International Vocational Qualifications Bulletin May 2026
Welcome to the May edition of your International VQ Bulletin: your quarterly update to help you feel confident and supported in delivering vocational qualifications worldwide.
In this issue
- Guidance for centres in the Middle East
- Quality assurance and assessment updates
- Training and events for exams staff
- New BTEC International L3 qualifications coming in September
- Sample marked learner work
- Professional development opportunities
- Qualifications news
If any of your colleagues would like to receive this directly, they can sign up for future editions.
We’re keeping in regular contact with all centres experiencing disruption due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
If you’re worried about delivering certain units, particularly those with practical work, then please get in touch with us via the Pearson support portal as soon as possible. We will work with you to arrange the best solution for your circumstances.
Meanwhile, if we have any concerns about your learners certificating this summer, we’ll get in touch with you directly.
International standards verification for 2025–26 is now well underway.
If you need to check your ISV allocation, you can in a few simple steps. Once you’re logged into Edexcel Online:
- Select 'BTEC & Functional Skills' from the qualification drop-down.
- Go to 'Quality Assurance' → 'External Verification' → 'International Allocations'.
You’ll see which programmes have been allocated to an ISV and which are still waiting for allocation.
What should happen before sampling?
Your allocated ISV will contact you and together, you’ll:
- confirm whether verification will take place remotely or in person
- agree a sampling date that works for you
- review any action points from your previous visit
- confirm the programmes allocated and whether certification can be released.
For more information you can explore our quality assurance handbook, forms and guides.
To make sure everything runs seamlessly for your learners, take a moment to double‑check that all registrations are correct and learner details are accurate. If something needs updating, don’t wait, as quick action now prevents delays later.
Here's what to do
Transfers: move learners to the right programme or centre before certification to keep progress on track. Read more about making transfers.
Withdrawals and deletions: remove learners who won’t continue. Remember: deletions within 90 days (or 49 days for Higher Nationals) qualify for a refund if no units have been claimed.
Throughout 2025/26, you’ll have access to a series of live online events and on-demand training designed especially for exams officers and new staff.
All our training sessions are hosted on the Development Hub, your dedicated space for exams officer and admin training.
Coming up:
Making claims and eligibility/results
Wednesday 24 June, 9:00–10:00 a.m. BST
Book your place | Making claims and eligibility/results
Event recordings to catch up on:
- Intro to BTEC 2025/26
- Registrations and amendments
- Pearson Progress
- Introduction to Pearson Progress
You can book your place at upcoming events and watch recordings of past events on our international exams officer training page.
You’ll have a new range of BTEC International Level 3 qualifications available to offer your students from September 2026.
- Green Energy
- Artificial Intelligence
- Sport
- Health and Social Care
These new qualifications will have flexible sizes (from 3-unit Certificate to 2-year Extended Diploma), making them easy to fit alongside wider study programmes, while trusted BTEC assessment supports accessible delivery without the constraints of high-stakes exams.
With a global offer and delivery supported via Pearson Progress, you’ll be able to confidently add these qualifications to modern, internationally relevant curriculums. Learners can progress to higher study, such as Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals, or go straight into their careers.
We’ll keep you updated with more news, specifications and support materials as they become available.
Sample marked learner work is now available for BTEC International Level 2 and 3 qualifications in:
- Art and Design
- Business
- Engineering
- Hospitality
- Information Technology
- Land-Based Studies
- Perfoming Arts
Sample marked learner work provides examples of student work at different grades that has been completed, marked and annotated to show how BTEC assessment criteria are applied in practice.
Visit the relevant subjects on our BTEC International Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications pages to access and download the materials.
Our collaboration with Liverpool Football Club on units for our BTEC International Level 3 qualifications in Sport comes to an end this year.
This means that, from 1 September 2026, you won’t be able to deliver the units developed in partnership with Liverpool Football Club.
Read our full message to centres to see what this means for you.
The current BTEC International Level 3 in Esports (2020) qualification will expire on 31 August 2026. This means that, from 1 September 2026, you won’t be able to register any new learners onto this programme.
What's available?
While we're withdrawing the BTEC International qualification, the UK regulated version of the BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Esports qualification will be available to you from 1 September 2026. If you're approved to deliver the current qualification, you'll receive automatic approval to deliver the BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Esports qualification.
Visit the BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Esports page to view the teaching specification and available resources.
Public online programmes for 2026
We have a full programme of public online training to support your effective BTEC delivery from Level 1 through to Level 7.
The calendar for the second half of 2026 is now available. All programmes scheduled from July to December 2026 will be open for booking by the end of May 2026. Please continue to check regularly, as we’re adding new programmes every day.
Explore our training and book your place
Inset day training
We can now offer inset day training tailored specifically to the needs of your centre.
Inset days can be designed to focus on:
- BTEC‑specific delivery and quality assurance
- Applied teaching and learning practice
Delivery can be online or face‑to‑face, depending on your requirements.
If you’d like to know more and discuss your centre’s needs, share some details with us and we’ll get in touch.
Register your interest in inset day training
New for 2026: IV Assessor Programme (Higher Nationals)
Newly developed for 2026, the IV Assessor Programme for Higher National (HN) delivery teams is a live, three‑day programme delivered globally. It complements the existing IV Assessor Programme for teams delivering BTEC Levels 1–3.
Both programmes are available to book now.
Want your education and training programmes to stand out with global recognition and trusted quality? Assured by Pearson is your gateway to credibility.
Our service provides independent validation of your training delivery against Pearson’s internationally benchmarked standards. Whether you’re a school, college, employer, or private provider, Assured by Pearson helps you differentiate in a competitive market and build learner confidence.
Why choose Assured by Pearson?
- Gain international endorsement for your programmes
- Demonstrate quality and consistency to learners and stakeholders
- Enhance your reputation with Pearson’s trusted assurance
Ready to elevate your programmes?
Whether you need to upskill early-career or new teachers, or want to challenge your most experienced educators, our applied teaching qualifications fit perfectly.
Your can now offer the BTEC International Level 5 Professional Diploma and Level 7 Professional Qualifications in Applied Teaching and Education (SRF). This is an opportunity to play a vital role in improving technical and vocational education in your own institution and beyond.
Centres offering these qualifications are fully supported, particularly through our accompanying Train the Trainer CPD programme, designed to ensure your training has the maximum positive impact on participating educators.
Discover these qualifications in our new brochure:
Custom designed BTEC qualifications provide an opportunity for existing centres, employers and educational institutions to design a specific BTEC qualification that is not met by our off the shelf provision, across all academic levels.
Ready to launch:
- BTEC Higher Nationals in Early Childhood Education and Care (SRF)
- BTEC Level 6 Diploma in Digital Technologies (SRF) (designed to provide a top-up to the BTEC Higher Nationals in Digital Technologies)
- BTEC Level 3 International Foundation Programme for Higher Education in Business (SRF) (precursor to the BTEC Higher Nationals in Business)
- BTEC Level 3 International Foundation Programme for Higher Education in Computing Technology (precursor to the BTEC Higher National in Digital Technology)
- BTEC Level 3 International Foundation Programme for Higher Education in Manufacturing (precursor to the BTEC Higher National Certificate in Manufacturing Operations), available for delivery outside of the Middle East.
Contact Marianne.Henden@pearson.com to find out more.