Admission Policy
FSMQC reviews individual and sponsored applicants against the selected programme’s requirements. This policy defines eligibility evidence, decision authority and registration controls before training.
The Training Manager confirms the exact qualification route, current specification and permitted scope before an offer is confirmed. Record the entry criteria and specification revision. Keep applications pending where requirements or approvals are unresolved. Qualification level alone does not determine eligibility.
| Criterion | Required check and evidence |
|---|---|
| Identity and nationality | Match accepted photo ID to the application and certificate name. Apply objective criteria to all nationalities; collect residency evidence only for a documented requirement. |
| Age and younger learners | Apply the programme’s stated minimum age. Where under-18 admission is permitted, record parent/legal representative consent and suitable safeguarding arrangements before acceptance. |
| Education and experience | Check course-required qualifications, prior learning and experience. Distinguish mandatory conditions from recommendations. Obtain certificates, CVs or experience evidence only where relevant to the criteria. |
| Language and literacy | Check proficiency in the actual delivery and assessment language, including required literacy and numeracy. Record the screening method, findings and any permitted support. |
| Practical suitability and access | Check essential practical tasks and agree permitted adjustments without changing competence requirements. Seek medical evidence only for a specific requirement or identified risk; retain it confidentially. |
| Entry assessment and prior learning | Use a competent assessor and course-approved criteria for any entry assessment; retain results. Credit and prior-learning recognition require an authorised route and evidence. |
| Programme or route | Entry and release control |
|---|---|
| Highfield RQF and International routes | For the selected qualification in catalogue 4.4, confirm its age, language, prerequisites and practical conditions. Keep RQF and International specifications distinct. |
| ISO and NCEMA programmes | Select Awareness, Internal Auditor or Implementer. Check the approved plan’s prerequisites and readiness for its learning tasks, including relevant subject knowledge; record preparation or support. |
| Halal Lead Auditor Training | Confirm proficiency in the delivery language. Two or more years in food-industry operations or quality assurance is recommended, not mandatory. Record experience and support needs. |
| Equine First Aid | Minimum age: 16 years. Learners must be physically capable of completing practical assessments. Check suitability and permitted support before confirmation. |
| Historical and unresolved routes | EFST is historical, with no delivery after 8 January 2026; new bookings require confirmed authority. Hold the legacy Level 2 International Emergency First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid, Defibrillation and CPR routes until the qualification, issuer and current specification are confirmed. |
Sources: completed FSMQC-COM-001 programme reference, portfolio review 8 September 2026; Equine First Aid specification v1.0, 23 September 2025, p.3; Halal Lead Auditor specification v1.0, 10 October 2025, p.3. Check current controlled versions before enrolment.
Admission decisions and registration controls
| Stage and responsible role | Action and record to retain |
|---|---|
| Course enquiry The Sales and Marketing Manager and the Sales Officer and Customer Relations Sales and Customer Relations | Identify the learner’s goal, exact course and sponsor. Provide course information and the approved quotation. Refer eligibility decisions to the Training Manager. |
| Application and evidence HR and Administration Manager | Open a registration reference and collect the signed application, contact details, ID and required evidence. For groups, retain nominations, authorised acceptance and payer details; check each learner. |
| Eligibility review Training Manager with IT responsibility | Check mandatory criteria and arrange any screening by a competent trainer/assessor. Record evidence, findings, adjustments, unmet conditions and the agreed review date. |
| Decision and exceptions The Training Manager and the Academic Director | Training Manager approves standard admissions. The Academic Director approves permitted exceptions and escalations. Record reasons and conditions; mandatory awarding-body and licence requirements cannot be waived. |
| Fees and payment The Deputy General Manager and Accounting Manager and the Accountant Finance and Accounting | Deputy General Manager and Accounting Manager reviews financial arrangements; the Accountant verifies invoices, receipts and payment status. Retain accepted terms and authorised variations; the HR and Administration Manager links these to registration. |
| Final enrolment and briefing The HR and Administration Manager and the Training Manager with the assigned trainer | Clear mandatory conditions. Confirm the trainer, timetable, venue, capacity and support. Complete the policy briefing and signed Acknowledgment 1.1.4.3; the Training Manager checks the cohort and the HR and Administration Manager files it. |
Record Accepted, Conditional, Deferred or Not accepted, with reasons. A conditional offer states the missing item, owner and deadline; clear mandatory conditions before training. Explain alternatives and appeal rights. Target routine decisions within three working days of a complete file; agree revised dates for additional checks and notify delays. This is an internal target.
Use Complaints 1.1.3.1 and Appeals 1.1.3.2 without retaliation. Normally appeal within five working days of receiving the written decision. Replace any original decision-maker or involved reviewer to ensure independence.
Before acceptance, state fees, tax treatment, inclusions, assessment/certificate charges and cancellation terms. Full payment is due one week before training under 1.1.2.1. Credit, instalments or discounts require documented authority consistent with that policy. Issue invoices and retain receipts for individual and sponsored bookings.
Attendance follows 1.1.1.1: full required teaching time unless an authorised rule permits otherwise. Groups below five learners need written Academic Director approval. Apply course-specific capacity and equipment ratios. Admission and payment do not establish certificate eligibility.
The HR and Administration Manager retains the application, criteria/version, evidence, assessor, dates, decision, approver, conditions, notification, payment and acknowledgment. Keep admissions records at least five years from course completion or application closure, and longer where required; linked complaint/appeal and certificate files follow their own schedules. Restrict access and preserve corrections. The Training Manager checks cohorts; the Engineering Manager samples decisions quarterly. Review annually or after relevant changes.