Current consultations
Subject Matter
QQI is currently consulting on new Draft Awards Standards for Healthcare at NFQ Level 5 developed in collaboration with the Department of Health, Health Service Executive (HSE), Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), the Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet, Maynooth University School of Education and subject matter experts from the sector.
Objectives of the Consultation
The consultation paper outlines the rationale for reform and proposes a suite of draft awards standards designed to better reflect contemporary healthcare practice, enhance workforce readiness and support responsive programme development.
Suite of Draft Award Standards for Consultation
- Draft Broad Award Standards for Essentials of Healthcare Assistance and Person-centred Care (NFQ Level 5) outline broad statements of the knowledge, skill and competence expected across a range of core learning domains. These standards are designed to provide flexibility for providers to develop tailored programmes for different areas of specialisation across various healthcare settings.
- Draft Defined Award Standards (DAS) for Healthcare Support Essentials (NFQ Level 5) including qualification requirements. These awards are intended to equip the learner with the relevant knowledge skills and competence to provide person-centred care in a variety of healthcare settings, promoting best practice rooted in holistic, diverse and cultural care across the lifespan.
- Draft Defined Award Standards (DAS) for Pre-Nursing Studies (NFQ Level 5) including qualification requirements. These awards are designed to provide a foundational understanding of pre-nursing studies, integrating holistic care and professional responsibilities in a variety of healthcare settings. They are also intended to equip the learner with the relevant knowledge skills and competence to provide person-centred care in a variety of healthcare settings, promoting best practice rooted in holistic, diverse and cultural care across the lifespan.
The draft Healthcare Awards Standards are underpinned by Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles and place holistic, person-centred care at the heart of every learning outcome. They ensure that learners are equipped not only with technical skills but also with the empathy, cultural sensitivity, and ethical grounding needed to support individuals across the lifespan.
Who will this consultation be of interest to?
We welcome feedback from education and training providers, learners, and a wide range of stakeholders on the appropriateness of these new draft awards standards.
Opening and Closing Date of Consultation
The consultation opens on 10 October 2025 and will close on 28 November 2025.
How to Respond to the Consultation
Responses may be submitted via our online response forms:
- Draft Broad Award Standards for Essentials of Healthcare Assistance and Person-centred Care at NFQ Level 5 online response form
- Draft Defined Award Standards (DAS) for Healthcare Support Essentials at NFQ Level 5 online response form
- Draft Defined Award Standards (DAS) - Pre-Nursing Studies at NFQ Level 5 online response form
Alternatively, responses can also be emailed to: consultation@qqi.ie, referencing the relevant award standard.
Subject Matter
This White Paper builds on the proposal outlined in the Green Paper on Intermediate Qualifications at NFQ Levels 5 and 6 published at the end of 2024. The primary intent of the proposal is to introduce a single major award at NFQ Level 6 to replace the existing Advanced and Higher Certificates.
The White Paper also presents a minorly updated Outline of the Structure of the NFQ to replace the existing Determinations for the Outline National Framework of Qualifications which includes the new award at NFQ Level and reflects policy and legislative changes from the last few years.
Purpose of the Consultation
The purpose of the consultation is to gather final feedback and perspectives from stakeholders regarding the Policy on Qualifications at NFQ Levels 5 and 6. This proposal is in keeping with QQI’s Statement of Strategy 2025-2027 commitment to future proof the NFQ by reviewing and modifying the current award types in the NFQ to better serve learners in a more integrated tertiary education system. This proposal also reflects an aspect of policy development prioritised in the Programme for Review of National Framework of Qualifications Policies.
As part of the consultation, QQI will proactively engage with other agencies in relation to the implementation of this policy.
Objectives of the Consultation
A key objective of the consultation is to refine and finalise the policy approach and to identify and resolve any barriers to implementation.
The White Paper includes changes from the initial Green Paper which were informed by the consultation responses received from a wide range of stakeholders. The consultation report can be read here.
The main changes in the White Paper are:
- Updated language and terminology to more clearly articulate some aspects of the proposal with specific reference to the Level 5 Certificate
- Confirmation of the title of the new award and the agreed award-type descriptor
- Greater emphasis on the broader role of qualifications at NFQ Levels 5 and 6 for employment, social inclusion and lifelong learning.
- Confirmation of the ongoing role of smaller qualifications including micro-qualifications and micro-credentials at NFQ Levels 5 and 6.
- Modified timelines to ensure a smoother transition to the new single major award.
Who will this consultation be of interest to?
This consultation will be of interest to a diverse range of stakeholders including:
- Learners, those who represent learners across all aspects of tertiary education and those who support learners such as guidance counsellors
- Tertiary education providers and particularly those involved in the development and approval of programmes leading to qualifications included in the NFQ.
- Representative organisations related to tertiary education
- Those involved in the governance and funding of tertiary education including Solas, Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)
- Those involved in the access, transfer and progression of learners in tertiary education including access and admissions officers and Central Applications Office (CAO)
- Those involved in the tertiary education space such as the National Tertiary Office (NTO) and the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO).
Opening and Closing Date of Consultation
The consultation opens on Monday 1 September 2025 and will close on Friday 7 November 2025.
How to Respond to the Consultation
Consultation responses can be emailed to nfq@qqi.ie with the subject line ‘White Paper on Qualifications at NFQ Levels 5 and 6’. Kindly indicate whether you are responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation in your response.
There are currently no workshops scheduled to gather consultation responses and there will be limited capacity to arrange dedicated meetings with stakeholders in this period. However, requests for such engagements may be facilitated on a case-by-case basis if there is a sufficient number of attendees involved. Please email nfq@qqi.ie to request such a meeting.
If you have any questions about this consultation, please contact Órla Barry, Head of Qualifications Information and Learning Opportunities by emailing nfq@qqi.ie
Next Steps
Following the end of the consultation process, QQI will publish the findings in the form of a thematic analysis of the feedback. The insights gathered will inform the final policy which is expected to be presented to the Board for approval in early 2026.
QQI is consulting on a green paper on micro-credentials and the short programmes that lead to them.
Micro-credentials, —sometimes referred to as micro-qualifications—are gaining significant attention across further education and training (FET) and higher education (HE) in Ireland. While small-volume qualifications are not novel in either FET or HE, micro-credentials are being used and marketed in new ways and are addressing new challenges.
We believe this is a timely opportunity to reflect, in consultation with stakeholders, on whether the current national infrastructure for quality assurance and qualification regulation is fit for purpose—or if additional supports are needed to ensure micro-credentials meet the needs of all users.
We welcome input from:
- Education and training providers
- Learners and prospective learners
- Professional, statutory, and regulatory bodies
- Employers
- Other stakeholders with an interest in micro-credentials and related short programmes
To respond, please email your submission to consultation@qqi.ie, with “Green Paper on Micro-Credentials” in the subject line. Kindly indicate whether you are responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation.
Deadline for submissions: 28 November 2025
QQI is consulting on draft statutory quality assurance guidelines on programmes involving work-integrated learning. The draft guidelines apply to programmes of education and training that integrate the meaningful practice of work (e.g. practice placements, work experience, the on-the-job elements of apprenticeship, projects for industry etc.) and which are delivered in conjunction with a workplace partner, i.e. individuals or organisations external to the education provider that are involved in providing opportunities for work-integrated learning.
The proposed guidelines will be of interest to providers, learners, professional statutory and regulatory bodies and a range of other stakeholders with an interest in work-integrated learning. Consultation responses may be submitted using our online response form or emailed to consultation@qqi.ie, including “Draft Guidelines on Programmes Involving Work-integrated Learning” in the subject line.
The proposed guidelines are accompanied by two consultation webinars taking place on Friday 26 September and Friday 3 October. Further information and registration details are located on QQI's events page.
The consultation will close on 17 October 2025.
