What is a VQ | How to achieve a VQ | Assessment | Expectations
What is vocational qualification
A vocational qualification is a work related and competence based qualification that you undertake while you are at work.
These qualifications are based on a set of national occupational standards set out by professional occupational sectors which describe what people in a particular occupation are expected to be able to do.
These national standards are therefore recognised by employers throughout the UK.
How do you work towards a vocational qualification?
Vocational qualifications are achieved through assessment and training:
Your competence at undertaking practical tasks will be regularly assessed while on your placement and you will receive training which will provide you with the knowledge and understanding required in order to enable you to carry out your role.
You will build up a portfolio of naturally occurring evidence which will prove your ability to undertake work tasks that meet the national standards. This evidence falls into several different categories:
- Product evidence
An example of this might be a survey report
- Observation
This type of evidence requires you to be observed by an assessor while undertaking a particular task, eg carrying out a habitat survey.
- Witness testimony
A written statement provided by a skilled expert who is able to confirm your competency at undertaking a given activity.
- Question & Answers
In the situation where you have not managed to demonstrate your knowledge about a given area through a practical activity, the assessor may ask you questions in order to satisfy themselves that you have the knowledge
- Assignment
In the event that you are unable to demonstrate knowledge of a given area or competency at a given task due to expense, for health and safety reasons or simply because it is not in the remit of your job, you could be set a specific assignment which could be a piece of research
- Simulation
This is a simulated exercise you would be set if you were unable to carry out a similar task in a real life situation because it was too risky or it did not fall within your job remit
Assessment
Assessment takes place while you’re on your work placement.
There is no exam. To pass a unit, you will need to accumulate sufficient evidence within your portfolio to prove that you can carry out the practical tasks specified in any given unit to the required standards as measured against the national standards.
Your portfolio will be assessed by trained and qualified assessors and internal verifiers.
You cannot fail a unit. You may simply not have enough evidence to pass it, and will need to carry on gathering more evidence until you have enough to pass it.
Expectations
Don’t expect to learn ‘from’ your NVQ/OCN.
You will learn from your supervisor or instructor. You can then practice what you’ve learnt to demonstrate your competence as part of your NVQ/OCN.
