How Vocational Qualifications Work
Typical structure of a Vocational Qualification
- Qualification - Derived from National Standards, it is designed to capture all aspects of an occupation. An example might be: Fabricating Steel Structures level 3
- Unit - The unit is a function that has to be carried out as a part of a task. Units are large enough to be sensible chunks of work in their own right. Typically, there might be six units to each qualification, each with its own title. A qualification cannot be awarded until ALL REQUIRED units are completed, although certificates can be issued for units achieved.
- Element - Elements are small demonstrations of competence that, when put together, make a unit.
Typically, there could be between two and four elements to a unit, each with its own title.
Types of units
The ECITB range of qualifications makes use of three types of units.
- Mandatory - These units must be achieved before the full qualification can be awarded. Typically, the qualification will contain mostly mandatory units.
- Optional - These units must be achieved in addition to the mandatory units before the full qualification can be awarded, but the candidate will be able to select from a number of optional units. For example, a candidate may be able to select two units from a group of several optional units.
- Additional - These units need not be achieved before the full qualifications can be awarded. They are included in the qualification so that candidates may enhance their achievements.
Assessment
Candidates are usually assessed by someone at their workplace or training centre, known as an internal assessor. This person will have received assessment and training to ensure that they are able to carry out the process of assessment. They also need to be recognised as competent to do the job themselves.
Once the internal assessor has deemed that the candidate is competent with respect to an element or unit of the VQ, this is confirmed by the internal verifier (also someone from the workplace or training centre). Again this person will have received relevant training and assessment for the task of verification.
From time to time an external verifier from the ECITB will visit the company or training centre to check that the quality of assessment is being maintained.