Centre approval - Vocational Qualifications

  • Choose General Qualifications

If you want to offer any OCR vocational qualification, you must first gain approval from OCR. Approval needs to be obtained for each qualification and you will only be able to enter candidates for the qualifications that you are approved to offer.

How to apply for approval

To apply for centre approval, you just need to complete the centre approval form.

You can either:

OCR Allocation TeamOperationsWestwood WayCoventryCV4 8JQ.
  • These guidance notes (PDF, 229 KB) have been provided to help you complete the form quickly and easily.

When OCR approves each application, you will receive a letter of confirmation. You can then enter candidates for the qualifications that you are approved to offer.

Approval visits

For many qualifications, OCR will approve the application on the basis of an approval form. However, a visit from an OCR representative will be required in the following circumstances:

  • If centres do not already have approval from OCR to run formal timetabled examinations.
  • NVQs require an initial approval visit and a visit for each additional approval request.

See the OCR Fees List for details of fees charged for approval visits.

Credit checking

If you are a company, sole trader or partnership, we have a credit checking process in place to help us verify your credit worthiness. You need to have been established, and trading on credit terms, for a minimum of six months and be able to supply us with two credit references (banks, solicitors and accountants are not considered as trade creditors and cannot be used as referees).

If you cannot satisfy these requirements, we will be unable to process your application; however, we can review your application after six months of trading. If you cannot meet these criteria but think there are extenuating circumstances, please email the details to the Customer Contact Centre.

How long will my approval last?

Approval is subject to continued centre activity; if there are no entries or certification claims for a qualification for three consecutive years, centre approval will automatically lapse for that qualification.

In addition, your full vocational centre approval will lapse if you have not made any entries or certification claims for any vocational qualification for three years.

If you have any questions about centre approval, please contact our Customer Contact Centre:

Telephone: 02476 851 509Email:vocational.qualifications@ocr.org.uk