BTEC Higher Nationals HN Flex
Modular skills solutions for long-term career aspirations
Pearson’s HN Flex service gives you a simple, flexible way to offer individual units from our Higher National qualifications at Levels 4 and 5.
It opens the door to wider markets by making shorter, skills‑focused learning options available to students, while still supporting long‑term skills development.
HN Flex is designed for people who want to keep learning while they work. Many learners use individual Higher National units to build their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or take the next step in their careers. It’s also a practical option for anyone looking to upskill, reskill, explore a new sector, or build confidence before committing to a longer course.
In England, two 15‑credit HN Flex units taken from HTQ‑approved Higher Nationals can form a 30‑credit module. From 2027, this may be eligible for student loan funding through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
While HN Flex units are not full programmes or standalone qualifications, completing a Level 4 or Level 5 unit provides recognised evidence of learning. Students receive a Certificate of Unit Achievement (CoUA) to show the skills they’ve gained.
Benefits of HN Flex
Students
- Learn new knowledge, skills and behaviours in a flexible, time‑efficient way without committing to a full qualification.
- Build your learning step by step by stacking completed units towards a full Higher National qualification later on.
- Use your progress as a route into a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND).
- Focus on the specialist skills you want to develop, and upskill or reskill through individual units whenever you need to.
- Mix and match up to four units from different Higher National subjects to work towards professional body or vendor accreditation.
Educators
- Offer Higher Nationals in flexible ways that meet the training needs of different partners, including employers and local authorities.
- Build strong relationships with local employers by supporting the development needs of their teams.
- Provide CPD opportunities that sit outside traditional qualifications, giving people more ways to grow.
- Attract a diverse mix of learners back into education, including adults looking for a fresh start.
- Give students the chance to try out higher‑education level study through short ‘taster’ units that support progression from Level 3 or into HE.
- Support learners moving from Level 4 to Level 5 with bridging units that help them feel confident about the step up.
- Offer flexible delivery options, such as short, focused units that can stand alone or be built into a full HN programme, including blended study.
Employers
- Offer CPD through focused, occupationally relevant units that give people practical skills they can use straight away.
- Help employers rapidly develop the specific knowledge, skills and behaviours their teams need to grow and adapt.
- Provide shorter, lower‑investment courses that are easier for employers to support and more appealing to busy staff.
- Work closely with local colleges to build strong partnerships and create a skills solution tailored to the needs of the region.
Next steps after HN Flex
Students will have studied individual Higher National units which have been adopted from the Ofqual regulated suite of qualifications. Students may be able to use their evidence of learning towards a BTEC Higher National qualification via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process or Higher National top-up.
Guidelines for adoption of HN Flex
Download the guide to adopting HN Flex
- Students may study HN Flex units, assuming they have the prerequisite entry requirements for each level, as detailed in the subject specification.
- Only 15 credit units will be available via HN Flex, with students being able to achieve a maximum of 60 credits (4 x 15 credit units).
- Students may study a maximum of four HN Flex units.
- Students may select a mix of units from the range of subjects that the centre is approved to deliver.
- Student registration will be for two years, rather than the current five years for a full HNC/HND registration.
Contact us
Chat to us today to find out how HN Flex can benefit your organisation. Complete the form below to find out more about the approval process.
If you already hold approval to deliver Higher Nationals, you can start the process by completing the Intention to deliver form.