I want to validate a new further education and training programme

Further Education and Training programmes offer learners one of two different systems:

  • Common Award System (CAS) programmes and
  • Non-Common Award System (non-CAS) programmes.

CAS programmes

The majority of current FET programmes offer awards from the Common Award System (CAS), where the award outcomes have already been developed by QQI. A CAS programme may lead to a major, special purpose, supplemental or minor award(s).

Non-CAS programmes

Where there is no appropriate CAS award, it is possible to submit a programme to lead to a brand-new award, termed ‘non-CAS’.  A non-CAS programme may lead to a major, special purpose, supplemental or minor award(s).

A non-CAS programme will map its learning outcomes to a relevant NFQ award type descriptor. This is to provide evidence that the programme can lead to a new QQI award.

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