QCF

Qualifications and Credit Framework

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is the new framework for creating and accrediting qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The QCF will give a wider range of learners the opportunity to get the qualifications they need, in a way that suits them. QCF qualifications are designed with the help of employers, so learners can be assured that they're gaining skills that employers are looking for. The QCF recognises smaller steps of learning and enables learners to build up qualifications bit by bit.

Every unit and qualification in the QCF will have a:

Credit value (one credit = ten hours) which represents the length of completion, and
Level (which ranges from entry level to level eight) which indicates the level of difficulty

There are three sizes of qualifications in the QCF:

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

Benefits of the QCF

The QCF will offer learners:

More freedom, choice and flexibility
Allow them to build up credits at their own pace and combine them in a way that will help them get where they want to be
Enable them to transfer credits between qualifications to avoid having to repeat their learning
Record all their achievements on an electronic learner record, encouraging them and others to value their past achievements

For employers the QCF will:

Help them to measure quickly the level and size of achievements of prospective employees
Enable them to get in-house training recognised within a national framework
Describe levels of achievement in terms everyone can understand
Make training options and pathways clear, helping employees and employers find the right training for their learning and business needs.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

NVQs are competence-based qualifications which are usually delivered in the workplace or in partnership with a college or other training provider. There are currently NVQs available in the following business skills areas: