How NVQs Work and Career Guide

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) allow you to work or study while getting a field qualification. With a learn-as-you-go model, NVQs allow you the flexibility to gain experience alongside your education and may even help you land an entry-level position. 

Let’s dive into what NVQs are, which careers require this type of qualification, and how to determine if you would benefit from an NVQ.

What is an NVQ?

An NVQ is a National Vocational Qualification award demonstrating your workplace abilities. To get an NVQ, you must pass various observations and assessments that cover various subjects related to your field, including best practices, the knowledge needed for competent performance of job tasks, and the ability to adapt when the standards change. The exact knowledge you need and the depth of competency you must show depend on the occupation you’re being tested for and the level of qualification you’re seeking. 

The United Kingdom established the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) in 1986 to establish NVQs based on national occupational standards for a specific field. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulations (Ofqual) has since replaced the NCVQ overseeing these awards. 

How do assessments work?

You complete your NVQ examination whilst in the workplace or during your education. For college students, it is possible to gain A-levels whilst undergoing evaluation to earn vocational qualifications simultaneously. NVQ assessments include a combination of observed hands-on work and a portfolio of evidence. Over time, you build your skills, and your assessor signs off on each milestone until you complete the qualification.

You will have a different time for completion because you will demonstrate your skills to the assessor as you build them. As you learn skills on the job, you’ll compare your skill level with the standard and be able to assess your readiness. Typically, an NVQ between level 1 and 3 takes around a year, according to most experts.

Vocational qualifications can be useful to you whether you are brand new to the field or looking to improve your skills in your current job and advance to a higher position.

What kinds of career goals can you achieve?

NVQs are flexible and open doors to various potential careers, including social care, catering, construction, and more. An engineer could take an NVQ to demonstrate skill-based knowledge outside their coursework. Teachers take NPQs, National Professional Qualifications, to heighten their skills. When thinking about your career path, no matter which field, it’s a good idea to research options for concurrent work experience and qualifications.

Careers that may benefit from NVQs include areas such as the following:

• Child care

• Social care

• Hospitality

• Administration and management

• Construction and property

• Beauty 

• Healthcare

• Design

• Food service and catering

• Sales and marketing

• Engineering and manufacturing

What are NVQ levels?

NVQ coursework goes from Level 1 through Level 7, with an additional level (entry-level) for pre-NVQ knowledge. Your training could start anywhere depending on your job experience and background knowledge. 

You can complete the following NVQ levels:

• Entry level: At this level, you will learn the basics before any formal training in the field. 

• NVQ Level 1: In this level, you will learn and apply basic, routine tasks.

• NVQ Level 2: In this level, you will learn more detailed work duties and gain a deeper understanding of the subject in individual and team settings. Some students may begin at this level if they have already accumulated knowledge and experience in the field. 

• NVQ Level 3: In this level, you will learn more complex duties and tasks. You still need some guidance but have more autonomy to learn more independently.

• NVQ Level 4: In this level, you will begin gaining management experience. You’ll work with a specialist to learn highly specific skills. 

• NVQ Level 5: In this level, you will learn skills to work at a senior management level whilst gaining additional work expertise. You’ll also learn how to respond to various complex situations, whether a supervisory problem or a technical issue, you’ll fix yourself. 

• NVQ Level 6: In this level, you will build more in-depth occupational training skills that can help you improve your performance at a senior management level. This course equates to a full bachelor’s degree and is open to learners who are already senior managers.

• NVQ Level 7: In this level, you will learn vocational skills equivalent to earning a master’s degree. Many learners in this course hold senior-level management positions. As with other NVQ courses, you take this alongside traditional academic courses for career paths such as engineering, teaching, etc.

How do you find NVQ courses?

You can sign up to take NVQs online or in person through various websites, including the National Career Service, which lists thousands of courses. You can search by region, subject, or start date. You’ll see full descriptions under programmes of what you’ll learn, potential length of time, location, etc. If you are not currently in the occupation, you’ll want to contact programmes about contacts for employment.

If you want different search fields, try websites such as Find Courses to see listings filtered by category, type of course, course location, and delivery via classroom or online instruction. Programmes detail the number of hours for completion. You should contact education institutions to ask about costs, which vary depending on the course. Make sure you ask about equipment costs you may have to pay alone. 

Trade professors often require cameras, computers, maintenance, or technical tools. Because of the tool requirement, you’ll want to ask your professor what requirements are needed. It may be helpful to know where you can buy used tools and how much to budget for this before the beginning of your programme. You’ll also want to ask about key programme factors such as scheduling and flexibility. If you have concerns, solve them as early as possible to avoid conflict later. 

Get job-ready with Coursera

To learn about yourself and explore which direction you may want to take your career, check out the Career Discovery Specialisation on Coursera. You’ll learn basic skills from leadership to communication to succeed in any career path. You’ll also learn how to choose a mentor that you can learn from throughout your educational experience. By the end of the course, you should have the skills to create a CV and personal statement that emphasises your unique skill set and talents.