BTEC National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care Level 3.

Applications Open – 4th November 2025 @ 9am

Applications Close – 1st June 2026 @ 5pm

Entry Requirements – Specific to the Subject

How to Apply – Please apply via KentChoices

BTEC qualifications are equivalent to A Level. There are units that need to be completed that are dependent on the size of the qualification that you are studying.

All of these options are available for you to study either alongside your A Level’s or instead of.

How will I learn?

Health & Social Care BTEC uses a combination of assessment styles:

• Internal assignments: Work-related assignments set and marked by the student’s teacher.

• External Tasks: Practical, work-related tasks, set and marked by Edexcel (Pearson).

• Written exams: Written answers to practical questions set and marked by Edexcel (Pearson).

Lessons will be taught using a number of different methods, which include teacher led lessons, group and individual presentations, interactive tasks, and practical work-related activities. Resources and a comprehensive reading list will be provided for the course units, but students are expected to commit to further reading, to extend their knowledge and understanding of the subject. Students may have the opportunity to attend conferences, local universities and health & social care providers in order to enhance their understanding of the course. Work placement forms a mandatory part of this course.

What will I learn?

The BTEC Level 3 Health & Social Care aims to provide students with a vocational, practical course that looks at real life situations and allows students to develop skills and knowledge required in the Health & Social Care industry. The content of the qualification supports progression to higher education or employment in a variety of sectors.

Students will study mandatory units that will include:

• Human Lifespan Development

• Working in Health & Social Care

• Anatomy and Physiology for Health & Social Care

• Enquires into Current Research in Health & Social Care

Students will complete at least one optional unit, this will depend on the pathway that the student is following. Some units contain a mandatory work placement element.

Students will study units depending on the size of the qualification they opt for. Unit 1 is an externally assessed exam that is 90 minutes long. The exam is sat in the summer of year 12 with an option to retake during year 13 if required.

There are units that are externally assessed, with the remainder being internally assessed.

Further information is available at https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/Health-and-Social-Care/2016/teaching-and-learning-materials/A_guide_to_your_new_BTEC_Nationals_in_Health_and_Social_Care.pdf

Ideally at least 5 Grade 4’s and above including English and Maths.

The qualification is intended to carry UCAS points and is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses, for example:

• BSc(Hons)in Nursing

• BA(Hons)in Social Work

• BSc(Hons)in Physiotherapy

• BSc(Hons)in Occupational Therapy

• BSc(Hons)in Speech Therapy

• BA(Hons)in Health and Social Care.

The health studies pathway in the qualification is more scientific in nature, and learners will select from a wider range of health science units. This will support learners applying for degree programmes that expect larger amounts of prior science knowledge. This can include certain degree programmes in:

• Radiography

• Midwifery and Nursing

• Paramedic Science

• Podiatry

• Healthcare Science

• NHS Practitioner Training Programme