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Vocational qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)

Vocational qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework are new, work-related qualifications. They are designed to allow you to learn in a way that suits you, and give you the skills that employers are looking for. There are already lots to choose from, in a wide range of subjects.

New vocational qualifications

These new work-related qualifications are located on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The QCF groups qualifications together into a number of ‘levels’ that place different demands on you as a learner.

To find out more about the QCF and other qualification frameworks, see ‘Qualifications: what the different levels mean’.

Advice for young people

For advice on learning and qualifications for 13 to 19-year-olds, contact a local Careers Adviser.

University and higher education

If you're thinking about getting a higher education qualification, there's lots of advice and information in the 'University and higher education' section.

Advice for adult learners

Get advice about qualifications for adult learners from the Careers Advice Service.

Learn in a way that suits you

Vocational qualifications on the QCF are designed to be much more flexible than other work-related qualifications.

They are made up of units, so you can study a pace that suits you. Over time, you can combine units in different ways to make up a full qualification.

This means that no learning you do is ever ‘lost’ or counts for nothing. It also means you don’t have to repeat learning unnecessarily.

Track your progress

If you take vocational qualifications on the QCF, your learning is ‘banked’ over time and stored on your own personal learner record. This shows what training you have done and helps you to see how you can progress further. From 2010 you’ll be able to view your learner record online.

Qualification size: how long it takes to complete

Every new qualification and unit on the QCF has a credit value, showing how long it takes to complete. One credit is equivalent to 10 hours. This can include time spent learning in a variety of ways – not necessarily being taught by someone.

There are three different sizes of qualification, worth different numbers of credits. Larger qualifications will take longer to complete than smaller ones.

Award

An award is the smallest type of qualification on the QCF. It is worth between one and 12 credits. This means it takes between 10 and 120 hours to complete.

Certificate

A certificate is worth between 13 and 36 credits. It takes between 130 and 360 hours to complete.

Diploma

A diploma is worth 37 credits or more, so takes at least 370 hours to complete.

Qualification level: how difficult it is

Each type of qualification on the QCF also has a level between Entry level and level 8, showing how difficult it is.

The QCF levels are the same as the levels on the National Qualification Framework, which lists other types of qualification. For example, GCSEs are at levels 1 and 2, A levels are at level 3, and a PhD is at level 8.

Choosing a qualification to suit you

The title of every qualification on the QCF contains the following information:

  • what the qualification is about
  • the size of the qualification (award, certificate or diploma)
  • the level of the qualification (Entry level to level 8)

This means you can see at a glance how much time you’ll need to complete the qualification, and how difficult it is likely to be compared with other qualifications.

You can choose the size and level of a qualification that best suits your needs, as long as you meet any entry criteria. For example, you could choose a diploma at level 1, or an award at level 8.

Search for vocational qualifications

There are already over 2,500 of these new vocational qualifications on the QCF, available in a wide range of subjects. More are being added all the time.

You can search for them on the Register of Regulated Qualifications.

Where are these new qualifications available?

Qualifications on the QCF are available from a wide range of learning providers. A number of employers are also developing these qualifications.

They are available in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. They are also recognised in Scotland.

This means, for example, that you could complete a unit in one part of the UK, and then combine it with other units that you take somewhere else in the UK.

Changes to other vocational qualifications

Between now and the end of 2010, other vocational qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (such as NVQs and BTECs) are being changed into units and moved on to the QCF.

Help and advice