Frequently Asked Questions

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) sets out the levels against which a qualification can be recognised in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Qualifications using the QCF rules are made up of units at a given a level according to their difficulty, from entry level to level 8. The title of a qualification will tell you its size and level.

This provides flexible ways to get a qualification by:

• Allowing learners to build towards the achievement of a qualification by being awarded credits for the completion of units.
• Each unit has a credit value which tells you how many credits are awarded when a unit is completed.
• The credit value also gives an indication of how long it will normally take to prepare for a unit or qualification.  One credit will usually take approximately 10 hours of learning.
• Units build up to qualifications and there are three different types of qualification in the QCF: Award (1 to 12 credits), Certificate (13 to 36 credits), Diploma (37 credits or more)

Credits are a way of measuring and valuing your learning.   A credit is based on a nominal 10 hours of learning but this does not mean that you have to spend 10 hours learning as some people can do it in less and for others, it may take more.   A typical short course may offer between 1 and 5 credits where as a longer course may offer over 15 credits.

The level of a unit or qualification indicates how difficult it is to achieve and your qualification certificate will show the level you have reached for each unit.  The level of the learning you undertake will be similar to the level of study needed for other courses and UK.

For example:

Entry level – qualifications and units provides a basis for progression to other qualifications

Level 1 – comparable to working at NVQ level 1, GCSEs D-G, Foundation Diploma

Level 2 – comparable to working at NVQ level 2, GCSE’s A-C, Higher Diploma

Level 3 – comparable to working at NVQ level 3, A and AS level, Advanced Diploma

Level 4 – comparable to working at NVQ level 4, Certificate of Higher Education

All qualifications in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) are made up of units. When you have met all the criteria in the unit they you will have achieved the unit.  A qualification is made up from a set of units.   You will gain a full qualification when you have achieved all these units and complete any other requirements of the qualification.

The qualification specification is a complete document specifying the regulator approved requirements around a qualification. This includes guidance on quality requirements, copies of the qualification/endorsed course specification  and includes the unit specifications. 

It enables the centre/deliverer to understand the requirement to capture and present learner evidence of achievement based on the unit specifications, covering all of the assessment criteria of all of the learning outcomes.

Centre IVs and assessors should be familiar with the specification for each qualification they deliver.