General regulations for approved centres
The General Regulations for Approved Centres establish the essential framework governing how centres deliver JCQ members’ qualifications, ensuring assessment integrity and security. These regulations form the contractual foundation between centres and awarding organisations, setting out clear requirements that all approved centres must meet.
Who are these regulations for
The regulations apply to centres approved by at least one JCQ awarding organisation. They must be read by the head of centre, senior leadership team members, and the examinations officer.
The head of centre is accountable to awarding organisations for ensuring compliance with all published JCQ regulations and must have the authority to deploy necessary resources to maintain compliance. The examinations officer acts as the main point of contact for examination administration matters.
General regulations for approved centres: General and Vocational qualifications
This guidance is for the attention of heads of centre, senior leaders within schools and colleges and examinations officers. First published in 2025 by the Joint Council for Qualifications. You can view the guidance in multiple formats.
Supporting documents
The General Regulations reference several key documents that provide additional guidance and support for centres. These documents offer detailed frameworks, policies and practical tools to help schools, colleges and other educational establishments meet their regulatory obligations and maintain compliance with JCQ requirements.
Preparing for disruption to exams
This guidance is provided within the JCQ Joint Contingency Plan. All centres must have an up to date written contingency plan., which must cover all aspects of examination/assessment administration and delivery.
Senior leaders must have robust contingency arrangements in place to minimise the risks.
