Qualifications Wales Act 2015

9 Qualification specific recognition of an awarding body

(1) An awarding body may apply to Qualifications Wales for recognition in respect of the award in Wales of a qualification or description of qualification in relation to which qualification specific recognition criteria are set under section 6.

(2) If the body meets both—

(a) the general recognition criteria most recently published under section 5, and

(b) the qualification specific recognition criteria applicable in respect of the qualification and the body concerned,

Qualifications Wales must recognise the body in respect of the award in Wales of the qualification or description of qualification concerned.

(3) If the body does not meet all of those criteria Qualifications Wales may nevertheless, if it thinks it appropriate to do so, recognise the body in respect of the award in Wales of the qualification or description of qualification concerned.

(4) In determining whether it is appropriate to recognise a body under subsection (3), Qualifications Wales must have regard to—

(a) whether the body substantially meets the criteria referred to in subsection (2),

(b) the effect of its failure to meet those criteria in full, and

(c) the likelihood of its subsequently meeting those criteria in full.

(5) The effect of recognition under this section is that, provided the body is recognised under section 8, it is recognised also in respect of the award in Wales of the qualification or description of qualification specified in the recognition under this section.