BTECs

BTECs are vocational qualifications that relate to specific career areas. You can take them in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland, and they are available at different levels.

• BTEC Firsts are equivalent to GCSEs. They are a level 2 qualification.
• BTEC Nationals are equivalent to A levels. They are a level 3 qualification.
• BTEC Higher Nationals are equivalent to the first year, or first and second year, of an undergraduate degree. They are level 4 or level 5 qualifications.

Types of BTEC level 3 qualifications:

Depending on how much studying you want to do and if you plan to take other qualifications alongside a BTEC National, you could choose one of the following common options:

• A BTEC level 3 National Extended Diploma, which is equivalent to three A levels
• A BTEC level 3 National Diploma, which is equivalent to two A levels
• A BTEC level 3 National Extended Certificate, which is equivalent to one A level.