As Active IQ and NCFE integrate, we want to make sure you have clear information and practical support at every stage.
Here you’ll find training videos, helpful guides, request forms, and answers to frequently asked questions, all designed to help you navigate any changes and continue working with us confidently.
We’ll keep this page updated with the latest resources, so you can return whenever you need support. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
What do I need to do before November?
To prepare for integration, your centre should:
- identify colleagues who register learners or claim certificates and make sure they understand the changes
- familiarise relevant colleagues with the NCFE Portal and access all the training videos available
- review which of your qualifications will move to the Portal and which will remain on Parnassus
- submit any time-critical certificate claims by the relevant deadline
- review the training and support materials provided
- cascade the integration updates to all relevant colleagues.
Preparing for integration: customer support webinar
Join our live webinar on Monday 26 October at 11am to help prepare for key operational changes taking place in November, as part of the integration of Active IQ into NCFE.
You’ll hear more about the full range of support and training resources available and have the opportunity to submit questions in advance. Questions must be submitted by no later than 19 October to ensure they are addressed.
Use the registration link to book your place and submit your questions.
Training videos:
From 2 November, most of our live qualifications will now use the NCFE Portal for processes including registering learners, certificate claims, user management and other centre administration duties.
These training videos are for centres moving to the NCFE Portal to complete these tasks for live qualifications, as part of Active IQ’s integration into NCFE. They offer a full tour of the NCFE Portal, as well as shorter task-based videos providing quick guidance on key Portal functions.
VIDEO: NCFE Portal tour
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Support guides:
Customer support guide (coming soon)
Parnassus guidance: certificate claims
Webshop: how to order hard copy resources
Guidelines for use on the new dual brand logo
New dual brand AIQ logo – full colour
New dual brand AIQ logo – black and white
Request forms:
These forms are only required for centres delivering qualifications that will continue to be managed through Parnassus following integration, or for centres requesting e-resources. If your centre is moving to the NCFE Portal, registrations and certificate claims should be completed through the Portal instead.
- Registration requests: Technical qualifications > (coming soon)
- Registration requests: International Programmes of Study >
- Certificate claim request: International Programmes of Study >
- E-resources request form >
Frequently asked questions:
When does integration take effect?
On 30 October 2026, Active IQ will formally surrender its recognition as a regulated awarding organisation with Ofqual. From 2 November 2026, a number of operational changes will take effect, including changes to the systems used for learner registrations and certificate claims.
Will the Active IQ brand disappear?
No. Active IQ will retain its specialist identity within NCFE. From November, you will begin to see the new dual NCFE and Active IQ branding, including on certificates, systems and other materials.
Will Active IQ qualifications still be available?
Yes. The integration is intended to create a combined portfolio across sport, active leisure and wellbeing, giving customers access to a broader range of qualifications.
Will Active IQ qualifications still be regulated?
Yes. All relevant Active IQ qualifications will remain regulated.
Who will be my contact after integration?
Your Active IQ EQA will remain the same and will support you with any questions around quality assurance and the move to NCFE. Any changes to key contacts will be clearly communicated to you so that you continue to have a dedicated point of contact for any questions or queries.
Do I need to start using the NCFE Portal?
From 2 November, learner registrations and certificate claims for most live qualifications will move to the NCFE Portal.
There are 11 technical qualifications that are live where you will continue to use Parnassus for registering learners and certificate claims.
When will I get access to the NCFE Portal?
Customers will receive full access to the Portal from 2 November. A Portal tour is already available to help you familiarise yourself with the system ahead of the change.
When and how will Portal login details be issued?
One user per centre will be allocated with a Portal account. This is mostly likely to be your designated Head of Centre in Parnassus. Ahead of November, each designated user will receive an email confirming their Portal account and outlining the next steps they should take. From November, they will have full access to the NCFE Portal.
What can I do through the NCFE Portal?
The Portal supports activities including:
- adding users
- viewing the product catalogue
- registering learners
- editing learner registration detail
- claiming certificates
- viewing and downloading e-certificates
Will I still need to use Parnassus?
Yes, but only for Active IQ legacy qualifications, technical qualifications and International Programmes of Study. This means some centres may need to use both systems depending on the qualifications they deliver.
What happens if I have learners across Portal and Parnassus?
Customers will need to use the correct platform according to where the qualification category. This will mean using both platforms in some cases.
How do I know whether to use the Portal or Parnassus?
This depends on the qualification category. Review the Active IQ qualification categories guide to identify the relevant categories. Broadly, live qualifications will move to the NCFE Portal, while legacy qualifications, technical qualifications and International Programmes of Study will remain on Parnassus.
What is the precise system downtime?
Some of our systems will be unavailable from 4:30pm on Friday 30 October until 8:30am on Monday 2 November to support preparations for the integration of Active IQ with NCFE. This includes the NCFE Portal and Parnassus.
What happens to existing Portal users?
Nothing will change for existing users. Existing users can continue to use the Portal and the applicable Active IQ products will be available from 2nd November.
Is the LMS changing?
No. There will be no operational changes to the LMS platform, although its homepage branding will be updated.
What is happening to ActiveIntel?
For live regulated Active IQ qualifications, requests for new qualification approvals will move to the relevant qualification page on the NCFE website. Existing processes will continue for legacy qualifications, technical qualifications and International Programmes of Study.
What is happening to Cirrus?
Cirrus will remain active for learners who are already registered on and completing Active IQ legacy qualifications.
Do existing Active IQ centres need to take any action regarding centre approval?
No. Centres already approved to deliver Active IQ qualifications do not need to reapply for centre approval following the integration. Their approval status will remain unchanged.
What's changing for qualification approvals?
From 2 November, approvals to deliver live Active IQ qualifications will be submitted through the NCFE website. Find your desired qualification on the Active IQ website, you will then be automatically redirected to the relevant qualification page on the NCFE website. From this page click on ‘deliver this qualification’ and from your basket then select ‘apply for approval’ to begin the approval process.
Whether you’re an existing Active IQ centre looking to add a qualification, or a new centre seeking approval, users will be automatically guided through the relevant approval journey based on their centre approval status.
Visit the Become Approved page for more information about qualification and centre approval processes.
How do I register learners from 2 November?
For most live qualifications, registrations will take place via the NCFE Portal from 2 November. Registrations for legacy qualifications, technical qualifications and International Programmes of Study will continue through Parnassus.
Will registration processes be different?
Yes, for qualifications moving to the NCFE Portal. Training and support resources have been provided to explain how to navigate the new process.
Is there a charge if I register a learner late?
Yes. A late registration fee of 10% of the applicable registration and certification fee will apply where a learner is registered more than 90 days after their start date.
Is there a period when I won't be able to claim certificates?
Yes. Certificate claims are being paused for a short period ahead of the November system changes.
What is the final deadline for claims before the pause?
For qualifications where DCS is not applied, the deadline was Friday 9 October. Where DCS is applied, the deadline is Friday 23 October.
When can I start claiming certificates again?
Certificate claims will resume on Monday 2 November 2026.
Where do I claim certificates after 2 November?
For live qualifications, claims will be made through the NCFE Portal. For Active IQ legacy and technical qualifications, claims will continue through Parnassus using the usual process.
What will certificates look like after the change?
All certificates produced from 2 November will feature the new dual NCFE and Active IQ branding.
Are Active IQ's fees changing?
There are a small number of additional fees becoming applicable to Active IQ customers as part of the integration. Active IQ and NCFE fees and pricing information is also being consolidated into a single guide.
What new administration fees should I be aware of?
- Cancellation of an individual learner: £23
- Cancellation of a batch: £29.50
- Transfer of a learner between qualifications: £23
- Transfer of a full batch: £29.50
- Topping up a single learner: £23
- Topping up a full batch: £29.50
Are assessment-related fees changing?
- Clerical check per batch: £5
- Review of marking per learner: £53.50
- Review of an external quality assurance decision: £267
- Priority access to scripts: £17.50
- Non-priority access to scripts: £13.50
Will I be charged if a learner is registered late?
10% of the applicable registration and certification fee will be applied where a learner is registered more than 90 days after their start date and applies to any new registrations with a start date of 2 November 2026 onwards.
For example, if you register a learner on 2 February 2027, but their start date is 2 November 2026, the late registration fee would apply as they’ve been registered with us more than 90 days after starting on the qualification.
When do the new fees become effective?
From Monday 2 November.
Can I still order hard-copy manuals?
Yes. Hard-copy manuals will continue to be available through the Webshop.
Are e-packages changing?
Yes. From 1 November, the larger e-package option that would usually include a hard-copy manual is being removed for four specified qualifications. You'll instead be able to select LMS resources, such as e-learning and e-manuals, at registration through the Portal. Hard-copy manuals will still be available separately through the Webshop.
Is there a deadline for outstanding e-package requests?
Yes. Existing e-package requests across all qualifications should be submitted to the Active IQ e-packages team by Wednesday 28 October to allow them to be processed.
What is changing with invoicing?
From December, you will receive one NCFE invoice with all your purchases consolidated. This is a change from October, where customers will receive one invoice for Active IQ purchases and one for NCFE in the case of dual customers.
Please note that due to a change in bank account, payment of December invoices will need to be sent to a new bank account. Details are as follows:
- NCFE Account Name: NCFE
- Account Number: 43472345
- Sort Code: 20-59-42
- BIC (Swift): BARCGB22
- IBAN: GB29BARC20594243472345
- Bank Name: Barclays Bank
- Bank Address: Barclays Bank House, 7th Floor, East Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NEI 6Q
Please speak to your account manager if you have any questions.
Do I need to update the Active IQ logo on my website and marketing materials?
Yes. Active IQ is introducing a new dual brand identity reflecting its relationship with NCFE. Please review the Branding Guide and use the new logo assets from 2 November 2026.
The guide includes everything you need to know about the logo usage and how to apply the new branding. See the brand guidelines section above to access the new logo files to download.
Do I need to make the branding changes immediately?
From 2 November, centres should begin updating digital materials that currently display the Active IQ logo, such as websites, online learner communications, and digital marketing materials.
For printed materials, existing stock can continue to be used and does not need to be discarded or reprinted. When producing new print materials, centres should then apply the new branding.
Which branding changes are mandatory versus optional?
Approved centres that use the Active IQ logo must update to the approved new logo after 2 November 2026 and follow the requirements as outlined in the branding guidelines.
Mandatory requirements include:
- using the approved Active IQ dual brand logo provided by NCFE
- following the logo usage guidance within the brand guidelines
- updating digital materials that display the Active IQ logo.
Centres do not need to replace their existing stock of printed materials to reflect the new brand change. The new branding should instead be adopted when new materials are created or reordered.
What should I tell learners about the branding changes?
Learners may notice branding updates across Active IQ services and platforms. These changes reflect Active IQ’s integration into NCFE and the introduction of our new dual brand identity, with Active IQ now operating as the specialist sport, active leisure and wellbeing brand within NCFE.
Qualifications and learning programmes will continue to be delivered under the Active IQ brand. Learners do not need to take any action.
Is training available on the NCFE Portal?
Yes. A guided Portal tour is already available covering areas including adding users, finding products, registering learners and claiming certificates.
Who should I contact if I need help?
Integration questions can be sent to [email protected]. You can also contact your account manager.