Technical Guidance Note for AC2 form
This guidance note has been design to support the ‘Criteria for Accredited Qualifications and
Guidance for Accreditation Submissions’ and provides information on the technical aspects of the AC2 form.
Form AC2: Qualification Accreditation is in Excel 2010 format and covers all types of qualification requests. The form is split into 7 tabs:
- Tab 1 – Contact Details and General Qualification Information
- Tab 2 – Partnerships
- Tab 3 – Qualification Accreditation/ Re-Accreditation
- Tab 4 – Workplace Core Skills Units Accreditation/ Re-Accreditation
- Tab 5 – Qualification Amendment or Extension
- Tab 6 – Qualification Withdrawal
- Tab 7 – Qualification Structure and SCQF Credit Rating
Please note that as this form is in Excel format, when pressing the ‘Enter’ button on the keyboard this will take you to the next question. In order to return a new line within a cell, select ‘Alt’ and ‘Enter’ at the same time.
In order to save resources only the relevant tabs will be printed by SQA Accreditation for presentation to ACG, i.e. the first tab and the tab that you are directed to in the ‘Next Stage’ box along with Tab 7 or any relevant structures attached. Therefore, when completing this form please make sure that all fields relevant to your submission are filled in appropriately.
Tab 1 – Contact Details and General Qualification Information
All awarding body representatives should complete Tab 1 Contact Details and General Qualification Information.
Depending on what type of qualification and what kind of submission i.e. accreditation, extension, withdrawal, etc. is selected from the drop down menus, an instruction will appear in the box ‘Next Stage’ and will indicate the next tab to be completed.
Tab 2 – Partnerships
If the qualification is offered in partnership, all names should be recorded on Tab 1 under ‘Awarding Body Name(s)’ and Tab 2 should also be completed to provide further information on the joint agreement and any changes to existing partnerships.
Tab 3 – Qualification Accreditation/ Re-Accreditation
The questions on Tab 3 will change depending on the submission type selected on Tab 1, i.e. if this is a new Accreditation or a Re-Accreditation of existing qualifications.
When asked about the qualification structure, awarding bodies should indicate whether this follows the exact structure approved by ACG or if they are requesting something slightly different, e.g. not using the additional units. If it is not the exact same structure then tab 7 should be completed. If it is the exact same structure then this can be attached or even copied and pasted into tab 7.
As Excel has a limited cell height of 409.50 points, each question has been supported by an additional answer box which states ‘<Please use this box if you require further space>’. This box should be used when Awarding Body representatives can no longer enter text into the first box. In exceptional circumstances, if your text is greater than both of these boxes, additional text should be sent as an appendix and referenced to the question it supports.
Tab 4 – Workplace Core Skills Units Accreditation/ Re-Accreditation
Tab 4 should only be completed for the Accreditation of new Workplace Core Skills Units by an Awarding Body or the Re-accreditation of existing Workplace Core Skills Units. The question on providing a rationale will change depending on what is select in the submission type drop down menu.
Tab 5 – Qualification Amendment or Extension
The first question on Tab 5 will change depending on the submission type selected on Tab 1, i.e. whether this is a request to either extend the accreditation period of a qualification, amend a qualification or both.
Tab 6 – Qualification Withdrawal
Tab 6 should be completed where the request is to withdraw the qualification(s). If awarding bodies decide to no longer offer a qualification or not to extend or re-accredit a qualification they are required to submit a withdrawal request and inform SQA Accreditation of this decision.
Tab 7 – Qualification Structure and SCQF Credit Rating
This tab should be completed along with Tab 3 for new Accreditation or Re-Accreditation requests where the awarding body is not selecting the complete approved structure designed by the SSC. Awarding Body representatives should complete as much of this grid as possible and liaise with the SSC or the developer of the qualification to obtain information on the credit rating.
If Units within the structure already have an SQA Accreditation Unit code this should be indicated to save duplication of coding. This tab should also be used with Tab 5 where there is a minor amendment to the qualification structure. The revised structure should be inserted to reflect the changes.
This tab has not been protected so that Awarding Body representatives can add/ remove rows where necessary for the qualification structure. If the submission request is for more than one qualification, this grid can be copied and pasted into the next tab in order to record all structures within the request.
Awarding body representative completing this form can contact their allocated Accreditation Manager for any further guidance or support.
Technical Guidance Note for AC2 FormPage 1
Version 1 July 2012