As a result of a successful pilot, Hong Kong’s Education Bureau plans to recognise professional qualifications attained by assessment (as opposed to learning programmes) beginning in September 2018. In order to achieve this, on recommendation of the Education Bureau, the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) will conduct accreditation of professional bodies, during which time they shall demonstrate that they have: a close affiliation with the industry/profession, broad representation and support of the industry/profession, extensive membership coverage of practitioners in the industry/profession, and a history of contribution to the industry/profession.
Upon successful accreditation, the professional body may be appointed as an “assessment agency”, thereby allowing selected professional qualifications to be recognised under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) and to be registered in the Hong Kong Qualifications Register.