The LSC is exploring how it may fund a credit and qualifications framework (initially through the demand-led funding consultation).

The LSC has stated that as more provision becomes available in the QCF, they wish to expand and enlarge the current working trials of unit funding.

None is expected. Train to Gain is a free skills brokerage service offering independent and practical advice to match training needs with training providers.

It is an employer-led system. From 2008/09 not all training will be free as they will be co-funded by the LSC and the employer.

The Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) aims to provide more flexible routes to gaining full qualifications and enables qualifications and progression to be achieved in small steps. Learners are able to accumulate and transfer credits.

The QCF will replace the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and will operate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Feedback from stakeholders suggested the need for a framework that would be more flexible and responsive to the needs of learners and particularly employers.

It's also needed to encourage progression and be more inclusive in terms of recognising learning that currently sits outside of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

Ministers asked the regulators for England (QCA), Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA) to test and trial the proposed new Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF).

The tests and trials involved learners across a range of settings, including colleges, workplaces and other providers.

The results of the trials was used to understand whether the framework would be flexible, inclusive, easy to navigate and understand, before the decisions about implementation are made. The tests and trials started in September 2006, ending in July 2008.

Units and qualifications will not be accredited to the NQF after Dec 2010.  After this all vocational units and qualifications will be accredited to the QCF.

It is likely that the NQF will continue to operate for some years, but at the moment it is intended that new qualifications can not be accredited on the NQF after 31 December 2010, when the NQF is likely to close for vocational qualifications.

In England, the LSC will start to withdraw funding for NQF qualifications from 2009, where a replacement QCF qualification is available.

In some respects, the QCF is similar to the NQF however QCF introduces the concept of unitisation, with each unit allocated a level and credit value.

The level of the units on the QCF correspond exactly with the current NQF levels.

Credit values represents the number of credits a learner will be awarded for successfully completing the unit. One credit is awarded for learning outcomes achievable in 10 hours of learning time (this is not the same as guided learning hours because it includes guided learning, assessment preparation time and assessment times, as well as contact time).

Rules of combination (RoC) then state which units can be combined together to form qualifications. This is similar to current NQF qualifications, however an increased complexity and flexibility will be possible.

Wherever possible, we will try to use existing systems and processes to deliver our QCF qualifications, to minimise the changes to business processes required from our centres. We will collect ULNs for all of our QCF learners so that their achievement can be recognised by the QCF Learner Achievement Record.

There will be an exception process that the QCF IT system will need to cater for, to enable prior achievement to be flagged with a ULN and added to the QCF LAR.

The MIAP Learner Registration Service (LRS) provides ULNs. Learning providers can access this service and submit files containing learner details. The LRS then returns the file with the ULNs added for learners that have been registered. Click here for more information.

MIAP’s Learner Registration Service will be responsible for issuing and holding a unique number for each eligible learner.

The Unique Learner Number (ULN) will be allocated to every person undertaking education and training.

The 10 digit number will remain with them for life and will not be recycled. It will be designed in a way to ensure that no meaning can be inferred from its structure.

Managing Information Across Partners (MIAP) looks after the streamlining, collection, handling and sharing of information on learning and achievement for education and training organisations. Click here for more information.

The LARS is the only place that ULNs can currently be issued. Besides issuing new ULNs, it is also used for verifying details for learners who already have ULNs.

The LR underpins credit accumulation and transfer across learning provider and awarding bodies. The principles behind the QCF could not be managed without it.

Learners will be able to check their progress towards a chosen qualification, or they can see what other qualifications the units completed can contribute towards if they want to study via a new route.

A learner will be able to log on to a website, using a personal identification number (PIN), and check their own personal Learner Record (LR), at any time.

Learners will be able to give permission to learner providers to view their LR, and can also give permission for others, such as employers, to see a restricted view of their LR.

They do not directly. It will be ‘business as usual’ for centres who will continue to submit results to Awarding Organisations through current entry methods. The Awarding Organisations will submit this achievement data to the QCF on their behalf.

At first only QCF achievement will be uploaded onto LARs, with no confirmed plans to populate with past NQF vocational achievement (eg. NVQs and VRQs).

The LR system is a centrally managed database which will contain all of a learners achievement regardless of which learning provider or awarding body it has been completed with.

The LR system is linked to the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ).

Centres will need to register with the MIAP’s Learner Registration Service (LRS) to obtain Unique Learner Numbers (ULN). Click here for more information. 

They will also need to create a Learner Record (LR) for each candidate with QCA. A centre will then be required to submit ULNs to an awarding body on registration of a learner. These processes involve some changes to a centres MIS processes. Many parties are working to make these requirements as simple a change as possible.

Changes will not involve any new equipment or hardware. Details of this process are available on the IT section of the QCA QCF website.

It will be entirely up to the learner who they allow to access the LR. When the LR is set up, the learner sets their own password and chooses who they want to give access.

The LR is linked to the National Database of Accredited Qualifications so learners will be able to check their progress towards a chosen qualification, or they can see what other qualifications the unit can contribute to.

It is intended that in the future, a learner can log on to a website using a PIN and check their own personal record of achievement, or show it to a learning provider and/or employer.

Guidance on this issue will be sent to centres. An exact date of when this will be required has yet to be confirmed and depends on when the final requirements have been published by QCA.

When a unit is developed it is submitted to the QCA’s National Database of Accredited Qualification (NDAQ). Anyone may view the QCF qualifications and units here. 

Once the units are submitted to NDAQ, awarding bodies will create qualifications using rules of combination.

These rules show the credits that need to be achieved though a specific combination of particular units. This is not significantly different to the current ways of defining qualifications, however the rules are based on credit rather than GLH and also more complexity will be possible.

Yes, this is one of the key features of the QCF.

Yes, on satisfactory completion of a unit a Certificate of Unit Credit will be available – just as for existing NQF, VRQs and N/SVQs.

As is the case currently, units can be used towards qualifications until the time when they are revised or withdrawn. The duration of each unit is detailed on NDAQ.

These terms are used to indicate the relative sizes (volume) of qualifications, not the level of difficulty. For example, this means that it is possible to have an Award at Level 4 and a Diploma at Level 1.

• Award - 1-12 Credits
• Certificate - 13-36 Credits
• Diploma - 37+ Credits  

Note: One credit is equal to 10 hours of notional learning.

This depends on the assessment requirements stipulated for each unit/qualification. It is likely that different Sector Skills Councils will take different approaches to how current NVQ qualifications translate into the QCF.

There is no application of the ten week rule as the NVQ code of practice was not applicable during the test and trial period. Currently, there are no plans to transfer the NVQ code of practice into the QCF.

Information on qualifications accredited as QCF qualifications can be found on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications.

Yes, but the collection of units (rules of combination) need to be approved by the appropriate SSC, and then an Awarding Organisation will have to submit the qualification to Ofqual for accreditation. This process can take some time.

Credit, once gained, cannot be taken away. Currency of that credit, in terms of how achievement might be recognised in future, will be articulated through RoC . However, this may be different (and will be specified by the relevant SSC) for units which carry a license to practise or similar.

Notional learning time is the average time it would take a learner to complete a unit. It includes guided learning hours, directed study, practical and work-based learning, assessment preparation time and assessment time. Guided learning hours are the hours in which study is directed by the tutor, usually with the tutor present.

This can include tutorials, induction, face-to-face delivery or directed open/distance learning and assessment.

Yes, as long as the units are attached to an accredited qualification and the centre has been approved. Please note, a qualification may be composed of only one unit

Yes, once the units are submitted to the QCF, awarding bodies can create qualifications using rules of combination. These rules show the credits that need to be achieved through a combination of particular units so that the qualification can be awarded.

There is no automatic transfer of qualifications planned from the NQF to the QCF.

Vocational qualifications on the QCF will have to be endorsed by SSCs as supporting their sector qualification strategies (SQS).

Until 2010, there will be a ‘mixed-economy’ of NQF and QCF, the LSC will work closely with SSCs to focus funding on priority qualifications onto the QCF.

The term ‘NVQ’ may not be used by all sectors, but competency-based qualifications are already on the QCF.

Edexcel will accept and accredit your results as normal. However, this means that we cannot upload results into the Learner Records as the candidate will not be recognised.

In the future it is probable that centres must submit ULNs as this will be a requirement of LSC funding.