Why take an accredited qualfication

Get the right qualfication!

Why take an Accredited Qualification?

Accredited qualifications, which are also known as regulated qualifications, are those that are reviewed, recognised and monitored by the regulatory bodies in order to make sure that they meet specific criteria and quality standards.

The requirements for the qualifications to be accredited are set out in the Regulatory arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework. Once proposed qualifications have to meet the requirements set out in the mentioned document, they are listed in the Register of Regulated Qualifications where you can also find a list of recognised awarding organisations who have the power to award qualifications within the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), the national credit transfer system in England, Wales and Ireland. Scotland has its own framework – the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework which is jointly regulated by several awarding and regulatory bodies.

What are the Advantages of Accredited over Non-Accredited Qualifications?

The most obvious advantage of accredited over non-accredited qualifications is that the accredited ones provide the learners and all the stakeholders with a guarantee of quality of both the qualification programme and the awarding body that offers accredited qualifications. Non-accredited qualifications, on the other hand, are simply put, are not regulated and there is no guarantee that they meet appropriate standards. Additionally, there is no way to tell whether they are fit for their purpose, if they include relevant content or if the appropriate methodology for assessment is used.

So what does this mean for me in practical terms?

Well, as we have said so many times before….look before you buy a course that leads to a qualification.  If you need a City and Guilds qualification either for career advancement or because it is required by a scheme provider, make sure that the training provider is an approved training provider with the awarding body. You need to ensure that the course that you are interested in, leads to an accredited qualification……simple checks and some questions can make the difference between disappointment or success.

Good luck and as ever, if you need any advice, call us on 0800 170 7007 or visit our web site totalelectricaltraining.com