Higher Certificate

The Higher Certificate (Ardteastas in Irish) is a third level education award at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications in the Republic of Ireland.^[1] The Higher Certificate is awarded by various Institutes of Technology. A Higher Certificate academic programme is two years of full-time study. Students can complete an additional (add-on) year to obtain the ordinary bachelor's degree (level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications), and may then complete a further add-on year to obtain the Honours bachelor's degree (level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications). The Higher Certificate is, in effect, a two-year undergraduate degree. The Higher Certificate should not be confused with the Advanced Certificate which is a two-year Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) program of further education, typically delivered by community colleges, and is also awarded at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications and can be used to gain entry to a third level undergraduate program.

Common Higher Certificates

English title	Irish title
Higher Certificate in Arts	Ardteastas Ealaíon
Higher Certificate in Business	Ardteastas Gnó
Higher Certificate in Engineering	Ardteastas Innealtóireachta
Higher Certificate in Science	Ardteastas Eolaíochta