Listing Awarding Bodies
WhichCollege.ie provides an overview of awarding bodies operating in Ireland, the UK, and internationally. While many postgraduate qualifications are issued by organisations with statutory authority, a wide range of professional bodies also grant their own awards linked to advanced study. Although most Irish courses lead to qualifications from domestic awarding bodies, some programmes result in international or non‑Irish awards, depending on the institution or field of study.
A number of Irish institutions act both as education providers and as awarding bodies in their own right. This includes the Irish universities and the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), which have the authority to confer postgraduate qualifications.
An academic award (whether a degree, diploma, or certificate) is granted when a learner successfully completes a recognised programme of higher education at undergraduate or postgraduate level. These awards are issued by designated awarding bodies and are aligned with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The NFQ distinguishes between major and non‑major awards, with the latter covering minor, special‑purpose, and supplemental awards.
Major awards represent the primary qualification type at each NFQ level and correspond to substantial learning achievements. Examples include an Honours Bachelor Degree at Level 8, a Master’s Degree at Level 9, and a Doctoral Degree at Level 10.
Recent legislative changes have streamlined Ireland’s qualifications system, reducing the number of statutory awarding bodies. The responsibilities previously held by organisations such as the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), the National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA), Solas, Teagasc, CERT, and Bord Iascaigh Mhara have been consolidated under the awards councils FETAC and HETAC.
Below, WhichCollege.ie outlines the awarding bodies responsible for certification across Ireland and the UK.
CIBTAC – the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology – was established in 1977. The organisation is the education arm of the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology. It is a not-for-profit organisation.
The Confederation develops their courses in association with government agencies and employers. As a result, they meet the needs of the beauty and leisure industry.
CIBTAC offers a wide portfolio of health and beauty courses. These include:
- Beauty therapy
- Spa
- Well being
- Diet and nutrition
- Sports therapy
- Complementary and holistic therapies
Awards and qualifications
CIBTAC offers three levels of qualification. These are:
Awards (1 to 12 credits)
Certificates (13 to 36 credits)
Diplomas (37 credits or more)
In addition, credits are awarded for the number of hours of training that is allocated to each qualification structure. One credit is approximately 10 hours of training. Therefore, any qualification with up to 130 of training is equal to up to 13 credits.
Accreditation
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), who regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland accredits CIBTAC qualifications.
