National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are practical work-based awards in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
and
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
that are achieved through assessment and training. The regulatory framework supporting NVQs was withdrawn in 2015 and replaced by the Regulated Qualifications Framework (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 are based on a student's practical skills, it is completed in the workplaces. The NVQ was assessed through 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 had 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 described the "competencies" expected in any given job role.
NVQ's are not awarded by Pass or Fail: instead the NVQ grading criteria was either awarding a successful ‘Competent’ award (which was seen as passing the NVQ). Alternatively, if further work needed completing, the student receives a ‘Not Yet Competent’ (which was regarded as failing the NVQ). Typically, candidates worked towards an NVQ that reflected their role in a paid or voluntary position. For example, someone working in an admin office role may take an NVQ in Business and Administration. There were five levels of NVQ ranging from Level 1, which focuses on basic work activities, to Level 5 for senior management.
Although NVQ's such as a 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 aut ...
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 (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
University admission or college admission is the process through which students enter tertiary education at universities and colleges. Systems vary widely from country to country, and sometimes from institution to institution.
In many countries, ...
.
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 th ...
. They are the responsibility of the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills in the
Department for Education
The Department for Education (DfE) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for child protection, child services, education (compulsory, further and higher education), apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
A Department ...
.
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
gov.uk (styled on the site as GOV.UK) is a United Kingdom public sector information website, created by the Government Digital Service to provide a single point of access to HM Government services. The site launched as a beta on 31 January 2012, ...
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
, mottoeng = To understand the causes of things
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £240.8 million (2021)
, budget = £391.1 millio ...
's Research Lab
McIntosh, 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 particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...
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 aut ...
, 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 ...
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](_blank)
. Accessed 2 October 2010. and is therefore comparable to lower NVQ level 4.[Explaining the National Qualifications Framework](_blank)
. 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 United Kingdom's Department for Education. Local government authorities are responsible for implementing policy for public education and state-funded schools at a local level.
England also has a tradi ...
* 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 free-at-the-point-of-use at a primary school, primary and secondary ...
* Education in Scotland
Education in Scotland is overseen by the Scottish Government and its executive agency Education Scotland. Education in Scotland has a history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly differe ...
* Education in Northern Ireland
Education in Northern Ireland differs from education systems 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'' syste ...
* 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
* National qualifications frameworks of the United Kingdom
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
References
Further reading
*
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