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Vocational qualification

A qualification focused on the skills and knowledge for a particular job or industry.

Used in
All four UK nations (details may differ)
Topic
Qualifications

Being checked against official sources. This definition is written in our own words; always check the official guidance for your country.

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BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) All four UK nations (details may differ)
Career-focused vocational qualifications awarded by Pearson at levels from entry to 7, graded pass, merit, distinction and distinction*.
NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) England Wales Northern Ireland
A work-based qualification showing competence in a job, available at levels 1 to 8; the name is now used less often.
T Level (Technical level) England
A two-year technical qualification for 16 to 19 year olds in England, equal in size to three A levels, including a substantial industry placement of at least 315 hours.

More terms: Qualifications

Apprenticeship · Credit (UK) · Entry level certificate · ESOL · Further maths · HNC

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Definitions are written by Classfern in our own words for teachers in the UK and the US. They are short explanations, not legal or official definitions: always check the official guidance for your country, nation or state. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government department, inspectorate or exam board named here.