Approved Centres - NSVQ

What is a N/SVQ?

A NVQ is a National Vocational Qualification. A SVQ is it’s Scottish equivalent, a Scottish Vocational
Qualification. N/SVQs are qualifications for work. They are proof of a person’s ability to do a job. N/SVQs
can be gained by people doing their everyday job and provide recognition of the skills and experience they
have gained. There is no time limit to achieving a N/SVQ and no age barrier or special entry requirement.
N/SVQs are made up of different units, or tasks; a list of unit summaries for each ACE trade is contained in the
Employers Guide to ACE.

There is a jungle of disparate qualifications – bewildering, of inconsistent value and not geared to the changing
needs of individuals or the industry. Qualifications need to be flexible, widely recognised by industry,
comprehensive, rigorously assessed, coherent and voluntary – this is why N/SVQs were created and why the
ACE Initiative is using them as the benchmark for competence.

How is a N/SVQ achieved?

By assessment of people in the workplace. Assessment is the process by which an individual is observed and
questioned doing their everyday job and checked against National Occupational Standards. There is no
coursework or exams; N/SVQs are about putting learning into practice – they show what people can do as well
as what they know.

What are National Occupational Standards?

National Occupational Standards (NOS) are statements of performance that describe what competent people in
a particular trade are expected to be able to do. NOS are developed, trialed and monitored by the Standards
Setting Body (in this case ECITB) working alongside representatives from the industry.

Who does the Assessment?

Assessment is carried out by Assessors attached to an Approved Centre.

An Approved Centre is an organisation that has been approved by the Awarding Body to assess and verify
N/SVQs. Approved Centres are normally companies, client sites or training providers/colleges. You can find the list of approved centers here. If you would like more details on becoming an Approved Centre in your own right, speak to your ECITB Account
Manager or contact the VQ Administrator at ECITB, 01923 260 000 or email NSVQ@ecitb.org.uk.

The Awarding Body is responsible for approving centres and ensures assessment of candidates is fair and
consistent. It also records the details of all candidates registered through Approved Centres and awards
certificates on completion of the N/SVQ. ECITB is the Awarding Body for the N/SVQs endorsed by the Industry Steering Group for ACE.

The Assessor is the person in direct contact with the candidate whose role it is to seek the evidence required
for the N/SVQ. An Assessor has been through a training course and assessment to ensure that they are
capable of carrying out the process of candidate assessment. Additionally, they must also be recognised as
competent in the trade that they are assessing themselves. The Assessor will work closely with the candidate
to identify existing experience and how this can be taken into account. They will also pre-arrange times to
observe specific tasks being carried out on site as part of the candidate’s usual work. Several candidates can
be observed in one site visit. Assessor training is free of charge to ECITB in-scope companies.

How is Assessment Validated?

Once the Assessor has deemed that the candidate is competent, a Verifier validates the process. Validation
confirms that the Assessor has followed the correct procedures and that assessment has been fair and
consistent. Similar to an Assessor, a Verifier is attached to the Approved Centre and has received training and
assessment in the task of verification. Verifier training is free of charge to ECITB in-scope companies.

External Verifiers are appointed by the Awarding Body (ECITB) to check the work of the Approved Centres.

What about Certification?

Once the above validation process has been confirmed, the Awarding Body (ECITB) issues a N/SVQ
certificate. This shows the candidate’s name and qualification achieved and is a tangible demonstration of their
competence.

Want to know more?

For more information on N/SVQs in general, visit the DfES (Department for Education & Skills) website –
www.dfes.gov.uk/nvq.
For specific information on the ECITB Awarding Body and N/SVQs, visit www.ecitb.org.uk or talk to your ECITB
Account Manager.