BTEC National

The following set of frequently asked questions give information about the BTEC National qualification.

BTEC National FAQs

Question:What is a BTEC National?
Answer:The BTEC National is perhaps the best-known BTEC qualification that we offer. It’s a university entry level qualification, a qualification for employment and a progression route to the BTEC Higher National. It has normally been the first BTEC qualification that many people have studied either after school or for a new job.
  
Question:How many do I study?
Answer:You only study for one BTEC qualification at a time. This lets you build and focus your knowledge and skills in a particular area.
  
Question:How many units are there?
Answer:There are three BTEC National qualifications and each one has a different number of units. The BTEC National Award has 6 units, the BTEC National Certificate has 12 units and the BTEC National Diploma has 18 units. There are a set number of core units but most subjects give you a choice of what option units to take.
  
Question:How long does it take to do one?
Answer:The BTEC National Award has 360 learning hours, the BTEC National Certificate has 720 learning hours and the BTEC National Diploma has 1080 learning hours. The Award and Certificate qualifications are often done over one year, whereas the Diploma qualification is often done over two years. However, there are no hard and fast rules about how long it takes – it’s up to you.
  
Question:Where can I study for a BTEC National?
Answer:You can study for a BTEC National at your nearest approved centre. To find out which one is closest to you, please contact your local Edexcel regional office.
  
Question:Can I study part time?
Answer:Yes, you can study for a BTEC National as you wish. If you want to study part time, full time or another way, there is no problem. The most important thing is that you study for the right number of hours (360 hours for the Award, 720 for the Certificate and 1080 for the Diploma).
  
Question:What can I do after I finish a BTEC National?
Answer:Most students will go on to university after their BTEC National. It’s a popular and successful route to university for many people. Others prefer to continue with a BTEC Higher National qualification. Still others go straight into work when they’ve finished a BTEC National – it gives you the right level of skills and knowledge to make a difference whatever field you’ve studied.
  
Question:Who normally takes a BTEC National?
Answer:Anyone can take a BTEC National – we would expect that students aged around 17 would be interested, as well as people at work who may want to get back into education, or who simply want to update or develop new skills that they can use at work.
  
Question:What subjects are available?
Answer:There are a large number of BTEC Nationals available. For a full list please go to the Qualifications area of our website. The most popular subjects are in the Business, IT, Art and Engineering sectors.
  
Question: Will a BTEC National get me a better job?
Answer:BTEC Nationals are well-recognised by universities and employers. So, whether you want to do a degree or earn money straight away, there’s a BTEC National for you.