New gas qualification QCF

[mw8t]

Hi there I've tried a quick search but couldn't find anything.

I have just finished my Tech Cert 6132 Domestic Gas (Level 2) done through college 2 year part-time evening course.

I was looking to do my Level 3 next year but my tutors have told me it is being replaced by a new qualification called QCF. Apparently it is replacing both the tech certs and the NVQ.

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about the QCF? My tutors don't seem to know too much about it as it is still being finalised by C&G.

 

[fuzzy]

QCF - qualifcation credit framework

means a qual can have 10 units , H&S, science etc each have a number of credits these can vary. advantage is you can pass 5 units leave come back to it 2 years later and carry on, thats the theory

doesnt mean that much to new entrants, youl still need to pass a course of study with assessments.. done worry about the term qcf

every qual changes every 5 or so years, this qual is due a change anyway, just happens to be changing and going to qcf.

if its like plumbing it will only be possible to pass if you get employment

 

[mw8t]

if its like plumbing it will only be possible to pass if you get employment

This is what I am wondering. The head tutor of plumbing and gas came and had a word with the class and murmered something about a possibility that a portfolio could be achieved in the workshop. Tbh I think he was speculating and telling us what we wanted to hear.

If the QCF has superseded the tech cert and the NVQ then there still must be some kind of practical assesment but whether that is achieved through the workshop or work placement I don't know. The awarding body is not expected to confirm the assesment methods until August.

The QCF does sound good though. From what I understand you can add 'modules' without duplicating the basic stuff ie I could add plumbing units to my gas qualification which tbh I want to do anyway.

 

[fuzzy]

yeh you wont duplicate anywarok which is good

qcf is not replacing the tech cert and nvq its replacing the NQF - national qualifications framework, its an overall heading for ALL quals

the replacement for the nvq and TC will be a NVQ diploma most probably. that will be under the qcf banner as opposed to the nqf banner which was your tc (did you know your tc was nqf?) i doubt it, see it dont really matter

 

[mw8t]

Well my head hurts now lol. Just have to sit it out and wait.

My class is going to need 'migrating' onto the QCF whatever happens. I can see us having to do another 2 years instead of the 1 year that the Level 3 Tech Cert would have been.

 

[fuzzy]

youlll need to convert your l2 into a nvq first i think

 

[mw8t]

That's impossible as the NVQ has now finished.

Closed to new registrations at the start or end of April, can't remember which.

 

[mw8t]

When we were told sbout the QCF we were told that we had something like 3 or 4 days to sign up for the NVQ (and find a work placement!) or come back next year for this QCF.

The NVQ is no more.

 

[fuzzy]

When we were told sbout the QCF we were told that we had something like 3 or 4 days to sign up for the NVQ (and find a work placement!) or come back next year for this QCF.

The NVQ is no more.

you seem to be hung up on qcf, it means nothing or little to a student. the issue is there is a replacement qual. that would have happened anyway even without qcf, you would have just had a new qual on the nqf

you can, if the same as plumbing, use your tc to upgrade to the new nvq. you cannot go to l3 nvq without l2 nvq. talking of old or new ones

 

[mw8t]

I'm not hung up at all mate.

I'm trying to gather information on how the qualification is going to be delivered. I know that it is yet to be finalised by C&G but I thought there might be someone on here in the know.

 

[northstar]

where you doing your course at ?

 

[mw8t]

Trafford

 

[northstar]

mw8t whats trafford like ? thinking of doing L3 plumbing there

 

[mw8t]

I've only done the gas side but yeah it's very good. Good workshop facilities, tutors are sound, decent library with new computers if you need it. 50p for a coffee from the machine in the canteen though. Swings and roundabouts

 

[fuzzy]

i meant you keep refering to the new qual as qcf, you dont refer to your current qual as a nqf do you? i presume you call it a tech cert. when you do the new one you will call it a diploma or nvq diploma as i presume it will be called

 

[fuzzy]

all i know is at l3 the gas units in the gas diploma will be exactly the same as the gas units in the plumb l3. therefore direct cross over of units. there will be some differing ones also

 

[mw8t]

tbh I've never heard of NQF. I'm not interested in what the qualification is called, I want to know how it's going to be delivered as in the theory and practical.

From what I've found out so far I cannot see how they can offer 'the new qualification' without there being a requirement for you to have a work placement before commencement unlike the college based technical certificates that you can do at the moment prior to gaining employment.

 

[fuzzy]

tbh I've never heard of NQF. I'm not interested in what the qualification is called, I want to know how it's going to be delivered as in the theory and practical.

From what I've found out so far I cannot see how they can offer 'the new qualification' without there being a requirement for you to have a work placement before commencement unlike the college based technical certificates that you can do at the moment prior to gaining employment.

exactly the point i was making your not interested in nqf or qcf as it dont matter to the trinee as long as its the recognised qual

if it is like the plumbing and ive no reason to think otherwise at this stage then yes you will need employment or at least a placement to get the qual. you wont be able to get the new l3 nvq without first getting the l2nvq. i could be wrong but i doubt it, prepare yourself for that news and start looking for employment.

there are many, many people whi have tech certs only been left high and dry

i read that 48000 people have done the tech cert over the past 5 years and only 6 or 8000 upgraded to the nvq. therefore for all the money spent on training only 8000 are fully qualified. something the industry have as a problem now, 48000 unqualified or semi qualified engineers

 

[fuzzy]

Vocational qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) : Directgov - Education and learning

Info on QCF

 

[fuzzy]

[DLMURL="http://www.cityandguilds.com/65522.html?s=1"]Diploma in Domestic Natural Gas | Oil and Gas | Engineering and Transport | City & Guilds[/DLMURL]

is this the qual your hoping to do?

you can get the info the same time as the centre, its available to everyone via the website. see that under documents theres nothing there yet

 

[mw8t]

Yes that's it.

Non Matter of Gas Safety Aligned (6014-04) - a knowledge-based qualification for those with little or no experience of domestic gas work.

That will be what I will be doing next year. It's still college based. The 6014-03 will require the work placement and has replaced the NVQ.

Nice find, cheers.