification, please contact our International team for guidance. 

There are different routes to becoming an NCFE international centre, depending on the type of qualification or programme you'd like to deliver: 

Customised qualifications: To find out more, complete our Customised Qualifications Enquiry Form. 

Regulated qualifications: To enquire about delivering regulated qualifications, complete our Regulated Qualifications Form. 

Whichever route you choose, we'll support you throughout the approval process and help you prepare to deliver qualifications in line with our requirements. 

You can email our International team at [email protected] or call +44 (0)191 239 8000.  

We're committed to maintaining consistent quality standards across all centres. Our international delivery requirements explain the conditions for delivering qualifications outside the UK, including qualifications with external assessment, competency-based elements and knowledge-only content. 

At present, we don't permit delivery of qualifications with external assessment by international centres, with the exception of online Functional Skills assessments. 

For UK centres wishing to offer international learners qualifications with competency-based elements or qualifications requiring face-to-face delivery or assessment, additional approval requirements apply. You must establish an in-country centre. You must also discuss your proposal with our International team before submitting an application. 

For centres wishing to offer knowledge-only qualifications through distance learning, you're permitted to deliver qualifications to learners around the world. However, we'll need to understand your delivery model and include learner cohorts within our External Quality Assurance (EQA) sampling plans. Please speak to your External Quality Assurer for further guidance. 

We take our international delivery responsibilities seriously, and these requirements help us maintain high-quality education and assessment for all learners. 

To begin the approval process: 

1. Gather your approval documents. Please refer to the documents checklist below for the evidence you'll need to submit as part of your approval review. 

2. Pay the international application fee. Payment can be made by international bank transfer or by contacting our Finance team on +44 (0)191 239 8000. 

3. Send your approval documents to [email protected]. 

What happens during the approval review? 

Once we receive your application, supporting documents and payment, we'll assign a member of our External Quality Assurance team to carry out your review. 

We'll be looking for evidence that you have appropriate: 

• management systems 

• policies and procedures 

• administrative arrangements 

• resources 

• staffing arrangements 

• assessment processes 

• internal quality assurance structures 

in place to deliver our qualifications effectively. 

Please make sure you review the approval criteria carefully and gather evidence against each requirement before your review takes place.

We'll arrange mandatory training to help assessors, tutors and internal quality assurance staff become familiar with our expectations and quality assurance requirements. 

Staff involved in delivery, assessment and quality assurance must be occupationally knowledgeable and competent in their subject area. They should have, or be working towards, a relevant degree, teaching qualification or UK assessor qualification, alongside direct industry experience. 

Examples of relevant qualifications include: 

• D32, D33 or D34 

• A1 or V1 

• AAQA Level 3 or Level 4 qualifications 

• a teaching degree. 

Assessors should also have occupational competence in their subject area, while Internal Quality Assurers should demonstrate knowledge and competence in internal quality assurance practices. 

Some NCFE qualifications can only be delivered by staff who are occupationally competent in their field. These requirements are detailed within the qualification specification for each qualification. 

To be approved, you'll need to submit the following documents: 

• complaints procedure 
• conflict of interest policy and procedure 
• CVs or résumés for relevant staff 
• equality, diversity and inclusion policy 
• health and safety policy 
• internal quality assurance strategy and process 
• learner appeals procedure 
• learner induction procedure 
• malpractice and plagiarism policy and procedure 
• proof of payment of the application fee.

Additional evidence may be requested depending on the qualifications or programmes you plan to deliver. 

International fees and pricing are available on request. 

Please email [email protected] for further information. 

International certificates should be claimed by the 10th of each month. We'll issue certificates before the 15th of each month. 

Visit our sample certificates page to view examples. 

The best place to start is by contacting our International team. 

Whether you're interested in delivering regulated qualifications, accrediting your own programme or exploring AIQ International Programmes, we'll help you understand your options and guide you through the next steps. 

Email [email protected] or call +44 (0)191 239 8000.