BTEC Higher Nationals Building your own Licensed Higher Technical Qualifications
This page explains how Licensed Higher National partners can develop their own Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) under Trademark (TM) and/or Intellectual Property (IP) licence.
Licensed Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are a specific group of Level 4 and Level 5 technical qualifications in England that are formally approved as meeting employer defined occupational standards.
Pearson’s Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are BTEC Higher Nationals that have been approved for delivery in England as HTQs and carry the kitemark.
Approved Licensed Higher National partners can use Pearson’s licence agreement to deliver these qualifications under licence.
Learn about Pearson Licensed Higher Nationals
Key points
- Availability: HTQs are available in England only.
- Approved portfolio: Pearson currently offers around 50 approved HTQs across key sectors.
- Further information: Explore the full list of approved Higher Technical Qualifications
Higher Education Institutions with/without validating powers
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) without validating powers can seek approval from Pearson to deliver approved Pearson BTEC Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) or partner with a university with validating powers.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with validating powers can validate, deliver and issue their own Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas under licence, using Pearson’s Higher National trademarks.
You can choose one of the following routes:
- Deliver Pearson-approved HTQs under the IP Licence: HEIs can deliver Pearson-approved Higher National HTQs under the Intellectual Property (IP) Licence.
Please note: For the TM Licence route, Pearson’s advance consent is required before submission to Skills England. Pearson must also agree the proposed qualification title, which must be different from any equivalent Pearson BTEC Higher National or Pearson-approved HTQ title. Further detail is set out in column 2 of the HTQ consent grid.
- Develop your own HTQs under the TM Licence: HEIs can also develop their own Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma qualifications under the Trademark (TM) Licence and submit them to Skills England for HTQ approval.
Whether you want to submit a Higher National already approved under your TM licence from Pearson or design a completely new Higher National qualification for HTQ approval, you must first receive Pearson’s consent to use the ‘Higher National Certificate/Diploma’ trademark(s) and agreement on the qualification titles with Pearson.
For more details about Licensed HTQs, check out our dedicated FAQs for Pearson Licensed Higher Technical Qualifications and the grid below.
| Provider wants to submit an HTQ which… | …is an Ofqual regulated Pearson BTEC Higher National | …uses their own content but has ‘Higher National Certificate/Diploma’ (HNC/HND) in the title |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Education Institutions (HEI) with validating powers | Pearson will submit a number of Higher Nationals as HTQs. Any HEI can seek approval from Pearson to deliver those Higher National HTQ(s) under the Intellectual Property (IP) Licensed Agreement.
No requirement for the HEI to make any submissions to Skills England. |
Advance consent from Pearson required to use the Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma Trademark(s) under licence and the PROPOSED HTQ title must be different to existing Pearson's EQUIVALENT BTEC Higher Nationals and Higher Technical Qualification/s title.
Consent must be obtained before the HTQ submission to Skills England, ideally at the start of the development.
The HEI responsible to make submission to Skills England |
| Higher Education Institutions (HEI) without validating powers | Pearson will submit a number of Higher Nationals for HTQ approval.
Eligible Pearson approved centres can receive approval to deliver the Higher National HTQ(s).
No requirement for provider to make any submissions to Skills England. |
Providers can choose to work with Pearson to co-design a Higher National HTQ, for submission by Pearson, which meets their local needs.
Providers can choose to work with a licensed HEI to co-design a Higher National (HTQ).
The HEI will need advance consent from Pearson prior to submission to Skills England, ideally at the start of the development. |
Higher Education providers with or without validating powers can work with Pearson to design and deliver Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs). The routes below outline how institutions can engage with us when developing Level 4 and 5 technical qualifications as Higher Nationals.
Co-designed Higher Technical Qualifications
Pearson works with providers and employers during qualification development to ensure our Higher Nationals, including HTQs, respond to local, regional and sector skills needs. Providers without validating powers can engage through one of the following routes:
- Co-design with Pearson: Providers can collaborate with Pearson to develop a Higher National HTQ for Pearson submission to Skills England, aligned to local needs.
- Work with a licensed HEI: Providers can work with a licensed HEI to co-design a Higher National HTQ. Via this route, the HEI must obtain Pearson’s prior consent before submitting the qualification to Skills England.
Custom qualification design
Through our commissioned qualification design and validation service, Pearson works with providers to design, develop and validate BTEC Higher Nationals that respond to specific sector skills needs and support wider access to higher-level education. Find out more about Pearson’s commissioned qualification design and validation service.
Support
If you are already approved to deliver Licensed HTQs and need any support, including guidance on delivering HTQs under an IP Licence, please contact the Licensed HN team at licenseHN@pearson.com
Enquiries regarding HTQs Under Licence
If you are interested in delivering HTQs under licence, we are here to assist you. This includes questions about developing your own HTQs, and the process for submitting qualifications for approval to Skills England.
