We are only able to offer vocational qualifications to learners based in the UK as the qualifications are based on UK national standards.
Award
Certificate
Diploma
Advice & Guidance
- giving advice & guidance in person, writing or telephone
- giving in depth advice & guidance
- managing their own caseload of clients
- operating within a network of Advice & Guidance providers
Business & Administration
- operating under close supervision
- carrying out tasks with minimal responsibility
- following processes or procedures already set
- taking responsibility for their own workload (including setting deadlines, prioritising urgent and important work)
- suggesting change and improvement
- supporting other staff and colleagues
- managing a function or project (not necessarily managing staff)
- analysing and demonstrating an understanding of business and administration
Career Information Advice and Guidance
- giving career specific advice
- giving in-depth career guidance and development
Childrens Care Learning & Development
Learners will be working in a health or social care or early years setting with children and young people. You may be working as a
- child-minder
- day care supervisor
- SureStart worker
- Community nurse
- learning mentor
Customer Service
- operating under close supervision
- carrying out tasks with supervision
- following processes or procedures already set
- taking responsibility for their own workload (including setting deadlines, prioritising urgent and important work)
- suggesting change and improvement
- supporting other staff and colleagues
- managing a function or project (not necessarily managing staff)
- analysing and demonstrating an understanding of business and administration
Health & Social Care Diploma
Learners will be:·
- in a ‘hands on’ care role
- following legislation
- able to demonstrate how they adhere to standards in safeguarding, equality, inclusion, health and safety and handling information
Dementia
- working in a health and social care setting with people diagnosed with dementia
Personalisation
- working in broad range of health and social care related careers such as personal assistants, health and social care assistants, carers and service users.
- registered on, or already have completed, The Open University course Personalisation in Health and Social Care (GK096)
End of Life
- working in a health and social care setting where individuals who are supported are approaching the end of their life.
Management
- first line managers
- allocating work to team members
- achieving specific results
- managing physical and financial resources
- undertaking some degree of decision making
- middle managers·
- accountable for performance·
- responsible for determining resource allocation and operation methods in their department or organisation·
- providing leadership and direction·
- planning change
Learning & Development
- learning and development practitioners
- mainly concerned with learning and development practice
- learning and development practitioners
- working across all phases of the learning and development cycle
- managing learning and development provision at an operational level
Vocational Qualifications in Assessment
Level 3 Award in Understanding Principles and Practices of Assessment - this is a knowledge based award only however learners should have a working knowledge of assessment.
- Working with a qualified assessor who can counter-sign their assessments
- Currently assessing two learners completing a competence based qualification
- Assessing performance in work against a set standard
- Working with a qualified assessor who can counter-sign their assessments
- Currently assessing two learners completing a vocationally related qualification
- Assessing vocationally related achievement such as skills tests, assignments
- Working with a qualified assessor who can counter-sign their assessments
- Currently assessing two learners completing a vocational qualification
- Assessing using a range of assessment methods such as observation, case studies
Working with Substance Misuse
- carrying out initial assessments to identify and prioritise the needs of substance misusers
- contributing to care planning and review for individuals who misuse substances
- carrying out comprehensive substance misuse assessments
- developing, implementing and reviewing care plans for individuals who misuse substances
- working in a health and social care setting specialising in the alcohol and substance misuse sector
- safeguarding vulnerable adults
- providing person-centred support
For further information about 'Qualification content and how it is assessed' please see the relevant section under the main enquiry page for your chosen vocational qualification.
For further information on the mandatory units and optional units please see 'The qualification structure' page for each qualification either at the bottom of the main enquiry page or underneath the qualification title on the left hand side of the menu.
You will have access to an online eportfolio which guides you in submitting your evidence through a series of structured activities. You will also have access to our learner resources website, 'VQLearner Home', the support of your assessor and the VQ Learner Support Team by telephone and email.
In order to determine whether our qualifications are right for you, please refer to our website at www.open.ac.uk/vq
for more specific information about qualification structures.Advice & Guidance
Level 3 Certificate in Advice & Guidance
At Level 3 learners will be:
- giving advice & guidance in person, writing or telephone
Level 4 Diploma in Advice & Guidance
At Level 4 learners will be:
- giving in depth advice & guidance
- managing their own caseload of clients
- operating within a network of Advice & Guidance providers
Business & Administration
Level 2 Certificate in Business & Administration
At Level 2 learners will be:
- operating under close supervision
- carrying out tasks with minimal responsibility
- following processes or procedures already set
Level 3 Diploma in Business & Administration
At Level 3 learners will be:
- taking responsibility for their own workload (including setting deadlines, prioritising urgent and important work)
- suggesting change and improvement
- supporting other staff and colleagues
Level 4 Diploma in Business & Administration
At Level 4 learners will be:
- managing a function or project (not necessarily managing staff)
- analysing and demonstrating an understanding of business and administration
Career Information Advice and Guidance
Level 4 Diploma in Career Information and Advice
At Level 4 learners will be:
- giving career specific advice
Level 6 CDI Certificate in Career Guidance Theory Pathway
At Level 6 learners will be:
- giving in-depth career guidance and development
- qualified in NVQ 4 in Advice and Guidance or LDSS, including specified ‘interviewing’ units, achieved whilst working in a careers setting
Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development
At Level 6 learners will be:
- giving in-depth career guidance and development
Childrens Care Learning & Development
Learners will be working in a health or social care or early years setting with children and young people. You may be working as a
- child-minder
- day care supervisor
- SureStart worker
- Community nurse
- learning mentor
Customer Service
Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service
At Level 2 learners will be:
- operating under close supervision
- carrying out tasks with supervision
- following processes or procedures already set
Level 3 Diploma in Customer Service
At Level 3 learners will be:
- taking responsibility for their own workload (including setting deadlines, prioritising urgent and important work)
- suggesting change and improvement
- supporting other staff and colleagues
Level 4 Diploma in Customer Service
At Level 4 learners will be:
- managing a function or project (not necessarily managing staff)
- analysing and demonstrating an understanding of business and administration
Health & Social Care Diploma
Learners will be:·
- in a ‘hands on’ care role
- following legislation
- able to demonstrate how they adhere to standards in safeguarding, equality, inclusion, health and safety and handling information
Dementia
Learners will be:
- working in a health and social care setting with people diagnosed with dementia
Personalisation
Learners will be:
- working in broad range of health and social care related careers such as personal assistants, health and social care assistants, carers and service users.
- registered on, or already have completed, The Open University course Personalisation in Health and Social Care (GK096)
End of Life
Learners will be:
- working in a health and social care setting where individuals who are supported are approaching the end of their life.
Management
Level 3 Certificate in Management
At Level 3 learners will be:
- first line managers
- allocating work to team members
- achieving specific results
- managing physical and financial resources
- undertaking some degree of decision making
Level 5 Diploma in Management
At Level 5 learners will be:
- middle managers·
- accountable for performance·
- responsible for determining resource allocation and operation methods in their department or organisation·
- providing leadership and direction·
- planning change
Learning & Development
Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Learning & Development
This Award is aimed at people who don't currently work in the sector but wish to gain grounding in learning and development. Individuals could be managing learning and development practitioners but not practicing themselves.
Level 3 Award Facilitating Learning & Development
This Award is aimed at people who are entering learning and development practice or who have learning and development as part of their role already. It is also suitable for those who are work-based assessors wanting to develop their learning and development skills and knowledge
Level 3 Certificate in Learning & Development
Learners will be:
- learning and development practitioners
- mainly concerned with learning and development practice
Level 4 Diploma in Learning & Development
Learners will be:
- learning and development practitioners
- working across all phases of the learning and development cycle
- managing learning and development provision at an operational level
Vocational Qualifications in Assessment
Level 3 Award in Understanding Principles and Practices of Assessment - this is a knowledge based award only however learners should have a working knowledge of assessment.
Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment
Learners will be:
- Working with a qualified assessor who can counter-sign their assessments
- Currently assessing two learners completing a competence based qualification
- Assessing performance in work against a set standard
Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement
Learners will be:
- Working with a qualified assessor who can counter-sign their assessments
- Currently assessing two learners completing a vocationally related qualification
- Assessing vocationally related achievement such as skills tests, assignments
Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
Learners will be:
- Working with a qualified assessor who can counter-sign their assessments
- Currently assessing two learners completing a vocational qualification
- Assessing using a range of assessment methods such as observation, case studies
Working with Substance Misuse
Level 3 Award in Working with Substance Misuse
At Level 3 learners will be:
- carrying out initial assessments to identify and prioritise the needs of substance misusers
- contributing to care planning and review for individuals who misuse substances
Level 4 Certificate in Working with Substance Misuse
At Level 4 learners will be:
- carrying out comprehensive substance misuse assessments
- developing, implementing and reviewing care plans for individuals who misuse substances
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Working with Substance Misuse)
Learners will be:
- working in a health and social care setting specialising in the alcohol and substance misuse sector
- safeguarding vulnerable adults
- providing person-centred support
For further information about 'Qualification content and how it is assessed' please see the relevant section under the main enquiry page for your chosen vocational qualification.
For further information on the mandatory units and optional units please see 'The qualification structure' page for each qualification either at the bottom of the main enquiry page or underneath the qualification title on the left hand side of the menu.
Our vocational qualifications have no formal entry requirements and this includes any previous Levels of vocational qualifications however it is imperative you are currently working in a relevant position in the sector you wish to undertake a qualification.
The most important thing to recognise is that the job you do must be varied enough to enable you to fulfil the requirements of each of your qualification units. Please also see ‘Which is the right Level or qualification for me?'
In order to determine whether our qualifications are right for you, please refer to our website at www.open.ac.uk/vq for more specific information about qualification structures.
A Welcome Pack, containing all the materials you need to get started on your vocational qualification will be sent to you in time for the qualification Start Date. Your welcome pack can fit through your letter box and will be sent to the contact address you provided on your registration form.
Distance learning means that you study on your own, at home and in the workplace. The Open University’s unique style of distance learning is called supported ‘Open Learning’. It’s ‘open’ because you learn in your own time – you will read material supplied on our resource website, complete online assessment activities on your eportfolio and receive regular support from your assessor and VQAC.
You will also need support from your line manager or workplace supporter.
For more information about completing a vocational qualification by distance learning please see the about us section of our website.
For the majority of qualifications we offer, you will normally be observed in the work place.
The only exceptions are the Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment and the Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practice of Learning and Development, both of these awards are knowledge-only and do not require you to be observed.
You will have access to an online eportfolio which guides you through how to submit evidence towards your qualification, through a series of activities. You will also have access to our learner resources website VQ Learner Home and the support of your assessor and VQ Learner Support Team by telephone and email.
The only face to face contact you will have is your workplace observation.
| Registration close date | Start date |
| 15th September 2016 | 15th November 2016 |
| 15th December 2016 | 15th February 2017 |
| 15th March 2017 | 15th May 2017 |
| 15th June 2017 | 15th August 2017 |
For more information about how to register please see our website at http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/vocational-qualifications/register
If you do not complete your registered qualification by the stated end date you may be able to apply for an extension which will incur additional fees.
Although you can work through the qualification at your own pace all our qualifications have stated end dates. If you do not complete your registered qualification by the stated end date you may be able to apply for an extension which will incur additional fees.
If you do not complete your registered qualification by the stated end date you may be able to apply for an extension which will incur additional fees.
If you are paying in instalments using The Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA)...
On the registration cut-off date VQAC will send you an online application for OUSBA by email. If your application is successful you are committing to pay for your qualification fee in 6 or 12 months. The first payment will be taken on the start date.
If your employer is sponsoring you…
VQAC will invoice your employer for the whole fee after your qualification Start Date.
If you are paying by debit/credit card or cheque...
Payment will be taken immediately when we receive your registration forms. If you would like us to take payment on a certain date please contact us before registering
For more information on how to register for a vocational qualification please see our register page.
The Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA) allows you to pay your qualification fee in monthly instalments. For further information about paying your qualification fee through OUSBA please see their website www.open.ac.uk/ousba
Unfortunately The Open University does not have access to any funding for vocational qualifications. For information on sources of funding please see our website at http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/vocational-qualifications/register/information-sources-funding
You may want to consider taking advantage of The Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA) to pay your qualification fee in instalments. For further information about paying your qualification fee through OUSBA please see their website www.open.ac.uk/ousba
For further information about paying your qualification fee through OUSBA please see their website www.open.ac.uk/ousba
- Start date
- Last login date
- Overall progress percentage
- Notes on progress
If you are sponsoring a large group of learners please contact us for more information.
You can also find more information for sponsors on our website at http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/vocational-qualifications/register/information-sponsors
1st Floor South, Joe Clinch Building
Hammerwood Gate
Milton Keynes
MK7 6BY
For further information please see our website http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/vocational-qualifications/register/information-recognition-prior-learning
- Current – Usually your qualification should be completed within the last two years
- Reliable – You must be able to provide the VQAC with a certificate
- Relevant – The NVQ/ QCF units should match units within the QCF qualification you are applying for
For further information please see our website http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/vocational-qualifications/register/information-recognition-prior-learning
