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Qualifications do not just have a purchase price, they have an associated value – they are a passport to employment, relocation or further education. Everyone should be able to trust that a certificate proves that the holder has undertaken specific training and demonstrated the appropriate level of competence. Employers want to trust that people are properly and legitimately qualified to do their job. 

Sometimes people try to get a certificate without doing the work to demonstrate they have necessary skills and knowledge. Organisations sometimes profit by helping people to cheat. Falsifying qualification certificates can also be a gateway to facilitate wider criminal activity.  

We are setting out a package of measures that we consider necessary to strengthen steps to find, tackle and prevent qualification fraud.

Ofqual will:  

1) work with other industry licensing organisations, sector regulators and government agencies to jointly tackle qualification fraud and, where necessary, work with appropriate enforcement agencies to deal with associated criminal activity 

2) issue a Fraud Prevention Advice Note to AOs so that they can better address the risk of fraud in accordance with their conditions of recognition 

3) explore methods for intelligence sharing and collaborative use of data between awarding organisations  

4) help people spot qualification fraud and deter fraud from happening by making clear the consequences 

5) make it easier to report suspicious activity and concerns

A list of organisations that have confirmed their support of Ofqual’s Fraud Action Plan is available as an annex in the attached action plan document.