Awards Info Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What happens to the old awards?
- Are major awards made up of minor awards?
- Is component another name for a minor award?
- What is a pool of awards?
- Can I mix and match the minor awards/components to suit my needs?
- If I as a provider want to offer the new awards, what do I do next?
- Can we offer programmes that mix CAS and other FETAC awards?
- What happens to learners who have achieved minor awards some time ago but now with to take up a programme leading to a common award?
- What are the certification dates?
- Will I still use www.fetac.net to return results leading to common awards?
- How soon after an award is published may the programme leading to it be submitted for validation?
- What does validation mean?
- How long will it take for me to develop a programme?
- How long will it take for FETAC to validate the programmme?
- What does evaluation mean?
- Do programmes have to be unique to one level or another?
- Can a programme be too broad?
- Does it matter if particular component awards are named in the application but are not achieved by learners?
- Is 'integration' required in assessment?
- Can Special Schools or Special Units in Voluntary Secondary Schools register with FETAC and offer programmes leading to these awards?
- Is indicative content not already clear in the award outcomes?
- Are there briefings on new l1/l2 awards and the process of validation?
- Who can I contact for assistance?
Back to New level 1 and level 2 awards page
Awards
1. When will common awards be available?
Common awards are already published at levels 1 and 2. Level 3 common awards are available from October 2010. Common awards will replace all existing awards by Spring 2014. Common awards that replace existing awards will be published twice each year, in spring and autumn. Once the award is published in the Awards Directory on www.fetac.ie, providers can begin to devise programmes leading to the award in preparation for validation by FETAC.
2. What happens to the old awards?
Awards that are not part of the CAS will be ‘deactivated’ and removed over time from the FETAC website. This will happen once each year in December. The dates will be made available in the Awards Directory at www.fetac.ie.
When an award is deactivated new entries for certification will no longer be possible for that award. FETAC will publish the planned lists under Awards Info on www.fetac.ie
This systematic approach typically allows each provider at least 12 months to complete programme cycles for learners and to devise programmes for validation by FETAC leading to the common award.
3. Are major awards made up of minor awards?
Yes. Check the details of each major award above and you will discover the associated minor awards.
4. Is component another name for a minor award?
- FETAC's major awards are called Certificates
- FETAC's minor awards are called Components
- so yes, component is another name for a minor award
5. What is a pool of awards?
A pool is a group of related component awards.
6. Can I mix and match the minor awards/components to suit my needs?
Yes, as long as you ensure that the award requirements are fulfilled.
Process
7. If I as a provider want to offer the new awards, what do I do next?
- Ensure that you are a FETAC registered provider and that you are familiar with the FETAC policy on quality assuring assessment.
- Download the Quality Assuring Assessment Guidelines for Providers (MS Word version).
- Download the Award Specifictions for Level 1 and Level 2.
- Download the Guide to Awards at Levels 1 and 2 and associated processes.
- Familiarise yourself with the structures of the certificates and the learning outcomes for the individual components.
- Analyse your own context (i.e. where and how you deliver programmes) and the profile of your learners.
- Familiarise yourself with the validation requirements relating to programme elements and in particular the structuring of programmes. These requirements are contained in the Programme Validation Provider Guidelines.
- Attend a Briefing organised by the FE Support Service www.sfe.ie.
- Design and develop a programme of learning based on the award and your specific learner profiles. Devise appropriate learning experiences and assessment activities for your learners.
- Revisit the Programme Validation Provider Guidelines and familiarise yourself with the validation questions, the guidelines/examples and the evaluation criteria against which your programme will be evaluated.
- Contact validation@fetac.ie and signal your intention to make an application for validation.
- Fulfil the FETAC requirements in relation to the implementation of the Quality Assuring Assessment policy.
- Download and complete the Programme Validation Application Form.
- Submit the completed Application Form electronically to FETAC.
8. Can we offer programmes that mix CAS and other FETAC awards?
No. Common awards are designed holistically and are published as complete coherent entities. A common (major/supplemental/specific purpose) award is only published when its components (minor awards) are available. The requirement for an award is specified in the award specification and in the Awards Directory. When devising a programme for validation, care must be taken to ensure that the programme offers a combination of CAS minors which will meet the award requirement. Certification will not be provided unless the award specification requirements are adhered to.
In centres which are offering the old major award and the CAS major award simultaneously, it is essential that the certification entries are clearly distinguished.
Learners entering for a CAS major award can only submit results for CAS minors. Those entering for an older, non-CAS award can only use non-CAS minors. Since titles of minor awards will be similar, it is essential that attention be paid to the relevant award codes.
9. What happens to learners who have achieved minor awards some time ago but now wish to take up a programme leading to a common award?
FETAC will give providers a guide enabling them to request new minor awards for learners who already have component certificate(s) and who want to use them towards a common (major) award.
10. What are the certification dates?
Certification dates will be published on www.fetac.ie and in the Key Dates publication issued to all registered providers.
11. Will I still use www.fetac.net to return results leading to common awards?
No. The FBS replaces all current certification systems from June 2011.
Validation
12. How soon after an award is published may the programme leading to it be submitted for validation?
Providers intending to submit programmes for validation must attend a briefing offered by FETAC. Briefing dates are published on www.fetac.ie. Programmes can be submitted for validation in accordance with the requirements of the provider’s quality assurance agreement. Validation typically takes 12 weeks.
Common awards which replace former awards will be published twice yearly according to a planned schedule. For more information view the Awards Directory on www.fetac.ie . The former awards de-activate each December, at least 12 months from the publication date, between 2011–2013. De-activation means that the award being replaced by a common award is no longer a basis for certification.
13. What does validation mean?
- Validation is the quality assurance process through which FETAC evaluates programmes to ensure that they are designed to give learners the opportunity to meet the standards for the award or awards being offered.
- A validated programme is one that has been evaluated by FETAC. It has been found to be 'fit for purpose' i.e. the learning package on offer is appropriate to the learner and it fulfils the award requirements.
- it is the process by which the learner will be assured that the programme meets their needs.
- FETAC, the awarding body, is responsible for validating all programmes.
14. How long will it take for me to develop a programme?
Developing programmes takes time:
- it depends on what your arrangements are for developing programmes as outlined in your own quality assurance procedures.
- and it depends on what you have already done to date.
- you need to consider your learners, their needs, the requirements of the awards, your own resources, capacity to deliver etc.
15. How long will it take for FETAC to validate the programme?
- FETAC will initially screen the Programme Validation Application Form to see whether all the relevant parts/sections have been completed.
- If they are not, the Application will be referred back to the provider for further consideration.
- Once FETAC receives a complete Application Form, it will proceed to the evaluation stage.
- On average from receipt of completed application to decision, the process should take 12 weeks.
16. What does evaluation mean?
- Evaluation is a structured and systematic process to examine the extent to which the application meets the evaluation criteria.
- It is the process by which FETAC will judge a programme as being fit for purpose.
- The evaluation criteria are published in the Programme Validation Guidelines for Providers.
- Each programme submitted to FETAC will either be validated or referred back to the provider.
17. Do programmes have to be unique to one level or another?
No. Many programmes lead to awards at more than one level. However, this does mean that the content needs to clearly state differences in e.g. the range, complexity, level of independence of content and assessment.
18. Can a programme be too broad?
Providers are encouraged to think about the programme in a relatively broad way, and to give room for manoeuvre in both award selection and programme delivery. Sometimes it can be useful to consider separate pathways within the programme. However, if different learner groups require different duration, methodology, structure and depth of content / assessment, then it ceases to be coherent as a single application.
19. Does it matter if particular component awards are named in the application but are not achieved by learners?
This may be noted by the provider for the review of the programme. However, it is better to have additional award options than to have to resubmit an application.
20. Is 'integration' required in assessment?
Integration of assessment activities across a number of parts of a programme (programme modules) can be helpful in reducing the burden of summative assessment for learners and tutors. It is not required. Programmes can be structured with individual programme modules matching single Component awards, each with individual assessment activities. This may be useful e.g. in circumstances where progress is very slow.
21. Can Special Schools or Special Units in Voluntary Secondary Schools register with FETAC and offer programmes leading to these awards?
Yes. The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) offers opportunities to all learners to have their learning recognised, through quality assured registered providers.
22. Is indicative content not already clear in the award outcomes?
No. The examples in the award outcomes give typical activities in relation to the required standard, and are not tailored to either specific target learners or to programme objectives. Content is about how the learner is going to achieve the awards standards.
Briefings
23. Are there briefings on new l1/l2 awards and the process of validation?
For levels 1 and 2, briefing sessions are organised by the Further Education Support Service. For levels 3-6, briefing sessions are organised by FETAC. See Briefings for details of the next available briefing session.
24. Who can I contact for further information?
Awards Support Service
Programme Validation