Awarding Bodies

There are various awarding bodies from which the awards are granted depending on the level of the award and the award type. The awarding bodies are listed below:

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) grants the national school awards at levels 3 – 5 (i.e., the Junior Certificate and the Leaving Certificate).

The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) grants awards at levels 1 – 6.

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) grants awards at levels 6 – 10.

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) grants awards at levels 6 – 10.

The Universities grant awards at levels 7 – 10. All of the 14 Institutes of Technology make some awards under the delegated authority HETAC.

Some Professional Bodies also have statutory rights to make awards in the state and can apply to have their awards included in the NFQ. These include the following:

An Bord Altranais
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Law Society of Ireland
Council of the Honourable Society of King’s Inns
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
National Society Work Qualifications Board
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Irish Aviation Authority.

The National Qualifications Authority sets out the award-type descriptors for both award councils – FETAC and HETAC – as well as for DIT. The Department of Education and Science, the Universities and professional bodies determine their own award-type descriptors in line with those set by the Authority and all award-types are standardised by the NFQ.

The NFQ thus provides the learner with the ability to access the educational and training system in order to commence a programme of study at a given level; transfer from one programme to another within the system; and progress to a higher level of programme within the system following the successful completion of a preceding course of study and attainment of its award. It is a key tool in plotting your educational progress, climbing the qualifications ladder and setting your educational and professional goals. All courses and course providers recognised by the NFQ are quality assured and internationally recognised. 

Click here to view the NFQ fan diagram.