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Scottish Qualifications Authority

| merger = Scottish Examination Board and Scottish Vocational Education Council | purpose = Educational | headquarters = Glasgow / Dalkeith | location_country = Scotland | services = Exams and Assignments for all Scottish schools | language = English | leader_title = Chair | leader_name = Shirley Rogers | num_staff = 1125 | budget = £85 million | website = }}

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA; Gaelic: ''Ùghdarras Theisteanas na h-Alba'') is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for awarding qualifications and accrediting other awarding bodies. The majority of the authority’s funding comes from the Scottish Government. This is supplemented by fees for delivering qualifications and for accreditation. The authority employs approximately 750 staff based in Glasgow and Dalkeith.

The SQA is best known for the delivery of the annual diet of public examinations within Scotland for school pupils. SQA Higher examinations are the generally accepted level for entry to university, with Scottish universities usually requesting a minimum of 3 Highers, all above C level. However, a greater number of candidates of all ages participate in SQA specialist, vocational and higher education qualifications. SQA is also accredited by Ofqual to offer educational qualifications in England.

In June 2021, following a review of Curriculum for Excellence by the OECD, the Scottish government announced that the SQA would be replaced. The Education (Scotland) Act 2025 establishes the replacement body - called Qualifications Scotland (Gaelic: ''Teisteanasan Alba'') - which is expected to become operational in the autumn of 2025. Provided by Wikipedia