NVQ Course

NVQ qualifications have now migrated into the Qualification and Credits Framework, or the QCF. This new format will give all qualifications in England, Wales and N.Ireland a common feel, which is based on achievement leves and points. This new format applies to work based or vocational qualifications and academic qualifications aswell.

 

The QCF format recognises qualifications and skills. It accomplishes this by awarding credits for qualifications and units. Every unit has its own credit value. This credit value states the number of credits earned by the learner who completes that particular unit. The adaptiveness of the QCF format allows people to gain qualifications at their own pace within their own time schedule. This program can be worked out with your assessor who has qualified with the appropriate qcf assessor training.

About the QCF

QCF units
Identifying QCF qualifications

Each unit and qualification has its own credit value and level. One credit represents ten hours of learning, showing how much time the average learner would take to complete the unit or qualification. Levels indicate the varying difficulty and range level 1 - level 8, Level 1 being entry level.

There are three types of qualification:

• QCF Awards (1 to 12 credits)
• QCF Certificates (13 to 36 credits)
• QCF Diplomas (37 credits or more)

You can have an award of any difficulty level from 1 to 8. This is because the type indicates the size of qualification, not its difficulty.The title of a qualification should indicate its difficulty, how long it will take the average learner to complete, and its general content, using the following information:

• Qualification level (from lowest, entry level to level 8 at the top)
• Qualification size (award/certificate/diploma)
• Content of the qualification

Just by looking at the name of the QCF qualification you will be able to see its difficulty level, how long the average learner will take to complete the course, and finally the overall content in the course.

A way of understanding the difficulty level of the units and qualifications in the QCF Format is to know that GCSEs (grade A*–C) are level 2, GCE A levels are level 3 and a PhD is a level 8. By comprehending this can help you guage the difficulty of the QCF course you wish to undertake.