When you compare courses, you may notice several different names beside the course title. One may be the organisation that awards the qualification, another may be a professional body, and a third may be a quality-assurance scheme. 

These names are not interchangeable. They tell you who created or assessed the course, what type of certificate you may receive, and whether the qualification is regulated. 

At Global Edulink, our catalogue includes regulated qualifications, professional certifications and non-regulated learning programmes. Understanding the organisations connected with each course can help you choose the right option for your career or further study.

An awarding organisation, sometimes called an awarding body, develops qualifications and sets the standards learners must meet. Its responsibilities may include: 

• Setting learning outcomes and assessment criteria 
• Creating qualification specifications 
• Approving centres that deliver its qualifications 
• Monitoring assessment and quality standards 
• Issuing certificates to successful learners 

A training provider delivers the course, provides learning materials and supports learners. The provider may also assess assignments, but it must follow the awarding organisation's requirements where applicable. 

Not every course leads to an externally awarded qualification. Some programmes result in a certificate of completion or achievement issued by the training provider or a certification organisation. This does not necessarily mean the course is regulated.

Ofqual stands for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. It regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. 

Ofqual does not teach courses or issue certificates. Instead, it regulates recognised awarding organisations and the specific qualifications that fall within its remit. An awarding organisation may offer both regulated and non-regulated programmes, so its name alone is not enough to confirm a qualification's status. 

If a course is described as Ofqual regulated, check the exact qualification title and qualification number on the Register of Regulated Qualifications. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own regulatory arrangements. 

The Regulated Qualifications Framework, or RQF, is the system used in England to catalogue regulated qualifications. It includes Entry Level and Levels 1 to 8. 

The RQF level indicates the complexity and difficulty of the knowledge and skills involved. It does not, by itself, show the subject, amount of study, assessment method or whether two qualifications have the same purpose. Qualification size is described through Total Qualification Time, which includes guided learning and independent study. 

This is why learners should look beyond the level alone. Check the full qualification title, awarding organisation, assessment requirements, qualification number and progression information before enrolling. A course that has a level number but is not listed on the relevant register should not automatically be described as an RQF-regulated qualification.

These qualifications are awarded by a recognised awarding organisation and are subject to regulatory requirements. They have defined learning outcomes, assessment arrangements and quality controls. A regulated qualification may support employment or further study, although acceptance always depends on the employer or institution. 

Professional bodies and specialist certification organisations focus on particular industries or occupations. They may offer qualifications, examinations, membership routes, professional titles or approved training. These forms of recognition can be valuable, but they are not automatically regulated by Ofqual. 

Some organisations review courses and endorse them against their own criteria. This can provide useful information about course content, assessment and delivery. However, an endorsement is not the same as an Ofqual-regulated qualification and does not automatically provide university credit or professional registration. 

The organisations below are examples connected with courses in our catalogue. They are not a complete list. Our wider course range includes other awarding organisations, professional bodies, certification providers and quality-assurance schemes.

The Chartered Management Institute is a chartered professional body for management and leadership. It also develops and awards management and leadership qualifications, including Awards, Certificates and Diplomas at different levels.

The recognition attached to a CMI course depends on the specific programme. Completing a CMI qualification does not automatically grant Chartered Manager status, as that status has separate requirements.

ATHE is a UK awarding organisation that develops vocational and higher education-related qualifications in areas such as business, management, health care, computing and education. Its qualifications are delivered through approved centres. 

The level, assessment method and progression opportunities depend on the exact ATHE qualification.

Pearson is an awarding organisation, while BTEC is Pearson's vocational qualification brand. BTEC programmes combine subject knowledge with practical and work-related learning.

A BTEC qualification may support employment or further study, but progression depends on the specific qualification and the entry requirements of the employer or education provider. 

Signature is a UK awarding organisation specialising in British Sign Language and communication with Deaf people. Its qualifications cover different levels and purposes, so the exact course title and assessment requirements are important when considering progression. 

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, offers qualifications and professional certifications in information technology and digital subjects. It also provides professional standards and resources for people working in the sector. 

A BCS qualification, BCS membership and Chartered IT Professional status are separate forms of recognition and should not be treated as the same thing. 

ETA Awards is a UK awarding organisation that provides vocational qualifications and end-point assessment services in areas including engineering, manufacturing, management and professional services. 

The recognition and progression available to learners depend on the exact qualification and its regulatory status.

Some organisations connected with our courses are professional bodies or specialist certification providers rather than awarding organisations.

APMG International provides accreditation and certification schemes in areas such as project management, agile, risk, cybersecurity and business transformation. Each scheme has its own syllabus and assessment process. APMG certification should not automatically be assumed to be an Ofqual-regulated qualification.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants is a professional body for management accounting and business finance. It offers professional qualifications and membership routes. Professional membership and designations may require additional examinations, experience or other criteria.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health is a professional body for environmental health. It provides qualifications, training, professional standards and resources. A course connected with CIEH recognition does not automatically provide professional registration. 

The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management supports professionals working in risk, health and safety. It provides membership, learning, guidance and networking opportunities. Its recognition is not automatically the same as a regulated qualification.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health is a chartered professional body for occupational safety and health. It offers qualifications and approved training routes. 

An IOSH-approved course is not necessarily an IOSH qualification or membership. Learners should check exactly what the course provides. 

The Quality Licence Scheme provides recognition for high-quality courses outside the regulated qualifications market. It reviews course content and quality standards against its own criteria. 

A QLS endorsement can show that a programme has been reviewed, but it does not make the course an Ofqual-regulated qualification or guarantee entry to a particular university. 

International Awards for Professionals, usually referred to as iAP, is a UK-based education and training quality-assurance organisation. It provides accreditation and course-endorsement services to education and training providers. 

Its review may consider a programme's content, learning outcomes, assessment methods and delivery standards. When a Global Edulink course carries iAP recognition, that recognition applies to the specific programme reviewed. It should be described as programme-level accreditation, not as Ofqual regulation. 

ImperialCert is the programme quality-assurance division of Imperial Learning Ltd. It reviews and endorses education and training programmes against applicable quality standards. 

Its review can cover the programme structure, learning materials, assessment methods, delivery approach and provider support systems. ImperialCert recognition relates to the specific programme reviewed. It is not a national regulator, and its mark does not by itself make a course Ofqual regulated.

At Global Edulink, we aim to make the status of each course as clear as possible. If more than one organisation is connected with a programme, each name may have a different role. Read the course information carefully and contact our support team if you need help understanding what a particular course certificate represents.