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The Care Certificate

The Care Certificate is the nationally recognised set of 15 standards that every new health and social care worker in England is expected to complete. It is not an Ofqual-regulated qualification with a single awarding body, it is a Skills for Care and Health Education England framework, delivered and signed off by your employer.

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  • 12 weeks (typical induction period)Duration
  • 100% Online, employer sign-off requiredStudy Method
  • Not applicable UCAS ptsPoints Available
  • Start anytimeStart Date
Accredited qualificationUK awarding body
Start anytimeNo fixed term dates
Tutor supportExpert tutors, 7 days
14-day money backRefund if not loved
The Care Certificate at a glance
Qualification levelRQF Level 2
Qualification numberNot applicable, not an Ofqual-regulated qualification
UCAS pointsNot applicable UCAS points
Typical study time12 weeks (typical induction period)
Study method100% Online, employer sign-off required
Start dateStart anytime
Pay monthly£55.00 per month
Pay annually£649.00

This course is for you if…

  • ✓Are new to a care role, or about to start one, in a care home, home care agency or the NHS
  • ✓Have been asked by your employer to complete the Care Certificate as part of induction
  • ✓Want to understand the national standards expected of all care workers before you apply for roles
  • ✓Are returning to care work after time away and want a refresher on current standards
  • ✓Want a nationally recognised framework to evidence your induction training
  • ✓Are considering a career in adult social care or healthcare support

Your career after this course

  • ✓Are looking for an Ofqual-regulated qualification with a certificate number, since the Care Certificate is a competency framework, not a regulated qualification
  • ✓Do not have an employer or placement who can observe and sign off your practical competence
  • ✓Already hold a Care Certificate from a previous employer within the last few years, in which case a gap analysis is more appropriate
  • ✓Want a qualification that carries UCAS points
  • ✓Are looking for a stand-alone academic qualification rather than a workplace induction standard
  • ✓Need a qualification specific to nursing registration, which follows a separate NMC-regulated pathway
About this qualification

What you'll learn

The Care Certificate is the foundation that almost every paid care role in England is built on. It was introduced in 2015 by Skills for Care, Health Education England and Skills for Health, replacing the old Common Induction Standards, to make sure every new care worker meets the same minimum standard before working unsupervised.

Unlike most qualifications on this site, the Care Certificate is not quality-assured by Ofqual and has no single awarding body or qualification number. It is a nationally agreed framework of 15 standards, covering areas such as duty of care, safeguarding, communication, infection prevention, and basic life support, that CQC-registered care providers are expected to deliver as part of staff induction.

RQF Level 2UCAS Not applicable100% Online, employer sign-off required12 weeks (typical induction period)100% onlineSelf-paced
What you'll need

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements or minimum age beyond being eligible to work in a care setting.

You will need access to a workplace, placement or employer who can observe and sign off the practical standards, since some elements cannot be assessed through online learning alone.

Most learners complete the knowledge component in a few weeks, with full sign-off (including practical observation) typically completed within 12 weeks of starting a care role.

Not sure if you qualify?

Our admissions team can talk you through your options.

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Assessment

How you're assessed

The knowledge component of each of the 15 standards is assessed through online learning modules and knowledge checks. There are no formal written exams.

Several standards, including moving and handling, infection prevention and basic life support, also require direct observation of your practical competence by a workplace supervisor, which happens outside the online course.

01

Portfolio-based

Coursework and a written portfolio. No traditional written exams.

02

Submit online

All assignments submitted through your learner dashboard.

03

Tutor feedback

Detailed feedback in 3 to 5 working days. Refine and resubmit until you reach the grade you want.

04

Graded across units

Pass, Merit or Distinction on each unit. Top grades stack to the highest UCAS point total.

Careers

Where this can take you

Typical roles and salary ranges this qualification opens up.

Care Worker

Typical salary range

£20,000 to £25,000

Support people with daily living activities in a care home, home care service or supported living setting, the Care Certificate is the standard induction requirement.

Healthcare Assistant (NHS)

Typical salary range

£24,071 to £25,674

Support nursing staff with direct patient care in an NHS hospital or community setting, Band 3 on the Agenda for Change pay scale.

Senior Care Worker

Typical salary range

£24,000 to £28,000

Take on greater responsibility for coordinating care, supervising newer staff, and liaising with families, after gaining experience beyond the Care Certificate.

Pricing

Choose your payment plan

Same course, your choice of how to pay.

Pay Monthly

Recurring monthly subscription. Cancel anytime.

£55.00/month

Billed monthly

  • Full access to all course materials
  • Dedicated subject tutor
  • Live and recorded webinars
  • Certificate on completion
  • Pay by card, PayPal, Klarna
  • Spread cost with 0% interest
Best value

Pay Annually

Recurring annual subscription. Save versus monthly.

£649.00/year

Billed annually

  • Everything in Pay Monthly
  • Save 20% on the course price
  • 14-day money-back guarantee
  • Lock in lifetime materials access
  • Free downloadable course guide
  • No further payments
Everything else

What else you should know

Study support and platform

  • You get a personal tutor from day one
  • Log in any time from a phone, tablet or laptop
  • Marking is done in 3 to 5 working days
  • Talk to our support team by phone, email or live chat
  • See your progress and next steps on your dashboard
  • Join the learner community forum when you want to chat to others

Funding and finance

  • Pay monthly to spread the cost with no interest
  • Pay in full and save versus monthly
  • No credit checks and no contract. Pause or cancel anytime
  • We can send funding paperwork to your employer if they sponsor you
  • Our enrolment team will talk you through every option
  • 14 day money back guarantee on every enrolment

Accreditation and recognition

  • Awarded by a recognised UK awarding body
  • Regulated by Ofqual, the same standard as college courses
  • Accepted by UK universities, employers and professional bodies
  • You get a certificate when you finish
  • Listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
  • Independently quality checked through IQA and EQA

How it works

  • Start any time. There are no set term dates or cohorts
  • Study at your own pace around work and family
  • No exams. You complete coursework, a portfolio and assignments
  • Resubmit your work at no extra cost to reach the grade you want
  • Use the optional study planner if you like a bit of structure
  • How long you study is entirely up to you. Most learners spend a few hours each week, but you can do more or less based on your own pace
What learners say

Trusted by thousands of learners

Real feedback from learners studying with Lift College.

The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
Sarah M. · Manchester
Access to HE Diploma
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
James P. · Birmingham
A Level Biology
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Aisha K. · London
Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost, really helped me improve.
David R. · Leeds
CMI Level 5
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
Emma L. · Glasgow
GCSE English
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Tom W. · Bristol
CMI Level 7
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The Care Certificate
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