The future of post-16 level 3 vocational qualifications in England

The reforms will affect level 3 qualifications in England taken by 16–19-year-olds, and 19+ year-olds funded by the ESFA under the Adult Education Budget, the European Social Fund (ESF) or accessing Advanced Learner Loans.

A levels will form the core of the academic offer at level 3. However, a limited range of BTEC qualifications will also be available. In addition to A levels, the DfE plan to approve reformed qualifications to be taken instead of or alongside A levels, known as Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs).

These will be ‘small’ or ‘large’, and the subjects or sectors in which they can be developed have been determined by the DfE.

Small BTECs

Up to the size of an A level (between 150 and 420 glh). The DfE will only fund these qualifications in sectors that are:

• strategically important (such as STEM and those supporting the NHS)
• less well-served by A levels (including some subjects where there are A levels)

And in the following sectors:

From 2025

The following qualifications have been developed and funded for first teach September 2025.

• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Applied Science (Extended Certificate)
  
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Computing (Extended Certificate)
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Construction and the Built Environment (Extended Certificate)
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Early Childhood Development (Extended Certificate)
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Engineering (Extended Certificate)
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Health and Social Care (Extended Certificate)
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Information Technology (Extended Certificate)
• Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Medical Science (Extended Certificate)

From 2026

• Art, craft and design / Sound engineering / Animation and visual arts
• British sign language studies
• Creative digital media production / Digital games, film and video production
• Performing, production, and creative arts / Music performance, production and technology / Qualifications for music practitioners or the creative music industry 
• Sport, exercise science, and physical activity / Sporting excellence and performance
• Uniformed protective services / policing
• Financial Studies
• By exception only: In sector subject areas (SSAs) where there is no A level.

Large BTECs

The size of 2 or 3 A levels (between 720 and 1080 glh). The DfE will only fund qualifications in sectors where:

• there are no T Levels
• there is a need for a large qualification enabling entry to more specialist areas of higher education
• there is a clear and direct progression link into higher education.

And in the following sectors:

From 2026

• Art and design / Fine and applied art
• Performing arts / Production arts / Music / Music technology / Music performance and production
• Sport / Sport and exercise science / Sport and physical or outdoor activity

T Levels will form the core of the technical offer at level 3. However, a limited range of BTEC qualifications will also be available for 16-19s and adults, or adults only.

• Technical additional specialist: small qualifications that allow a student to develop additional knowledge and competencies and specialise within a sector. These qualifications will build on knowledge covered by a T Level or other occupational entry qualification, e.g., low-carbon construction design, building on the Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level.
• Technical occupational entry and Technical occupational progression: large qualifications that aim to support a student to enter into, or to progress within a role. These qualifications will only be funded at 16-19 where they do not overlap with a T Level.
• Technical cross-cutting function: small qualifications that allow students to develop skills that are relevant across occupations.

A broader range of BTEC qualifications will also be available for adults only:

• Technical occupational-entry qualifications in T Level areas: these qualifications will support entry to occupations that are served by T Levels for example, construction (as well as occupations that are not served by T Levels).
• Technical employer proposed qualifications: occupational entry qualifications where no standard currently exists for the aligned occupation, but where it may not be appropriate for an occupational standard to be developed.
• Technical additional specialist qualifications more appropriate for adults: these would include qualifications which may only be suitable for adults (such as those that are essential to certain safety critical industries).
• T Levels for adults: In September 2022, DfE commenced a two-year pilot to explore whether T Levels should be made available to adults. The findings will inform ministers' decision whether to offer T Levels to adults from September 2025 and would be subject to HM Treasury agreement.

These will be considered in the following sectors:

From 2025, the following Technical occupational entry qualifications have been developed and funded:

• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for Cyber Security Technicians (Diploma)
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for Early Years Educators (Diploma)
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for Personal Trainer (Diploma)
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for Teaching Assistants (Diploma)

From 2026, Technical additional specialist and Technical occupational entry qualifications in:

• Agriculture, environmental and animal care*
• Business and administration*
• Care services*
• Catering and hospitality*
• Creative and design*
• Hair and beauty*
• Legal finance and accounting*
• Protective services
• Sales marketing and procurement*
• Transport and logistics.

Those marked * are routes where some of the standards are covered by T Levels. The DfE will not consider occupational entry qualifications for these for 16-19-year-olds.

From 2026, Employer proposed and Technical occupational progression qualifications in:

• Construction and the built environment
• Digital
• Education and early years
• Engineering and manufacturing
• Health and science.

From 2026, Cross cutting qualifications.

From 2027, Employer proposed and Technical occupational progression qualifications in:

• Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Business and administration
• Care services
• Catering and hospitality
• Creative and design
• Hair and beauty
• Legal finance and accounting
• Protective services
• Sales marketing and procurement
• Transport and logistics.

Please be reassured that you can continue to teach your BTECs with confidence. Very few qualifications will be affected in 2024/25.

BTECs are highly valued qualifications used by schools, colleges, providers, universities and employers and they will continue to be a vital part of the Level 3 qualifications landscape in England in the future.

Please check the BTEC Level 3 Funding Checklists below which offer a comprehensive picture of funding in academic years 2024/25 and what we know so far for 2025/26. We will update these to include 2026/27 funding as soon as possible.

• BTEC Level 3 Funding Checklist for England | Nationals
• BTEC Level 3 Funding Checklist for England | Other qualifications

Download your guide to BTEC Nationals 2025 (AAQ)