Higher Technical Qualifications, or HTQs, are technical qualifications in England at higher education level.The approvals process is led by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE), with employer review a central feature of this process.

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It is important to note that the HTQs offered by Pearson are no different to the BTEC Higher Nationals you know and love.

At Pearson, we are aligning existing Higher National programmes within particular sectors with the IfATE requirements for Higher Technical Qualifications in England, specifically ensuring appropriate coverage of the Occupational Standard that the pathway or qualification aligns to.

Below is a list of BTEC Higher National qualifications by sector that have been approved by IfATE as HTQs in England:
Engineering (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Engineering for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National Diploma in Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Manufacturing Engineering for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National in Manufacturing Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering for England (2024)
L5  BTEC Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Operations Engineering for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National Diploma in Operations Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Space Technologies for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National Diploma in Space Technologies for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Computer Systems Engineering for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National Diploma in Computer Systems Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Automation and Control Enineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Electrical Systems Engineering for England (2024)
L5 BTEC Higher National Diploma in Electronic and Electrical Systems Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Electronic Systems Engineering for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Manufacturing Operations for England (2024)
L4 BTEC Higher National Certificate in Mechatronics for England (2024)

Listing HTQs on UCAS or National Career Service websites

For Providers wishing to advertise an approved Higher Technical Qualification on the National Careers Service and UCAS websites, DfE has worked with the institute (IfATE) to introduce a temporary measure to help learners recognise when your qualification has approved HTQ status.

The institute will allow you to include “(HTQ)” at the end of the qualification title when listing your qualification i.e. - LEVEL 5 HND in Computing (general) (HTQ) (FT).

Please note this naming convention is only to be used when listing approved HTQs on the NCS and UCAS websites. Please use this approach for any new listings as well as updating existing listings you already have up.

The UCAS website also has a checkbox you can tick that denotes approved HTQ status that will allow searchers to filter for it and display the HTQ branding on the course page.

We would also encourage you to continue to promote these courses via your own websites and channels as part of your overall offer to students.

Please direct any queries to team.highertechnicaleducation@education.gov.uk

Learn more about Higher Technical Qualifications

Find out more about how Pearson can support you to deliver Higher Technical Qualifications in your centre by visiting our dedicated website, where you can also sign up to receive latest news about HTQs.

Discover Higher Technical Education