Unlike academic qualifications, health and social care RQF diplomas do not require GCSEs, A-Levels, or prior academic qualifications to enrol. The entry requirements are practical: you need to be working in adult social care, have the English literacy skills to complete written knowledge units, and have sufficient workplace experience to generate evidence for your assessor. Lift College's entry point is Level 3 — for those earlier in their care career, the wider qualification framework includes Level 2, but this is not a qualification Lift College currently offers.
What are the entry requirements for Level 3?
- Minimum 12 months of relevant care experience (paid or voluntary)
- Currently working in an adult social care setting where observations can take place
- English literacy at Level 2 standard (GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent)
- A care setting that supports workplace observations — your employer must agree to assessor visits
- No prior academic qualifications required; a recognition of prior learning (RPL) assessment replaces any formal prerequisites
What are the entry requirements for Level 5?
- A management or supervisory role in an adult care setting (deputy manager, team leader, senior care worker with management responsibilities)
- Minimum two to three years of experience in adult social care
- Level 3 diploma recommended; RPL assessment available for those without Level 3
- Your organisation must permit assessor access for workplace observations at management level
- English literacy at Level 2 standard as a minimum
What does "working in a care setting" mean?
For all work-based health and social care qualifications, your workplace is your assessment centre. Your assessor must be able to observe you carrying out your care duties directly — caring for real service users in a real regulated setting. This can be a residential care home, nursing home, supported living service, day care centre, domiciliary care agency, or NHS community or clinical support role.
Voluntary work counts if it is regular, supervised, and involves direct care duties. Zero-hours contract workers can qualify provided they work consistently enough for your assessor to complete the required number of observations. Bank staff and agency workers may face scheduling challenges but can still enrol provided they maintain sufficient hours.
You cannot complete a work-based health and social care diploma without workplace access. Simulated environments or online-only study do not satisfy the competency unit requirements at Level 3 or above. If you do not yet have sufficient care experience, building 12 months in a care assistant role first is the most effective route to Level 3 enrolment.
Do I need to speak English to enrol?
You need sufficient English to complete the written knowledge units, which are at a Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) standard. If English is not your first language, Lift College will assess your language level during your initial consultation. Many care workers for whom English is a second language successfully complete these qualifications — the assessment is practical and based on your work, not on formal written examinations.