National Vocational Qualifications
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National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are practical work-based awards in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
,
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
, and
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
that are achieved through training and assessment. The regulatory framework supporting NVQs was withdrawn in 2015 and replaced by the Regulated Qualifications Framework ( RQF), although the term "NVQ" may be used in RQF qualifications if they "are based on recognised occupational standards, work-based and/or simulated work-based assessment and where they confer occupational competence". As the NVQ is based on a student's practical skills, it is completed in the workplace. The NVQ was assessed by building up a portfolio of evidence based on the student's professional experience. At the end of the NVQ, the student undergoes final practical assessments, during which an NVQ assessor will observe and ask questions. To achieve an NVQ, candidates have to prove that they have the ability (competence) to carry out their job to the required standard. NVQs are based upon meeting
National Occupational Standards National Occupational Standards (NOS), also known as professional standards, specify UK standards of performance that people are expected to achieve in their work, and the knowledge and skills they need to perform effectively. NOS, which are appr ...
, which describe the "competencies" expected in any given job role. NVQs are not graded "pass" or "fail". Instead, an NVQ is graded either "Competent" (which is seen as passing the NVQ) or, if further work must be completed, "Not Yet Competent" (which is regarded as failing the NVQ). Typically, candidates work towards an NVQ that reflects their role in a paid or voluntary position. For example, someone working in an administrative office role may take an NVQ in Business and Administration. There are five levels of NVQ, ranging from Level 1, which focuses on basic work activities, to Level 5 for senior management. Although NVQs such as NVQ Level 3 can be roughly translated as being at the same level as a
GCE Advanced Level The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational a ...
or BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, in terms of depth and vigor of study, the NVQ cannot be compared with other academic qualifications at the same level, i.e. GCE Advanced Levels and the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (an A* at A-Level is equivalent to a D* at BTEC Level 3). For this reason, the NVQ Level 3 does not attract UCAS points and cannot be used for university admission. In Scotland, the approximately equivalent qualification is the
Scottish Vocational Qualification A Scottish Vocational Qualification, or SVQ, is a certificate of vocational education in Scotland. SVQs are available to people of all ages. SVQs are developed by Sector Skills Councils, in partnership with industry and awarding bodies. After t ...
. They are the responsibility of the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills (also known as Apprenticeships and Skills Minister) is a junior ministerial position in the Department for Education in the British government. It was held by Alex Burghart ...
in the
Department for Education The Department for Education (DfE) is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for child protection, child services, education in England, educati ...
.


Levels

NVQs are competence-based qualifications. The five levels of NVQ are defined as having the following competencies: * Level 1 – Competence, which involves the application of knowledge and skills in the performance of a range of varied work activities most of which may be routine and predictable. * Level 2 – Competence, which involves the application of knowledge and skills in a significant range of varied work activities, performed in a variety of contexts. Some of the activities are complex or non-routine, and there is some individual responsibility or autonomy. Collaboration with others, perhaps through membership of a work group or team, may often be a requirement. * Level 3 – Competence, which involves the application of knowledge and skills in a broad range of varied work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts and most of which are complex and non-routine. There is considerable responsibility and autonomy, and control or guidance of others is often required. * Level 4 – Competence, which involves the application of knowledge and skills in a broad range of complex, technical, or professional work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts and with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. Responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources is often present. * Level 5 – Competence, which involves the application of skills and a significant range of fundamental principles and complex techniques across a wide and often unpredictable variety of contexts. Very substantial personal autonomy and often a significant responsibility for the work of others and for the allocation of substantial resources feature strongly, as do personal accountabilities for analysis and diagnosis, design, planning, execution and evaluation.


Approximate academic equivalents


Equivalents published by the UK government

Gov.uk lists the equivalents for academic qualifications between the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and the framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).


Research by the London School of Economics

NVQs are not formally defined in terms of equivalence to conventional academic qualifications. However, for the compilation of social statistics and other purposes, approximate equivalences have to be established. The following equivalences are used by the
London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...
's Research LabMcIntosh, Steve and Steedman, Hilary (1999)
Qualifications in the United Kingdom 1985–1999 (HTML tables). London School of Economics Research Laboratory Data Service istributor * NVQ 1 = foundation
GNVQ A General National Vocational Qualification, or GNVQ, was a certificate of vocational education in the United Kingdom. The last GNVQs were awarded in 2007. The qualifications related to occupational areas in general, rather than any specific ...
, three to four
GCSEs The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
at grades D-E, Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC) first certificate. * NVQ 2 = four or five GCSEs at grades A*–C, BTEC first diploma. * NVQ 3 = two or more
A levels The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational a ...
, BTEC Ordinary National Diploma ( OND), City & Guilds Advanced Craft. * NVQ 4 = BTEC Higher National Certificate ( HNC) or Higher National Diploma ( HND), or
City & Guilds The City and Guilds of London Institute is an educational organisation in the United Kingdom. Founded on 11 November 1878 by the City of London and 16 livery companies to develop a national system of technical education, the institute has bee ...
Full Technological Certificate / Diploma * NVQ 5 = NQF 7–8


City and Guilds

Licentiateship (post nominal: LCGI) sits on level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework,City and Guilds: Qualification comparison
. Accessed 2 October 2010.
and is therefore comparable to lower NVQ level 4.Explaining the National Qualifications Framework
. Accessed 2 October 2010.
Both Graduateship (GCGI) and Associateship (ACGI) are at level six of the National Qualifications Framework, compared by OFQUAL to the highest category NVQs of level 4. Membership (MCGI) is placed on NQF level 7, and Fellowship (FCGI) on level 8, compared by OFQUAL to NVQs of level 5. City & Guilds itself ties each NVQ to the level on the NQF with the same number. Both Graduateship (GCGI) and Associateship (ACGI) have been awarded, before the year 2004, at level 5 of NVQ.


NVQ Subjects

* Building and construction, and warehousing and distribution * Engineering, manufacturing, and transportation operations and maintenance * Science, horticulture, animal care and veterinary science * Sport, leisure and recreation, and travel and tourism * Hospitality and catering and service enterprises * Language, literature and culture * Health and social care, public services and child development * Marketing, sales, administration and business management * Crafts, creative arts and design, and media and communication * Direct training and support * Working within the hair and beauty industry


Classifications

The NVQ Framework classifies the economy into the following areas: * Tending animals, plants and land * Extracting and providing natural resources * Constructing * Engineering * Manufacturing * Transporting * Providing goods and services * Providing health, social and protective services * Providing business services * Communicating and information technology * Developing and extending knowledge and skill


See also

*
Education in England Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education. Local government in England, Local government authorities are responsible for implementing policy for public education and State-funded schools (England), state-funded schools ...
*
Education in Wales This article provides an overview of education in Wales from early childhood education, early childhood to university and adult education, adult skills. Largely state-funded and freely accessible at a primary school, primary and secondary school, ...
*
Education in Scotland Education in Scotland is provided in state schools, private school, private schools and by individuals through homeschooling. Mandatory education in Scotland begins for children in Primary 1 (P1) at primary school and ends in Fifth Year (S5) a ...
*
Education in Northern Ireland The education system in Northern Ireland differs from elsewhere in the United Kingdom (although it is relatively similar to Wales), but is similar to the Republic of Ireland in sharing in the development of the ''National school (Ireland), nat ...
*
General National Vocational Qualification A General National Vocational Qualification, or GNVQ, was a certificate of vocational education in the United Kingdom. The last GNVQs were awarded in 2007. The qualifications related to occupational areas in general, rather than any specific ...
*
Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education Vocational Certificate of Education, usually shortened VCE or Vocational A-Level or AVCE, was a vocational qualification that used to be available in further education colleges and sixth forms in the United Kingdom. Subjects and assessment VCEs ...
*
National qualifications frameworks of the United Kingdom The national qualification frameworks in the United Kingdom are qualifications frameworks that define and link the levels and credit values of different qualifications. The current frameworks are: * The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) fo ...


References


Further reading

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External links


Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: NVQs

Edexcel NQF grid

National Qualifications Framework

Scottish Qualifications Authority

AimHigher PDF

Comparing Qualifications across countries

NVQ Course Information

Qualification Comparisons

Oxford Brookes University qualification framework

University of Cambridge International Qualifications

NVQ Training
{{National Qualifications Framework 2015 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Educational qualifications in England Vocational education in the United Kingdom Educational qualifications in Wales Educational qualifications in Northern Ireland Educational qualifications in the United Kingdom