Deliver WOC-regulated qualifications through your institution. Centre approval is formal, standards-governed, and built for organisations serious about vocational certification.
An Approved Training Centre is not a franchise or a licensee. It is a delivery partner operating under WOC governance — with defined obligations, annual audit, and a binding agreement that governs every aspect of the relationship.
Centres must have appropriate facilities for the qualifications they wish to deliver. For culinary and hospitality programmes this includes professional-grade kitchen facilities, adequate practical workspace, storage, and hygiene infrastructure meeting applicable local standards.
Centre staff responsible for assessment must hold relevant occupational qualifications and assessor competence appropriate to the levels being delivered. WOC may require evidence of staff credentials as part of the application review.
ATCs must commit to operating in full compliance with the ATC Agreement, WOC Assessment Standards, and all applicable WOC policies — including malpractice, appeals, and safeguarding. Annual audit participation is mandatory, not optional.
The application process follows four stages. Each must be completed satisfactorily before proceeding to the next.
Complete the enquiry form below. Provide your organisation name, country, proposed qualification levels, and a brief description of your facilities. WOC will respond within 5 working days with next steps and the ATC Application Pack.
Return the completed ATC Application Form with supporting documentation: staff CVs, facility specifications, organisational policies, and evidence of legal registration in your jurisdiction. WOC conducts a document review against the ATC Standards Framework.
A WOC quality representative visits your centre to verify that facilities, equipment, and staffing match your application. An inspection report is produced. Applicants are informed of the outcome and any conditions that must be met prior to approval.
On approval, the ATC Agreement is signed and your centre receives its unique ATC ID. You are listed in the WOC centre register and authorised to begin delivering approved programmes. Ongoing annual audit and EV visits are then part of your standard operating calendar.
Application and approval fees are currently under review for pilot partner institutions. WOC is working with its initial cohort of Approved Training Centres to establish a fee structure that reflects the cost of the approval and quality assurance process. Contact WOC directly for current information relevant to your enquiry.
From completed application to final approval decision, the process typically takes 6–12 weeks. This includes document review, inspection scheduling, and agreement preparation. Timescales may vary depending on the complexity of the application and the availability of WOC inspection staff in your region.
Centre approval is granted per qualification level. A centre approved for Level 2 is not automatically approved to deliver Level 4. Each additional level requires a separate review of facilities, staff qualifications, and delivery capacity. Many centres begin with one or two levels and expand as they demonstrate consistent quality.
Approved Training Centres receive access to the full WOC qualification framework, assessment instruments, marking guidance, and learner registration systems. WOC quality staff are available for guidance on standards queries. External Verifiers are provided by WOC — centres do not source their own. Annual audit feedback also serves as a structured quality improvement mechanism.
No. WOC does not require centres to operate exclusively under WOC. Centres may deliver programmes from other awarding bodies simultaneously. However, WOC qualifications and the WOC ATC designation must not be used in marketing for programmes that are not WOC-regulated. The ATC Agreement is specific to WOC-registered programmes.
A centre that does not meet the required standard at annual audit enters a formal Improvement Plan. The plan specifies the areas requiring improvement, actions required, responsible persons, and a target date. A re-audit is scheduled within 3 months. If the improvement plan is not satisfactorily completed, WOC may suspend or withdraw centre approval — a decision that is formally communicated and subject to the WOC Appeals process.
Complete the form below and WOC will respond within 5 working days with next steps.
Read the full centre requirements or explore how certification works.