I am a new provider

Important News Update

We wish to advise that following the commencement of regulations arising from legislation passed in 2019 i.e. Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education And Training) (Amendment) Act 2019, the ministerial regulations have set criteria relating to the legal identity, ownership, good standing and financial sustainability of any provider, current or prospective. Consequently, information will need to be supplied by any organisation applying to QQI for approval as a provider, to be used for evaluation against these criteria.  

The overall provider approval process will now include separate due diligence and quality assurance evaluations, both of which must be successful. Collection of the detailed information and documentation for due diligence checks against the new criteria will require a dedicated IT platform which is currently in development.

Please note that while this is in development, the IAV application process is being put on pause and no applications for provider approval can be accepted.  

Further updates will be provided at a later stage.

The Process

If you are a new provider wishing to offer programmes leading to QQI awards, you must apply to QQI for:

1. QA approval
2. Validation of your first programme(s) through a process called Initial Access to Validation (IAV)

The purpose of the IAV process is to assist a provider in developing an appropriate quality assurance system to promote and support quality in its programmes and services.

Through this process, providers can learn about those areas of provision that QQI considers crucial, as well as how to approach establishing a quality system that incorporates both operational procedures and a system of review to monitor the effectiveness of those procedures.

As stated above, this process is currently on pause.