NVQs and Training

NVQ stands for National Vocational Qualification. It is equivalent to the Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Scotland.

Both of these awards are work-based awards, achieved through assessments and training. Studying for an NVQ is a good option if you know exactly which career you’d like to pursue.

Each NVQ is a competency grading which shows how able you are at a particular job, therefore the higher your level, the higher your proven ability to complete a task. Equivalent levels are shown below each NVQ level.

• NVQ Level 1: this is the entry level NVQ and shows that you are able to apply a range of basic skills and knowledge in a routine and predictable way within the workplace.
  GCSE – grades 3, 2, 1 or grades D, E, F, G.
• NVQ Level 2: achieving the second level allows you to use your range of skills and knowledge in a variety of contexts and varied tasks, as well as complex issues or non-routine aspects of the job. You are required to demonstrate your teamwork skills and must showcase some individual work and individual responsibility.
  GCSE – grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or grades A*, A, B, C.
• NVQ Level 3: to reach level 3, you must use your range of skills and knowledge in complex or non-routine aspects more often than not. You must be trusted with more responsibility, and you are often left to guide others, which is essential in NVQ level 3 courses.
  A level.
• NVQ Level 4: this higher level showcases your good knowledge of workplace skills and knowledge in all situations. You will hold a substantial degree of responsibility, and you will direct others, it will often be left up to you to allocate resources.
  certificate of higher education (CertHE).
• NVQ Level 5: As the hardest level to achieve you will hold a high degree of responsibility for other workers, taking responsibility for their work as well as allocating resources. You will be able to use a variety of skills in any situation that may occur, including those that are unplanned and unpredictable. You are responsible for analysis, diagnosis, design, planning, executing and evaluating.
  Diploma of higher education (DipHE), foundation degree, higher national diploma (HND)
• NVQ Level 6: Intended for managers, this will give you an in-depth understanding of your discipline, building on the specific knowledge you’ve already acquired.
  Degree apprenticeship, degree with honours – for example bachelor of the arts (BA) hons, bachelor of science (BSc) hons, graduate certificate.  

• NVQ Level 7: The highest level of the NVQ structure, this is equivalent to a master’s degree, demonstrating that you’re an expert in your field. Once again, this level is intended for more senior managers.
  Integrated master’s degree, for example master of engineering (MEng), postgraduate certificate, postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), postgraduate diploma.
  

• For more information on levels and their equivalents, see the following:

  https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels

As there are different levels of NVQs, each is very accessible to study as and when suits you, depending on your current experience. 

The qualifications we offer are open to almost anyone, though there are certain restrictions such as minimum age, set by the awarding organisation, which may prevent you from becoming enrolled on your qualification of choice. 

Additionally, there are more specific entry requirements for some of the qualifications. This is to ensure that you do not register and pay for a qualification you will be unable to complete. Some qualifications require learners to be in a job role which will allow them to gather certain evidence which is used to demonstrate competence in a specific task or behaviour. 

Check the specific qualification page to see if there are any restrictions that might affect you.

There is an eligibility form on each qualification page. Go and complete the form, submit it to us and we will be in touch. The eligibility form will help to determine whether your current role is suitable for learner led qualifications.

A learner led qualification is like a cross between a classroom course and a distance learning course. We have developed a range of resources for you such as workbooks, videos, and reading lists (distance learning), and your assessor provides guidance in the form of periodic check-ins and feedback on your submissions (classroom). Ultimately though, it is up to you, the learner, to demonstrate your knowledge and experience in the subject; hence, learner led

Once you have enrolled, you will be contacted to discuss your eligibility and if successful, will be invited to pay, either in full, or via the qualification payment plan. After that you will receive your induction and access to your assessor, your e-portfolio and the qualification resources. After that, it’s up to you to get on and get it done.

Each level of the NVQ can take any amount of time to complete, but it usually takes around a year to complete each NVQ Level 3 and up to two years to complete NVQ Levels 5, 6 and 7. 

We do set a time limit on how long qualifications take simply due to the currency of evidence submitted; however, once you’ve earned your NVQ, it’s a life-long qualification.

We provide access to complete your qualification for the time periods as follows:

NVQ Level 6 and Level 7 qualifications gives 24 months access.

NVQ Level 3 qualifications gives 12 months access. 

 Any other NVQ provided by Us is provided 12 months access unless otherwise stated.

Please see the terms and conditions for more details.

The qualifications are regulated which means there is a set specification which outlines all of the criteria. The workbooks we have developed break the specification down into manageable ‘chunks’ and list suggestions for how you can demonstrate competence in that ‘chunk’. Generally, though, the process is quite simple. You will write a narrative which demonstrates that you understand the criteria and which further demonstrates where you have put this into practice and you will submit evidence to support your narrative. Your assessor will examine these determine whether it meets the specification criterion and will either accept it, or will provide you with feedback and ask for more information or evidence.

Once you have met all the criteria, you will have effectively completed the qualification.

As the qualifications we offer are regulated, there are a number of steps that need to be completed before your certificate is issued. Internal quality assurance checks, portfolio compliance checks, and potentially external quality assurance checks may all contribute to delays in certificate issue. 

Your assessor will inform our internal quality assessor that you have successfully completed all the criteria. The IQA will complete their quality sampling checks and if all is found to be correct, will complete a check of portfolio documentation (your photo identification, declarations, induction records, etc.), and will then apply to the awarding organisation for your certificate. Periodically, the awarding organisation will send an external quality assurer to our offices to carry out additional quality checks to ensure we are continuing to follow their rules, which may cause additional delay to certificate issue, so please bear this in mind.