QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 Exams (2002-2027)
INFORMATION SHEET


Making an application to CAO on the basis of QQI FET/FETAC qualifications

If you are presenting QQI FET/FETAC results from the years 2002 to 2027, you must tick category 2, 2002-2027 QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 Exams, in the Qualifications and Assessment Summary. When you log in to your application you must supply your correct PPSN in the box provided.

QQI use your Personal and Public Service Number (PPSN) as a unique identifier/examination number.

Applicants must ensure that the PPSN supplied to QQI by their college/centre/provider is the same as the one that is supplied to CAO.

How are QQI FET/FETAC qualifications assessed?

For information on how QQI FET/FETAC awards are assessed you should visit CAO QQI information and click on: QQI FET/FETAC Entry Requirements.

For any further information on how these awards are assessed you should contact the Admissions Offices of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that you have applied to: CAO HEI contact information.

Please Note: Specific QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 awards may be required for entry to particular courses.

A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 Award is required; a QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 Record of Achievement / Component Certificate is not sufficient.

How does CAO obtain QQI results?

CAO will use the PPSN supplied by you to obtain 2002-2027 Level 5/6 results from QQI. When current year results are received (usually in June) CAO will email all QQI FET/FETAC applicants. You must follow the instructions in this email carefully and check that all of your QQI Level 5/6 results are appearing correctly on your online CAO account.

If you require previous FETAC Level 5/6 examinations to be combined with your current year QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 examinations, you should contact QQI to ensure that CAO receives the combined results in the current year examination results file. You should check the appropriate HEI literature to ensure that your QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 course is acceptable and go to CAO QQI information for more information.

Qualifications not received from QQI:

CAO does not receive all Further Education qualifications electronically from QQI. Applicants presenting:

etc., should indicate the Other Further Education section (category 5) on the Qualifications and Assessment Summary and supply evidence of such qualifications to CAO.

When will I be notified of an offer?

The timing of offers for applicants applying on the basis of QQI FET/FETAC Level 5/6 results depends on the course(s) an applicant is applying to.

Where courses have a QQI quota of places reserved for QQI applicants, you will be assessed in Round Zero (early August) based on your QQI results. If you are not successful in receiving an offer in this offer round, and if the quota of places is filled, you can continue to be assessed in Round One and later offer rounds based on, for example, your Leaving Certificate or other school leaving qualifications.

Where courses do not have a quota of places reserved for QQI applicants, you will be assessed for the first time in Round One based on your highest scoring set of results in a single sitting i.e. either your QQI results if there is a QQI entry route and you meet the requirements or other qualifications if presenting other results, for example, Leaving Certificate exams.

What is a Quota/Non-Quota Course?

Some courses have a QQI quota of places reserved for QQI applicants. Applications to QQI quota courses will be considered in Round Zero (early August). Applications to non-quota courses will be considered for the first time in Round One, alongside other school leavers.

You can check if the courses you are applying to have a QQI quota reserved using CAO QQI course search.

Type in the relevant course code and click Go.

This will bring up a page outlining the Major Awards required to be considered for the course and any essential component awards. The final column with the heading 'Notes' will have codes to indicate if the course is a quota course or not (there will also be codes relating to the combining of component awards over more than a single academic year for scoring purposes):

Std (Standard Entry)
Your score is used to rank you among school leavers as well as those presenting QQI FET/FETAC. Applications for Standard Entry courses are first considered in Round One.
Qta (QQI FET Quota Entry)
Your score is used to rank you among QQI FET applicants for places reserved under the QQI FET quota. Applications for QQI FET Quota courses are first considered in Round Zero.
One (Single Assessment Year)
Your ranking is based on your best score from one QQI FET assessment year.
Cmb (Combined Assessment Years)
Your ranking is based on your best score achieved across multiple QQI FET assessment years, combined where applicable.
Note: An assessment year is one academic year. For example, the 2027 academic year runs from August 2026 to July 2027.
Art (Additional Assessment Required)
The QQI FET/FETAC assessment will be combined with an assessment carried out by the HEI offering the course (e.g. an art portfolio assessment or an audition).

Important Communications from CAO

You should monitor emails regularly as we may contact you with important communications related to your application.

All applicants will receive a Check and Confirm email from CAO in May.

In June, all applicants who have indicated QQI FET/FETAC will receive an email from CAO in relation to their QQI results.