OTHM Qualifications and NQual are both Ofqual-recognised awarding organisations. That means the qualifications they issue can appear on the Register of Regulated Qualifications and are designed to a national standard — not an unregulated short course. LEAP Education is the admissions route: you apply here and study 100% online with tutor support and assignment-based assessment. OTHM Qualifications typically focuses on business, management, health and education at RQF Levels 3–7. NQual typically focuses on health and social care, childcare and education. Neither is automatically “better”; the right choice depends on the subject, the RQF level you need, and whether you want a specific progression route such as a university top-up. Use the table and course lists below to compare what LEAP currently offers from each awarding body, then speak to admissions if you want a match to a job spec or a further-study plan.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | OTHM Qualifications | NQual |
|---|---|---|
| Ofqual regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Awarding organisation | OTHM Qualifications | NQual |
| Study mode on LEAP programmes | 100% online via LEAP Education | 100% online via LEAP Education |
| Typical fee range (published standard fees) | £950.00 – £5900.00 | £950.00 – £1250.00 |
| Study mode | 100% online distance learning | 100% online distance learning |
| Qualifications listed on LEAP | 116 | 7 |
OTHM Qualifications qualifications on LEAP
BA (Hons) Business Management with Diploma in Health and Social Care Management - 24 months
From £5900.00
Level 2 + Level 3 + Level 4 + Level 5 + Level 6 + Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £4900.00
Level 2 + Level 3 + Level 4 + Level 5 + Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £3300.00
Level 2 + Level 3 + Level 4 + Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £2800.00
Level 2 + Level 3 + Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £2100.00
Level 2 + Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £1500.00
Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £950.00
Level 3 + Level 4 + Level 5 + Level 6 + Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £3300.00
Level 3 + Level 4 + Level 5 + Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £2800.00
Level 3 + Level 4 + Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £2100.00
Level 3 + Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £1500.00
Level 3 + Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £1500.00
Level 3 Diploma in Business Studies
From £950.00
Level 3 Diploma in Business Studies - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies
From £950.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Accountancy
From £950.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Accountancy - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Employability and Workplace Skills
From £950.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Employability and Workplace Skills - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Engineering
From £950.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Engineering - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care
From £950.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Information Technology
From £950.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Information Technology - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in People and Organisations
From £950.00
Level 3 Foundation Diploma in People and Organisations - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Technical Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
From £950.00
Level 3 Technical Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 + Level 5 + Level 6 + Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £2800.00
Level 4 + Level 5 + Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £2100.00
Level 4 + Level 5 + Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management (Equivalent to BSc degree) - 15 months
Level 4 + Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £1500.00
Level 4 Award In Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
From £950.00
Level 4 Award In Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Certificate In Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
From £950.00
Level 4 Certificate In Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Diploma in Accounting and Business
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Accounting and Business - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Diploma in Business Management (120 credits)
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Business Management (120 credits) - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Diploma in Education and Training Management
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Education and Training Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Diploma in Project Management
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Project Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 4 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 5 + Level 6 + Level 7 Diploma in Health and Safety Management
From £2100.00
Level 5 + Level 6 + Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £2100.00
Level 5 + Level 6 Diploma in Health and Safety Management
From £1500.00
Level 5 + Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £1500.00
Level 5 Diploma Occupational Health and Safety Practice
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Accounting and Business
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Accounting and Business - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 5 Diploma in Business Management (120 credits)
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Business Management (120 credits) - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 5 Diploma in Information Technology
From £1250.00
Level 5 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Project Management
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Project Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 5 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 + Level 7 Diploma in Health and Safety Management
From £1500.00
Level 6 + Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £1500.00
Level 6 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
From £950.00
Level 6 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Certificate in Python
From £950.00
Level 6 Certificate in Python - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Diploma in Accounting and Business
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Accounting and Business - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Diploma in Business Management
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Business Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Diploma in Information Technology
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Information Technology - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH Accredited)
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Teaching and Learning
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Teaching and Learning - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 6 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
From £950.00
Level 6 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Award In Understanding Corporate Governance in Process Safety
From £950.00
Level 7 Award In Understanding Corporate Governance in Process Safety - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Artificial Intelligence
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Artificial Intelligence - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Business and Organisational Psychology
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Business and Organisational Psychology - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Education Management and Leadership
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Education Management and Leadership - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Environmental and Sustainability Management
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Environmental and Sustainability Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Immersive Software Engineering
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Immersive Software Engineering - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in International Business Law
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Project Management (120 credits)
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Project Management (120 credits) - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
From £950.00
Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
From £1099.00
Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice - 6 months
From £1399.00
MBA with Diploma in Health and Social Care Management - 12 months
NQual qualifications on LEAP
Level 2 Diploma in Care
From £950.00
Level 2 Diploma in Care - 6 months
From £1250.00
Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
From £950.00
Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
From £950.00
Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare
From £950.00
Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service
From £950.00
Frequently asked questions
Which is better — OTHM Qualifications or NQual?
Neither is universally better. Both OTHM Qualifications and NQual are Ofqual-recognised awarding organisations. The right choice depends on the subject, the RQF level you need, and the progression route you want. Compare the lists below or ask LEAP admissions to match a qualification to your goal.
Are both Ofqual-regulated?
Yes. OTHM Qualifications and NQual are Ofqual-recognised awarding organisations. You can confirm a specific qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications.
Can I switch from one awarding body to the other?
You cannot usually switch mid-programme. Credits and units are set by the awarding organisation that issues the certificate. If you need a different AO, complete the current award or start a new enrolment on the other qualification. Ask admissions before you pay if you are unsure.