National/Scottish Vocational Qualifications (N/SVQ)
N/SVQ’s are the preferred route for new entrants intending to pursue a career in the Building Engineering Sector.
They are based upon National Occupational Standards and are accredited by The Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (OFQUAL) (England & Northern Ireland) and Scottish Qualifications Authority (Scotland).
These qualifications are delivered through a network of colleges and training centres approved by an awarding body e.g. City & Guilds or EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL).
N/SVQ’s are made up from a number of units (e.g. Health & Safety) and are achieved by undertaking training and assessment over an extended period of time in both the classroom and ‘on site’.
Note: The on site element means that you must be have access to a real work environment by either being employed (or a having a work placement) with a business carrying out appropriate work.
Assessments of individual units are ongoing throughout the award and are carried out by an assessor who will observe your performance in the workplace when you are ready; you will also have to answer questions to demonstrate your underpinning knowledge.
All of your work experience, training and assessment are evidence of your achievement and are recorded in your candidate portfolio (Click here to down load a model Evidence Portfolio for candidates undertaking an MLP or N/SVQ) which can be either paper based or electronic.
Once you have completed all the individual units your portfolio will be reviewed, verified and signed off by the Internal and External Verifier.
Once this process has been completed the awarding body will issue your N/SVQ certificate.
N/SVQ’s cover a wide range of Building Engineering Services at different levels (e.g. Gas and Plumbing levels 2 & 3), therefore it is difficult to estimate how long they take to achieve. However for a new entrant into the gas industry an N/SVQ at level 2 will typically take two years to complete.
Recently City and Guilds introduced a suite of Technical Certificates to the BES sector which must be completed as part of the full award.
If you wish to find out more about particular BES N/SVQ’s or Technical Certificates follow the links below