If you are thinking about applying for the AQS for the first time, you’ll have lots of questions about the process. You’ll want to know whether it is the right thing for your organisation as well as how much time and cost is involved.
Getting the AQS is a thorough process and you will need to make space in your workload to respond to this. Most organisations who go through the process make changes to the way they do things. You should be prepared for this too.
Once you get the AQS, you’ll be part of a network of quality advice which will build the trust of your clients and funders.
If your service is part of the Citizens Advice or the Age UK networks, there is a seperate process. Your quality assessment will be organised by your network and you’ll be ‘passported’ to the AQS.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch with us.
Costs depend on the number of full-time advisers you have. Here is the range (correct as of 2025):
So, as an example, an organisation with between 1 and 3 advisers would pay £1567 for 2-year accreditation. VAT needs to be added so the total would be £1880.
Download the pricing schedule (PDF) for full details.
Please contact Recognising Excellence who carry out the assessments on our behalf.
Email: aqs@recognisingexcellence.co.uk
Phone: 01452 688357
They’ll set up a free online meeting with you to talk you through the whole process.
They’ll send you an information pack. Many of these supporting documents are also available on the Recognising Excellence website. The pack includes:
The AQS is awarded through an independent, external assessment by trained and experienced assessors during site visits. Assessors work to strict protocols applied equally to all organisations, with assessment reports subject to two levels of review before final sign-off. Reports are delivered to the service’s senior management or Board of Trustees and not disclosed to third parties.
There are five stages to the process for new applications. Once you submit your application, there will be a desktop audit of the documentation you have sent. Then an assessor will visit your service. Step 4 involves taking any corrective action as recommended by the assessor. When the service meets the AQS criteria, you’ll receive accreditation.
During the site visit, the assessor will talk to managers, advisers, and trustees. Visits usually take a day, but may be longer for larger organisations.
The assessor is usually able to share the results with the manager on the day, prior to writing up the full report.
The length of the process mostly depends on how ready your organisation is. You’ll be asked to gather lots of evidence when submitting your application.
The maximum time between desktop audit and site visit is 60 days (2 months).
After the on-site visit, any corrective action must be completed within 28 days.
If a service does not meet all the requirements of the AQS at the assessment, they are given the chance to take corrective actions within specified timeframes.
Most organisations are able to do this in order to meet the requirements. If they are not able to do so, the AQS is not awarded.
Very occasionally, and only where there are very serious evidenced concerns about a service, the AQS may be withdrawn.
The AQS award lasts for two years.
Services must reapply a few months before the end of their two year award period to book their monitoring review. The review does not include a desktop audit but there is a full on-site assessment before re-accreditation is given.
Advice services awarded the AQS are required to display the AQS logo on their website and on correspondence.
Clients can also use the Find AQS Holders tool to find services.
The AQS has been assessed against the Money and Pension Service Debt Advice Quality Framework and fully meets its Organisational Framework’s criteria. This means that an organisation holding the AQS will meet the MaPS Organisational Framework. This subsequently allows organisations holding the AQS to deliver MaPS funded debt advice services.
The AQS has achieved recognition by the Information and Advice Quality Framework (IAQF Wales). This means that AQS accredited services in Wales are recognised by the Welsh Government as meeting the needs of their service users.
Citizens Advice organisations and Age UK services meeting their respective membership standards are also awarded the AQS through licensed assessment arrangements.
If your organisation holds another standard, such as NCVO’s Trusted Standard or Investors in People, the evidence you used for that can also be used to meet relevant part of the AQS – and vice versa.
The AQS is the widely recognised benchmark for the advice sector. Many funders require AQS certification as a condition of funding.
Funders naturally want to know that services they are supporting are meeting the needs of their target audience, and that the organisations managing the services are well run and effective. The AQS gives reassurance that holders have been through a rigorous assessment that scrutinises the key elements of what makes a quality service, and that the service is managed professionally and is effectively governed.
Some funders may cover the cost of the AQS as part of the grants they award. See AQS information for funders.
