Employability

Back to courses

About this course

What are ASDAN Employability Qualifications?

ASDAN’s Employability Qualifications are regulated, portfolio-based qualifications for learners aged 14 and over. Available from Entry 2 to Level 2, they provide a flexible framework for developing and recognising transferable employability skills.

Flexible unit choices allow delivery to reflect learners’ starting points, aspirations and intended occupational pathways. The qualifications can support careers education, work-related learning, work experience and preparation for employment.

ASDAN Employability Qualifications are closed to new learner registrations in Wales. Existing learners registered for the Entry 2 or Entry 3 qualifications must complete certification by 30 September 2026.

Read the full specifications for the awards and certificates in Employability:

Employability qualifications review

ASDAN is reviewing and refreshing its Employability Qualifications and materials. This scheduled review will help ensure the qualifications remain relevant, up to date and informed by member and learner feedback.

The launch of the updated qualification specifications has been postponed. Centres registering new cohorts and learners during 2026-27 do not need to make any changes to their delivery. They should continue to use the existing specifications and guidance.

We will provide further information, including revised launch dates, a summary of the changes and guidance for centres, ahead of the updated qualifications being introduced.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss the review or the planned changes to the Employability qualification units.  

Learner age 14+, 14–16, 14–25, 16+, 16–19, 19+, Adults
Level (indicative for non-regulated courses) Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2
Key Stage Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5
Education setting Mainstream school, Special school, Justice system (including youth offending), Further education, Community Education, EOTAS, PRU, Academy / Multi-academy trust, Voluntary sector, Training provider, Adult education, Independent school, Secondary
Guided learning hours 60–100 hours, 100–180 hours
Regulated Qualification
Certification Externally certificated, hard-copy only
Location England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, International (including Channel Islands and Ireland)
UCAS points No UCAS points available
Available on Equitas No
Pathway Independent Living

Join ASDAN

To teach this course you must be an ASDAN member.

Become a member

Already a member? Sign in

Who are they for?

ASDAN Employability Qualifications are suitable for learners aged 14 and over in schools, academies, colleges, alternative provision, training providers, adult and community education, and other education and training settings. They can be used at key stages 3 and 4 and in post-16 provision.

The Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1 qualifications can support learners who are developing the foundations needed to prepare for and progress towards employment.

The Level 2 qualifications enable learners to develop and apply transferable employability skills within occupational and workplace contexts.

The qualifications can support:

  • preparation for employment
  • careers education
  • enterprise education
  • work-related learning
  • work experience
  • vocational and study programmes
  • progression towards further education, training, apprenticeships or employment.

The Employability Awards and Certificates from Entry 2 to Level 2 are available in England, Northern Ireland and internationally.

In Wales, the Entry 2 and Entry 3 qualifications are closed to new learner registrations. The final certification date for existing learners is 30 September 2026.

Facts and figures

The Employability Awards and Certificates are nationally recognised qualifications regulated by Ofqual in England and CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland. They are also available in Scotland and internationally.

ASDAN Employability Qualifications do not contribute to school or college performance tables in England. In Northern Ireland, they can contribute towards school and college performance measures. Download this information sheet for details.

Qualifications structure

Learners complete a combination of core and additional units to achieve their qualification. 

At every level:

  • an Award requires six credits, representing approximately 60 hours of total qualification time, and must include at least one core unit
  • a Certificate requires 15 credits, representing approximately 150 hours of total qualification time, and must include at least two

One credit represents approximately 10 hours of learning, including assessment.

Centres should refer to the relevant qualification specification and rules of combination when selecting units.

View the table of Employability units at all levels.

The Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1 qualifications are designed for young people and adults who are working towards employment and for whom a job is a realistic aim within a reasonable timescale.

The Level 2 qualifications help learners develop employability and transferable skills within occupational settings, supporting progression in their current situation and the wider world of work.

Units and standards

Download the qualification standards:

Centres registered to deliver Employability can access the full standards with guidance, which explain how to interpret and implement the unit standards.

Sample units are also available:

Resources for registered centres

Registered centres can access:

  • standards with guidance for each level and unit activities from the course resources section below
  • resource sheets to help learners provide good-quality evidence, available in PDF and Microsoft Word formats from the members’ area.

The resource sheets are optional but highly recommended.

Become a member

Your organisation must be an ASDAN member and have approval to deliver Employability Qualifications.

Our team will discuss your learners’ needs, intended delivery and approval requirements with you.

Register your interest in ASDAN membership

Create a cohort

Once your organisation is approved, create a learner cohort through the members’ area.

Provide the course coordinator’s details, expected completion date and number of learners. Learners should be registered within 60 days of starting and before assessment takes place.

Access the members' area

Access resources

ASDAN provides a wide range of supporting resources, including course standards with guidance and assessment materials. All resources related to your course can be found on the course webpage.

Assessment

All courses are assessed through portfolios or projects, instead of exams. Appropriate internal quality assurance (IQA) and external quality assurance (EQA) will take place according to the course and you will be guided on this by our team.

ASDAN training provides guidance on qualification planning, delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance. It is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.

Centres are responsible for ensuring staff are appropriately skilled and meet the requirements in the qualification specification.

Training is included as part of ASDAN membership for organisations joining or renewing after 1 April 2026, excluding tailored INSET.

Explore ASDAN training

ASDAN Qualification Assessment Planning 

Three free training videos explain what assessment plans are, how to complete them and how to manage assessment planning across learner cohorts.

Access the course

All registration costs are per learner.

Item Price
Employability:  
Award (all levels) £37
Certificate (all levels) £37

 

Public funding for ASDAN qualifications delivered in the UK

Some Employability Qualifications are approved for public funding for eligible learners.

Funding status can change. Members should check the current government qualification record for the relevant level and size before registering learners or making funding decisions.

Products and materials can be purchased below.

Products

Course resources

Learning log

Employability qualifications: skills check and review

These templates have been taken from the ASDAN Employability qualifications student books. Learners complete a skills check at the start of a course or programme and review their progress at the end of the course to see how they have developed and improved their employability skills.

Common interview questions

This worksheet can be used to support learning in preparation for interviews. Learners are asked to identify commonly asked interview questions and plan their answers to these questions using key points. It can be used to support teaching and learning for the Employability Entry 3 unit 'Applying for a job', where learners are required to present information about themselves at an interview.

Scheme of work template

This template can be used to plan and create a scheme of work for any ASDAN programme or qualification. Also included is a completed example showing a scheme of work for Module 3 of the Personal Development Programmes.

Witness Statement Sheet

A witness statement template that can be used to provide evidence for a completed task or activity.

Progression pathway
Careers and Experiencing Work Short Course
Cookies