Vocational Qualifications: In-depth

Summary

Vocational qualifications refer to work-related qualifications that staff can complete while they are employed in a particular job. In the NHS this includes staff such as healthcare assistants, administration staff, estates staff, technicians and support staff such as housekeepers, porters and cleaners.

In the past the most common vocational qualification in England and Wales was the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). These have been replaced with a flexible blend of awards, including certificates and diplomas.