NVQ COURSES | LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5

Firstly - YOU MAY WELL QUALIFY TO DO A FREE NVQ COURSE, often from home or online!

The letters NVQ, as you may already know, are the common abbreviation for 'National Vocational Qualification'.

NVQ courses are available to anyone whatever their age, although there are certain requirements (you have to be employed or studying at college whilst doing a part-time job or be in a work placement). It is also possible in some cases to do an NVQ course whilst at school.

Your NVQ course can be done in either an education or work setting, or indeed as part of an apprenticeship.

Depending on the subject, NVQs on the National Qualifications Framework are available from Level 1, which focuses on basic work activities, to Level 5 for senior management. The levels are broadly equivalent as follows:

LEVEL 1 = 3-4 GCSEs at grades D-G
LEVEL 2 = 4-5 GCSEs at grades A-C
LEVEL 3 = 2 'A' Levels
LEVEL 4 = Higher Education Certificate / BTEC
LEVEL 5 = Higher Education Diploma / Foundation Degree

Although there is no set time limit to complete your NVQ and you are free to work at your own pace, most people find it takes them about one year to gain an NVQ level 1, NVQ level 2 or NVQ level 3.

Qualifications & Curriculum Authority approved assessment centres can be found at most colleges and universities and within the NHS.

There are also many private companies approved to provide NVQs within their specialist sectors.

Some companies are able to offer NVQ courses in several different sectors.

You will find an NVQ course available in almost every business and public service sector. There are several 100s of NVQs to choose from, some of the most popular subjects in 2023-2024 being in the areas of:

• Care NVQ
• Health NVQ
• Social Care NVQ
• Teaching NVQ
• Childcare NVQ
• Plumbing NVQ

• Hairdressing NVQ
• Administration NVQ
• Management NVQ
• Catering NVQ
• Construction NVQ
• IT NVQ

Don't forget - YOU MAY WELL QUALIFY TO DO A FREE NVQ COURSE, often from home or online!

Vacancies for NVQ assessors exist nationwide and in most sectors.

The job of the assessor is to assess anyone working towards their NVQ, ensuring that they meet all the necessary standards required.

An assessor may work for a training provider or educational establishment. They may also be based within a particular company where NVQs are taken by members of staff, although this would normally tend to be a larger company that has the resources to support such a scheme.