The short answer is yes. BTEC Nationals at Level 3 carry UCAS Tariff points, they are accepted by a large majority of universities for a large majority of courses, and at the top grades they are worth exactly the same as A levels. The longer answer has some detail in it that is worth knowing before results day.
Which BTECs are on the Tariff
The qualifications that score are the BTEC Level 3 Nationals: the Extended Certificate, the Foundation Diploma, the Diploma and the Extended Diploma. There are also Certificate and Subsidiary sizes from older specifications that carry smaller values.
Level 2 BTEC Firsts do not score. Neither do BTEC Level 3 qualifications that are not Nationals, of which there are a few in specialist areas. If in doubt, check the exact title on your certificate against the UCAS tables.
How the grades convert
The letters D*, D, M and P stand for Distinction star, Distinction, Merit and Pass. On the A-level-sized Extended Certificate they are worth 56, 48, 32 and 16 points. Compare that with A level: 56 for an A*, 48 for an A, 32 for a C, 16 for an E. So D* equals A*, D equals A, M equals C and P equals E. There is no BTEC grade equivalent to a B or a D at A level.
On the Diploma, two grades are combined: DD is 112, DD is 96, MM is 64, PP is 32, with the mixed grades in between.
On the Extended Diploma, three grades are combined. DDD* is 168, DDD is 144, DMM is 112, MMM is 96, PPP is 48.
The gaps are the thing to watch. A single Merit on an Extended Certificate costs you 16 points against a Distinction. At A level, dropping from A to B costs eight. BTEC students who are one grade down are further down in points than A level students who are one grade down.
Where BTECs score well
Because the Extended Diploma is the size of three A levels, a DDD is 144 points, the same as AAA. A student with DDM has 128, the same as ABB. For courses that quote a points total, that is a strong position, and many BTEC students find they have more points than A level students applying for the same course.
Points-based courses also tend to be the ones most comfortable with vocational backgrounds. Business, computing, health studies, sport, media, engineering technology and many others quote points and accept Extended Diplomas at face value.
The two situations where the points do not help
The first is a course that asks for grades rather than points. A physics degree that wants A level maths and physics at grade A is not asking for 96 points and will not accept a DD in Applied Science instead, however the arithmetic looks. Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, most engineering degrees at research universities and many science degrees fall into this group. Some will accept a BTEC alongside an A level in the required subject; ask.
The second is a course that accepts BTECs but only certain ones. A computing degree may accept an Extended Diploma in IT but not one in Business. A nursing degree may accept Health and Social Care but want a science GCSE as well. The words "or equivalent" on a course page do not mean any equivalent.
Mixing BTECs and A levels
You can add them together. An Extended Certificate at D plus two A levels at B is 48 plus 40 plus 40, which is 128. A Diploma at DM plus an A level at C is 80 plus 32, which is 112. The calculator on this site handles any mixture.
You cannot add two BTECs in the same subject where one is contained in the other. If you completed the Extended Diploma, the Diploma and Extended Certificate stages you passed on the way are inside it.
A note on Level 3 diplomas that are not BTECs
People searching for BTEC points sometimes land on Level 3 diplomas from other awarding bodies and assume they score too. Some do, many do not. The OTHM and Qualifi Level 3 diplomas described on this site do not carry UCAS Tariff points, even though they are regulated by Ofqual and sit at the same level as a BTEC National. They are a route into Level 4 study at LSPM, the London School of Planning and Management, which teaches and certifies them as an approved centre, rather than a route through UCAS. If you have a BTEC National already, you are better placed than that, and you should use it.