Managing Change to the Common Award System An ... - Fetac

Appendix 5 Claiming an exemption
Where a provider has a validated programme, they may have learners on that programme
who already have one or more existing awards. Where a learner already holds an existing
component which is referenced to one of the new common award components, it is possible to
use the component previously awarded if, and only if, the learner is applying for a major
award or special purpose award. Claiming an exemption is a procedure carried out at centre
level when entering candidates for certification.
For example, a learner who already has the level 5 component Early Childhood Education
(D20007) and is applying for one of the new level 5 major awards can use D20007 to apply for
the new component 5N1773 Early Childhood Education and Play.
The procedure is as follows:
The centre informs the learner which, if any, of his/her existing components can be used
towards the new major, special purpose or supplemental award s/he is working towards
For each existing component held, the learner presents the original FETAC certificate /
transcript to the centre. The centre should verify the codes and titles against the
reference list in Appendices 2 and 3.
The centre takes a copy of the certificate(s) / transcript(s) and completes the Exemption
Claim Form (see over).
The centre places the copy and the signed form in the learner’s portfolio where they are
available for internal verification and external authentication
When entering the learner’s results, the centre should enter the learner for the new
common award component (e.g. 5N1773 Early Childhood Education and Play) but
should specify that an Exemption is being used and should also identify the existing
component (D20007 Early Childhood Education) from the list of Alternates provided in
FBS.
To achieve a new common major or special purpose award a learner must have achieved at
least one of the new component awards
The facility to use existing components for exemption purposes will be available until the end
of 2015. From January 2016 only common award components may be used to achieve
major or special purpose awards.
Components achieved through exemption will be graded as ‘Exempt’ on a transcript. As the
transcript displays the learner’s entire FETAC award history, the original component used to
achieve the exemption will also show on the transcript, with the relevant grade and date
awarded.
*Following a review this award is deemed no longer relevant
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