Each unit within the QCF will have a credit value, which represents how long the learning element of that unit will take to complete (ie the volume of learning required). Guided learning hours will still exist to indicate how much of the notional learning time is guided by a lecturer/tutor/teacher.

One credit  = 10 hours of notional learning

Rules of combination for qualifications

Under the QCF framework, qualifications will be made up of a combination of mandatory and optional units, as happens already in many NQF qualifications. The credit and units required to complete a qualification are decided by the rules of combination. These 'rules' are mandated by awarding bodies - in close consultation with Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) and other relevant organisations.

Each qualification is now assigned a unique title which will indicate:

• the level (difficulty)
• size (volume of learning)
• content.

This naming system is intended to make qualifications more readily understandable to learners and employers. This system will make it easier to understand: what content is covered; how much learning time was involved; and at what level of complexity.

Levels

The level indicates the complexity (challenge) of a qualification, which ranges from Entry to level 8 (the current NQF system goes up to level 7).

To gauge the complexity of levels within the QCF: GCSEs grades A* - C are equivalent to level 2; GCE A-levels are level 3; and a PhD is the maximum level 8. For City & Guilds qualifications there will appear very little difference in levels. The change you will see is the introduction of a level for every QCF unit. Depending on the rules of combination, QCF qualifications can be made up of units from different levels, and the level of the majority then determines the level of the qualification.

Award, Certificate or Diploma?

Helping people to understand the volume of learning involved in a qualification

The combined size of all the credit value required to complete a qualification (through completion of units) will then dictate the use of expression for size of 'Award', 'Certificate', or 'Diploma'. A QCF Diploma is not the same as the new 14-19 Diplomas. 

• Award = 1-12 credits
• Certificate = 13-36 credits 
• Diploma = 37 credits or more

Where one credit is equal to 10 hours of learning (guided learning hours (GLH) will still exist for some units as a secondary value to credit).

The size of a 'Full' level 2 (equivalent to 5 good GCSEs) will be decided by the relevant SSC who will decide what is required for the qualifications in that industry area. QCA have indicated that there must be a minimum of 13 credits (Certificate size).

Please note: The use of the expressions 'Award', 'Certificate' and 'Diploma' has no bearing on the complexity/challenge of a qualification, it simply indicates the size (volume of learning).

Examples of titles include:

City & Guilds level 1 Award in Retail Skills
City & Guilds level 3 Certificate in Professional Cookery
City & Guilds level 2 Diploma in Business Skills

The future of the term 'NVQ'

The QCF does not recognise the differing types of qualifications that existed under the NQF (eg VRQ and NVQ). This does not mean we will see the end of competency based assessment and qualifications. The new QCF regulations have stated that the term ‘NVQ’ can be used in the title of QCF qualifications to help identify that assessment was competency based. 

Ofqual have produced an additional regulatory document Operating rules for using the term ‘NVQ’ in a QCF qualification title.  We are working closely with SSCs and other organisations to ensure the needs of sectors are reflected in the qualifications that are developed for the QCF. Some sectors may be happy to lose NVQ branding altogether, with others using the term NVQ, in brackets, in accordance with new guidance.

Scotland (SCQF)

Scotland - which is operating under the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) - will not be using the same level and nomenclature system. For more details on the SCQF, please visit  http://www.scqf.org.uk/.