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, Technical additional specialist and Technical occupational entry qualifications in:
- Construction and the build environment*
- Digital*
- Education and Early Years*
- Engineering and manufacturing*
- Health and science*.
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.
