Qualification Options

  • Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate

The Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate is a competence based qualification for learners who work in Health and Care and designed to be assessed in your place of work, as part of your normal work role. This qualification is based on the existing Care Certificate standards and is for individuals working in indirect care aged 19 and over. But unlike the current Care Certificate, it will be accredited and recognised throughout the sector, reducing the amount of repetition, and providing a baseline standard that will transfer between employers.

This certification aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals and increase the number of people in social care that hold a Level 2 qualification. This builds on the entry level 1 which prepares people as an introduction to the sector, by offering a more comprehensive recognised qualification, which delves deeper into the subject matter and will require individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and skills – with the intention of enhancing the skills and knowledge of individuals working across the adult social care sector.

It will equip professionals with the necessary competencies to deliver person-centred support, understand safeguarding, promote independence, and maintain dignity and respect. By obtaining this qualification, individuals demonstrate their commitment to upholding standards of excellence in adult social care practice. It also reflects the knowledge and behaviours of the ‘New to Care’ category outlined in the Care Workforce Pathway.

These qualifications consist of mandatory units, covering core knowledge and skills competencies, plus a number of optional specialism units, which can be combined in flexible ways to reflect the real working context of each learner and their work setting.

Age Group - 16 or older

The qualification specifications reflect the 15 topics in the original care certificate with amplification as to the depth and breadth required, and other areas have been updated to ensure consistency with the core capabilities framework.

Mandatory topic Areas:

  • Understand own role
  • Personal development
  • Duty of Care
  • Equality, diversity, inclusion, and human rights
  • Work in a person-centred way
  • Communication
  • Privacy and dignity
  • Nutrition and hydration
  • Awareness of mental health and dementia
  • Adult safeguarding
  • Safeguarding children
  • Health, safety, and principles of basic life support
  • Handling information
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Awareness of learning disability and autism – updated to ensure consistency with the Core Capabilities Framework

Full qualification guidance - 3096-02 Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate v1.3 Nov25

The qualification is likely to take an average of 6 to 8 months to complete, however, each learner’s journey will depend on their individual needs and experience, those newer to the sector may require more learning led by the employer/training provider. The qualification does not replace the need for an employer-specific induction or mandatory training, which remains the employer’s responsibility, but we believe a blended approach working with our ARC Assessors is the way forward so these two areas can/should be completed and work hand in hand alongside each other.

Complete qualification (including Registration, Learner Pack, Assessment and Certification) prices start from:

• Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate - Registration only prices start from: £805

*ARC members benefit from reduced costs

The training is approved for funding under the Learning and Development Support Scheme. For more information please see Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification from Skills for Care.

To register for any of these qualifications, you need to complete the necessary registration forms. This will prompt support for you to consider all the aspects involved in undertaking the qualification and ensure the right one is selected for you. You will also need to seek permission from your organisation to collect evidence in the workplace.

To find out more about registering please click here ‘How to Register’.

All ARC learner documentation is included in our learner portfolios, these can also be accessed via our ‘’Documentation, Guidance & Policies’ section in word and .pdf format.

Awarding Organisation guidance is available via the same page.