Vocational qualifications are changing

To help people get the skills and qualifications that employers need, changes are being made to vocational, or work related, qualifications. The changes will bring benefits for learners, employers, providers and Awarding Organisations.

New vocational qualifications are:

• Easier to understand – you can tell at a glance what a qualification covers, how long it takes and how difficult it is
• More flexible – learning can fit around work or home life
• More relevant to the changing skills needs of employers
• Improving employability – learners can be sure of gaining the skills that employers want, while employers can be confident about the skills learners have gained

The main change is the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The QCF is a new system for recognising vocational qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Find out how vocational qualifications are changing

• For learners – more on Directgov
• For employers – more on Business Link
• For learning providers – more from the Skills Funding Agency
• For Awarding Organisations – more from the Federation of Awarding Bodies and the Joint Council for Qualifications

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