Regulating health and care V Levels at subject level

The Department for Education (DfE) is introducing V Levels as a new qualification type to be delivered alongside A Levels and T Levels. The first tranche of subjects, comprising V Levels in accounting and finance, digital and data systems, and education will be taught from September 2027. Additional subjects are being introduced on a phased basis over subsequent years. Further information on the planned rollout can be found in DfE’s Post-16 Pathways Implementation Plan. 

This consultation is one of 6 consultations seeking views on the Subject Level Conditions (SLCs), requirements and guidance we propose to set for the 11 V Level subjects due to be first taught in 2028. Each consultation covers the V Level subjects within a particular sector and explains our proposed approach to regulating those subjects, including the proposed SLCs, requirements and guidance.  

This consultation seeks views on the proposed SLCs for the health and care V Level subjects. It will close on 8 January 2027. 

The proposed subject titles covered in this consultation are: 

• V Level in health  
• V Level in social care 

The remaining 5 consultations cover the following sectors and proposed subject titles: 

• Science: 
  • V Level in science research and technology 
     
  • V Level in healthcare science and technology 

• Enterprise and professional services: 

  • V Level in legal services 

  • V Level in business management and operations 

  • V Level in sales and marketing 

• Construction: 

  • V Level in construction: design, surveying, planning

• Engineering and manufacturing: 

  • V Level in engineering and manufacturing

  • V Level in engineering design 

• Sport and leisure: 

  • V Level in sport and physical activity 

DfE subject content 

DfE is consulting on the proposed subject content for the next tranche of subjects which are scheduled to be first taught from September 2028.  

Information on how to respond to DfE’s consultations can be found at Post-16 level 2 and 3 qualifications: Proposed subject content. These consultations will launch throughout November 2026 and close in December 2026 and January 2027. The final versions of the subject content will be published in early 2027. 

Ofqual’s regulatory framework for V Levels 

Ofqual published its consultation outcome and decisions Regulating post-16 vocational and technical qualifications at levels 2 and 3 on 10 September 2026. Alongside the consultation outcome, we published our regulatory framework for V Levels. 

This second series of consultations focuses on the second tranche of subjects, which are scheduled to be first taught in 2028. As the Qualification Level Conditions (QLCs), requirements and guidance for V Levels have already been published, the consultations seek views only on the proposed Subject Level Conditions (SLCs) for the 11 V Level subjects due to be introduced in 2028. These consultations are running concurrently with DfE’s consultations on subject content. Our intention is to publish Ofqual’s decisions following these consultations, alongside the final SLCs, requirements and guidance, in early 2027. Our consultations do not address DfE's wider policy decisions, the subject content itself, or the implementation timetable for the reforms, as these matters fall outside Ofqual's remit.