At the core of
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are the National Occupational Standards (NOS) on which NVQs are based.
NOS are expected performance standards that people in a particular occupation must work to. NOS feature the main aspects of the occupation, best practice, and the ability to adapt to future requirements, and the knowledge and understanding that underpins competent performance.
NVQs are qualifications for work; they are the proof of a person’s ability to do a job.
NVQs allow people to gain new skills and knowledge throughout their working lives, and give recognition to people who achieve excellence in their work.
All NVQs are unit based and allow candidates to accumulate unit credits, which are certificated by an Awarding Body, Durham Assessment Centre's being City and Guilds for Social Care Awards, OCR for Administration Awards, and the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) for Management Awards.
As NVQs define competence, they do not have graduations, so candidates either ‘can’ or ‘cannot yet’ prove competence at the prescribed level.
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