Learners across Scotland are celebrating after receiving their results. But do you know all the different types of qualifications being awarded, and how they can help your business? It’s not just about National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers.

The variety of qualifications that have been attained give learners a wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding in a wealth of subject areas, many of which have given them experience of working with a local employer.

While for some learners their results support them in taking the next step in their education journey, for others their results enable them to enter the workplace. This might be to start a job or take an apprenticeship or internship that includes a mix of work and learning.

Whatever path they take, they – and you – can have full confidence in the standard and credibility of their qualifications.

Skills-based awards that unlock training and career opportunities

In addition to National, Higher and Advanced Higher courses, Qualifications Scotland offers a wide range of qualifications, in a variety of different sectors.

After a record-breaking year for vocational and technical qualifications in Scotland last year, numbers have continued to grow as the country’s learners excelled in achieving valuable skills to build rewarding careers.

There has been a 9.1% increase in the number of achievements for our vocational and technical qualifications since 2025. That’s a total of 120,485 awards across Skills for Work courses, Awards, National Certificates and National Progression Awards.

The diversity of qualifications being achieved today is further evidence of the appetite for skills-based, practical qualifications along with traditional subjects, which give learners a variety of options to develop skills and build work experience that employers are looking for.

The increasing breadth of qualifications has clearly captured the imagination of learners across Scotland – including in areas such as Employability, Business and Information Technology, Engineering Systems, Fabrication and Welding Engineering, Climate Change and Sustainability, Computer Games Development, Hospitality, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Leadership, Health Sector, Modern Languages for Life and Work, Furniture Making, Personal Finance, Personal Development and Sports Development.

National Certificates (NCs) and National Progression Awards (NPAs) develop skills much sought after by employers, and prepare people for employment, career development or educational progression. NPAs are linked to National Occupational Standards and are delivered in partnership with schools, colleges and employers. There are NCs and NPAs in subject areas as diverse as Computing Science, Employability, Hair and Beauty and Sports Education.

Skills for Work courses focus on generic employability skills needed for the workplace. The courses place emphasis on experiential and practical learning, giving young people an understanding of the workplace and attitudes towards work. These courses are available in areas including Early Learning and Childcare, Hospitality and Travel and Tourism.

Awards are practice-based work qualifications for specific sectors, providing skills and recognition for a diverse range of learners. They’re available in areas including British Sign Language, Customer Service, Forestry/Timber Production and Health and Social Care, among many others.

Foundation Apprenticeships give learners the opportunity to gain experience of the workplace and achieve a valuable qualification while still being at school, with Qualifications Scotland centres across the country approved to offer them. They are a work-based learning opportunity for secondary school pupils usually starting in S5. Young people can spend time out of school with a local employer and complete the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside their more traditional courses.

Further information

Find out more about Foundation Apprenticeships and Qualifications Scotland qualifications.