Further information and FAQs
CII welcomes submissions from awarding organisations
This is particularly valuable where an awarding organisation launches a new qualification and wishes to publicise the prior learning award. Engaging with CII before its students graduate can allow CII to complete the mapping exercise to and avoid delays to its graduates applications.
How long will it take for the CII to determine the prior learning award?
From the time that we receive a complete submission reviews take an average 8–12 weeks to complete. During busy periods or where further information is required this may take longer. We will update the awarding organisation in the event of the review taking longer than 12 weeks.
Publicising CII prior learning awards
Responsibility for the accuracy and for updating details of CII prior learning awards within an awarding organisation's publications rests solely with the awarding organisation. The CII shall not be liable to any awarding organisaton or any individual applicants for out of date or inaccurate information and the CII, at its sole discretion, will determine what awards, if any, may be made to individual applicants.
The CII will not accept liability for any losses (including direct, indirect, or consequential losses) of any kind arising out of the award or withdrawal of credit awards for prior learning.
Requirement for awarding organisation and individuals to comply with guidance for recognition of prior learning
If an awarding organisation breaches or fails to comply with this guidance or the criteria for recognition of prior learning, or fails to co-operate promptly with the CII in relation to any reasonable request, the CII reserves its right to withdraw the prior learning scheme from the awarding organisation on such notice as the CII thinks fit and/or to amend, withdraw or refuse to make an award to any individual applicant in relation to learning gained through that awarding organisation, even where the individual applicant was unaware of the breach or failure to comply by the relevant awarding organisation.
If an individual applicant breaches or fails to comply with any relevant aspect of this guidance or fails to co-operate promptly with the CII in relation to any reasonable request, the CII reserves its right to amend, withdraw or refuse to make an award to such individual.
Requirement for awarding organisations to remain in contact with CII once an award has been made
It is important that CII has up-to-date details of awarding organisations and programme leaders engaging with CII on prior learning awards. This allows CII to keep awarding oeganisations up-to-date with changes that may affect prior learning awards to its graduates and to notify any changes to awards.
Information to candidates
CII asks awarding organisations to encourage their students to consult the CII website regularly to familiarise themselves with changes that may affect prior learning awards and to notify any changes to awards.
FAQs for awarding organisations
How frequently does the CII review prior learning awards?
CII reviews awards at least once every three years or sooner if there are changes that could impact on the prior learning awards. Qualifications evolve and we are required to ensure that the match to the relevant CII units continues to exist in order to continue to make awards. This means that, although we have previously confirmed recognition of prior learning awards, they may expire.
Once the CII has awarded recognition of prior learning how long does it last?
The award will normally expire after three years, unless there are changes to the CII qualifications or the non-CII qualification. Changes include the withdrawal or introduction of CII qualification units. For example, where holders of a qualification are eligible for an exemption of a CII unit and we no longer award the CII unit to our students we will no longer be able to award this unit for recognition of prior learning. If we introduce new units we may be able to award these instead, providing there is sufficient match to the learning outcomes and assessment.
We plan to make changes to our qualification(s). How will this affect the CII recognition of prior learning award for our students?
Please inform us prior to making the change. We will ask for details of the changes and the effective dates of first and last assessment sittings for each version of the qualification. We may subsequently require a full submission of qualification syllabus
and assessments (including marking schemes/model answers) in order to advise on the impact on future awards.
What will happen if we do not supply all the details of our qualifications before the current prior learning award expires?
Holders of your qualifications will be able to apply for CII prior learning in the normal manner. We will ask applicants to provide details of the qualification. We are happy to receive the qualification details either from applicants or directly from awarding organisations. To ensure a seamless application process for your graduates please provide the information requested promptly.
Where can I find details of the closest CII units that you use when comparing qualifications?
Details of the CII qualifications and units, including syllabuses, assessment and recommended study hours, are available on
the CII website: cii.co.uk/qualifications
What documentation do you require in order to determine prior learning awards?
Please see the submission details for a full list.
Does the CII require us to carry out a matching exercise before submitting qualification details?
Many awarding organisations find it valuable to carry out such an exercise for internal quality purposes. CII does not require details of a matching exercise nor will it provide detailed feedback on an awarding organisation's internal matching exercise.
We are launching a new qualification and we would like the CII to review the potential for a prior learning award to our future students. The assessment papers and marking schemes/model answers cannot be released until they have been sat by our students. Can we still send material for the CII to review?
CII would be happy to carry out an initial review based on specimen papers and may subsequently require live papers before providing definitive confirmation of the award. CII may be able provide an indication of the outcome, together with feedback on any prior learning standards not fully met where this assists in the development of a new qualification.
CII treats all qualification material submitted for reviews with the utmost confidentiality.
I am not happy with the CII award. Can I appeal?
If you wish to raise any concerns please email priorlearning@cii.co.uk. CII will review and provide feedback.