Vocational Education

Vocational Education and Training is an expansive concept, which is generally defined as - preparing learners for careers based on manual or practical activities. It is generally non-academic and associated to a specific trade, occupation or vocation. It concerns itself with educating people in the knowledge and skills required for employment and for the community as a whole, so that they can progress and succeed in education and in work.

Vocational Educational has different types of qualifications. Qualifications demonstrate what you have learned and the skills you now have. They are best understood by their size, content and difficulty level. The qualification i.e. an award, certificate or diploma, must be recognised by the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF).

Regulated qualifications can have a level between entry level and level 8. Qualifications of the same level have a similar difficulty. But the the content and size of the qualification can be quite different even if in the same level.

QCF Qualification's have a specific credit value. Credit value is an indication of the size and duration of the qualification. QCF qualifications vary between 3 different sizes: 

 As a rule of thumb, one credit represents 10 hours of study. 

Qualification Credit Overview

The following diagram gives you a visual reference of the weight certain qualifications have and how they are all related. 

Image Source:  Ofqual