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Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are level 4 and level 5 qualifications, such as Foundation Degrees, Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas. They are an option for young people starting their career and for adults looking to upskill or retrain.

HTQs have been approved against employer developed standards, also known as occupational standards. This ensures that learners gain the skills that employers want, and employers can be confident that learners have the knowledge, skills and behaviours for a particular specialist role. 

The qualifications last between 1 and 2 years full-time, with part-time and distance learning options available.

HTQs are available across the digital sector, health and science, and construction.

To become an HTQ and display the HTQ quality mark, qualifications must be approved against occupational standards. The Quality Mark was introduced because of the growing demand for skills at these levels.

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Contents

Benefits for your business

You can offer a HTQ to your existing employees or hire skilled individuals that already have HTQs.  

This can: 

  • support your employees to retrain, improve their existing skills and learn new skills
  • create an environment that promotes learning and development  
  • make your business more competitive and address skills shortages

Higher Technical Qualifications video

This video is 2 minutes long

Video Transcript

Say hello to Higher Technical Qualifications. These are Level 4 and 5 qualifications such as HNDs and foundation degrees that sit between A and T-Levels and degrees. This have been independently approved against the knowledge and skills that employers say they need. Higher Technical Qualifications or HTQs can lead to high skilled, highly paid jobs in a wide range of sectors. Giving you a step up in your chosen career or further study, or a trusted route to help your workforce get the skills they need. The first Higher Technical Qualifications in digital qualifications, taught from 2022, cover jobs like network engineer, software developer and data analyst.

2023's new HTQs cover health and science and construction, covering jobs such as nursing associates, sports coach, construction site supervisor or quantity surveyor. The full rollouts of all occupations will be complete in 2025.

HTQs are being taught in further education colleges, universities, institutes of technology and independent training providers across the country. Giving learners choice and flexibility in how and where they study.

We want higher technical education to be a prestigious and popular choice to get ahead and HTQs will be a high quality option alongside apprenticeships and degrees. With HTQs learners and employers can have confidence in courses that provide the skills they need to succeed. Look out for the approved qualifications quality mark logo and ask your local college or training provider about Higher Technical Qualifications.

Find out more at these websites:

Cost

The cost of a HTQ is dependent on the course and provider. 

HTQs are eligible for the same student finance offer as a degree. Full or part-time students on a HTQ course that lasts a year or longer can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans. 

You can choose to pay for HTQs for your current employees. 

Your responsibilities

Most HTQs do not require a work placement except when this is mandated by the professional and statutory regulatory requirements. However, many HTQs involve an employer-based project.

Case studies

Find out how other businesses are using HTQs:

Seymour Mincer, General Manager at Fulcro

This video is 30 seconds long

Video Transcript

My name is Seymour Mincer and Fulcro is a business in the construction industry.

We’ve got students with us on technical qualifications who may well progress to Higher Technical Qualifications. Higher Technical Qualifications are a great opportunity to grow people’s vocational skills. When you get new people into the business, it sparks others. It’s  like a domino effect and everybody benefits.

Find out more

If you are interested in Higher Technical Qualifications, contact providers for more information. 

View a list of HTQ providers and the courses they offer.

See the full list of the available and upcoming subjects for HTQs.

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