The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has selected Kaplan as the sole examining board for the new Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), which came into force this week.

As of 1 September, the QLTS replaced the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) as the official qualification allowing foreign lawyers to practise in England and Wales.

Kaplan QLTS will be the only assessment organisation for the QLTS after the training provider won a tender last month. The QLTT was previously administered by six different law schools.

Kaplan Law School managing director Peter Anderson said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Kaplan and a real vote of confidence from the SRA in what we've been doing so far.

"The SRA is keen to widen access to the profession but make sure that the standard and quality of qualified lawyers in England and Wales is as high as it should be, and I think that the new QLTS reflects this."

The new QLTS regime, which opens up the scheme to a host of new jurisdictions including emerging markets around the world, sees candidates now required to meet a certain standard of English before applying, while the former requirement of two years' work experience has been replaced by a series of practical exercises.

The first QLTS assessments are set to take place at the start of 2011.