National Vocational Qualification

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National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are vocational awards in England and Wales that are achieved through assessment and training. In Scotland they are known as Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). They are practical qualifications based on being able to do a job. There are five levels of NVQ ranging from Level 1, which focuses on basic work activities, to Level 5 for senior management.

Contents

[edit] Levels

  • Level 1
    Competence that involves the application of knowledge in the performance of a range of varied work activities, most of which are routine and predictable.
  • Level 2
    Competence that involves the application of knowledge in a significant range of varied work activities, performed in a variety of contexts. Some of these 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, is often a requirement.
  • Level 3
    Competence that involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of varied work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts, 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 that involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities performed in a 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 that involves the application of a range of fundamental principles across a wide and often unpredictable variety of contexts. Very substantial personal autonomy and often significant responsibility for the work of others and for the allocation of substantial resources features strongly, as do personal accountabilities for analysis, diagnosis, design, planning, execution and evaluation

[edit] Approximate academic equivalents

NVQ 1 = foundation GNVQ, three to four GCSEs at grades D-E, Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC) first certificate.

NVQ 2 = five GCSEs at grades A*-C, BTEC first diploma.

NVQ 3 = two or more A levels, BTEC Ordinary National Diploma (OND), City & Guilds Advanced Craft.

NVQ 4 = BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND),

NVQ 5 = postgraduate qualification or higher degree, such as M.Sc., M.A., M.Eng. or Ph.D.

Equivalent Qualifications (City & Guilds)

Level 4/NVQ 4 = Licentiateship-post nominal LCGI

Level 5/NVQ 5 = Graduateship-post nominal GCGI;Associateship-post nominal ACGI(1)

It should be noted that the above gives only guidelines as to the equivalence of these qualifications as they measure different things. NVQs are a measure of competence to do a job whilst Academic qualifications generally measure the individual's knowledge of a subject.

[edit] 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
  • Developing And Extending Knowledge And Skill
  • Printing

[edit] See also

[edit] Further Reading

  • WOOD, R., JOHNSON. C, Blinkhorn,S. & HALL, J. (1989) Boning, Blanching and Backtacking: Assessing Performance in the Workplace. Research and Development Series 46. Sheffield: Training Agency

[edit] External links

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