What is the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)?

The QCF is the new way of recognising achievement - through the award of credit for units and qualifications - across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It provides more flexible routes to gaining full qualifications and enables qualifications to be achieved in smaller steps. The QCF has now replaced the NQF (National Qualifications Framework) for new qualification developments.

This means:

• Units  are assigned a credit value
• The credits required to make up a qualification are set out by rules of combination
• Qualifications are divided into levels, and then categorised as Award, Certificate and Diploma which will indicate their size (volume) 
• 'Shared' units will be transferable between Awarding Bodies (ABs)
• Learners will be given access to an online Learner Record (LR) that will log all QCF unit and qualification achievement (from mid 2010)
• Learners will need to be assigned a unique learner number (ULN), which helps to enable transfer of credit across awarding bodies.

QCF implementation has now received ministerial approval as we enter a controlled roll-out. The QCF regulatory arrangements were issued at the end of August 2008 and we expect more detailed implementation timelines towards the end of 2008. We will provide updates through the www.cityandguilds.com/qcf web area and via our electronic monthly mailing service (e-updates). If you are not already subscribed to the mailings, find out more and join-up at www.cityandguilds.com/updates.

How does the QCF unitisation work?

Units
Credit is awarded for completion of a unit (the smallest component of a qualification), with credits combined to make qualifications. The rules of combination will state the credits that can be combined to complete a qualification

Levels
Each unit is assigned a level which indicates demand, depth of learning and learner autonomy. Levels range from ‘Entry’ (the lowest) to level 8 (the highest).

Credit value
A unit has a credit value assigned for outcomes of achievement. One credit is equal to 10 hours of notional learning time.

Learner Record (LR)
In the future when a unit and/or qualification is awarded, it will be recorded in a centralised online Learner Record. Check out our 'QCF IT' webpage for more details.

Transfer of credit
Credit can now be transferred between qualifications and awarding bodies.

For further details around the new simplified qualification structure and naming conventions, visit our 'Award, Certificate or Diploma?' webpage.

QCF test and trials

The QCF test and trials projects started in September 2006 and ran through to July 2008.

City & Guilds and partners trialled Awards, Certificates and Diplomas at different levels in areas such as:

• Business administration
• Automotive maintenance and repair
• Travel and tourism
• Retail skills
• Further education teaching
• Customer Service and many more
  

An interim report from the trials was submitted to Ministers in July 2007 and a response published in September 2007. A final evaluation report was then produced for Ministers in June 2008. The QCF is now being implemented, with the NQF due to close at the end of 2010. 

The City & Guilds Group now has over 500 qualifications accredited on the QCF. For a sample of some of these qualifications, take a look at our 'Credit rated qualifications' webpage.