Does The National Qualification Framework Cover Professions As Well?

[David H]

I have bothered the DfE enough already so hope this simple question can be answered here without asking them even more stuff purely out of curiosity.

I have been told some professions which are studied mainly in university postgraduate have equivalent levels, such as PGCE which is degree level 6, but would they also classify non-university professional qualifications such as law and accountancy taken after a degree? The graduate conversion courses are level 6, but a preliminary academic stage, would say a solicitor or accountant have an equivalent level for their professional exams or is it only applicable from general educational establishments?

[woofgang]

Does this help?
http://www.ecctis.co.uk/europass/documents/ds_chart.pdf

Nvq equivalents aren't "same as" and it's up to individual professional bodies to decide whether to accept them as alternates to their normal entry requirements.
I would also take issue with the chart describing diploma qualifications as lower than degree but the principle is about right. Can I ask why you are asking as I might be able to help further.

[Buenchico]

Here's the official structure from OfQual:
http://www2.ofqual.gov.uk/popups/explaining-qualifications/

[Buenchico]

Oops!

I've just checked that link. It seems that you need to click on '11. Qualifications table: Qualification levels with examples' to get to the relevant bit.

I'm never too sure whether I've reached Level 6 or Level 7. A graduate who goes on to qualify as a teacher has achieved Level 7 but I did it the other way round. (i.e. I qualified as a teacher after 3 years at college but stayed on for an extra year to gain a university degree). That means that my 'highest' qualification is at Level 6 but I've actually got the same qualifications as a 'Level 7' graduate with a post-graduate teaching diploma.

[woofgang]

I was in a similar circ Chris. My qualification is a Diploma in Occupational Therapy as that is what the qualification was when I trained. Then it converted to a degree but with no change to the syllabus....so according to that chart, you are level six or level seven depending on what year you qualified.

[David H]

Thanks everyone, I knew the academic structure but was trying to fit in the professional stuff into it, assuming it could be done. It seems a small group such as social work, medical and teachers are given equivalent levels of 6 and 7 (PGCE is now professional certificate not postgraduate and dropped to level 6, search me why), but others have not been officially added so is an exception rather than a rule. Also I didn't know NVQ levels don't follow QCF ones which is typical British planning, and also raises the next possible question as to whether any other professions are NVQ equivalents, where 4 is level 5 and 5 is level 7. Without being told some people must be put off taking some as they don't realise how high they actually are.

I came across this for my own postgraduate qualifications recently, and in case anyone else wants to know their own QTS equivalent they need to ask the college as only they have the information and not the DfE. I was relieved to find my counselling certificate and diploma were level 6 so equivalent to a degree, but a shame they didn't reach postgraduate level 7.

Now they can officially call them Grad Certs or PG Certs so everyone else knows the difference, but you can't backdate the titles of old ones so a certificate or diploma can be a weekend private job with very little status or a PG without someone asking you which.

[BenjaminArvel]

I have faced the same crisis in my study certifications, and for that i got help from "certshelp" these guys helped me to get rid of it.