NVQ For You

The world of education (especially higher education) has undergone a massive transformation in the past decade or so, primarily because of distance education. These days, it is possible to become trained, certified, degreed, and pedigreed in just about any field of study without ever setting foot in to a classroom. On line courses are very different from the old postal mail courses, where the student was basically just a correspondent with the education institution. With the advent of online courses, distance education has become more synchronous (meaning simply that the student and the instructor DO interact in real time, just not in face to face mode). It is possible get basic training all the way up to and including MS (Master's) degrees utilizing distance education. The variety of training available is truly staggering - if one is interested in Forex training, it is available online; if gerontology or industrial management are needed, they are available online. One can become certified and / or licensed in childcare or computer forensics - it is all available through distance courses. The variety is honestly endless.

In the United Kingdom, there are the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) certifications. These are basically vocational awards (in England and Wales) which can be earned through assessment and training. In Scotland, these same certifications are known as Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). These certifications are practical, job performance related awards which are based on the applicants qualifications to do a certain job. Distance NVQ courses are very popular.

Five levels of NVQ (or SVQ) awards exist. They range from Level 1 (basic work ability and activities), to Level 5 (senior management ability). The Level 1 qualification insures that the holder has displayed basic competence in the application and performance of a range of varied work related tasks, the bulk of which are predictable, common and routine. At level 2 certification, the award holder is found to have a competence that involves the application of skills and abilities in a wider range of work situations and the ability to perform in a variety of contexts. At this level, it is expected that some of the work activities will be complex or non-routine. There is also some expectation of individual responsibility on the job site. Collaboration with other workers is very often expected, often as part of a team or group of workers.

Level 3 certification requires the same sort of application of knowledge in a wide area of different work activities but also demands the ability to assume responsibility and autonomy for oneself as well as control and / or guidance of other workers. At the level 4 award, the worker is expected to display competence involving the application of knowledge in a quite broad area of technical, professional, or complex tasks performed in a variety of situations. It is also expected that the worker will assume a large amount of personal responsibility and autonomy. Workers at this level are almost always responsible for the oversight of other workers as well as responsibility for the allocation of resources. Level 5 involves nearly complete personal autonomy as well as responsibility for the work of others and the responsibility for very substantial resources. Personal accountability for analysis, planning, execution and evaluation are also required.