Approved Stages and Levels
National approved stages and levels, credit values and guided learning hours.
Content recovered from the old site, where it was displaying as raw code. Please review units and credit values before publishing.
Age
Stage
Level
Degree of risk of work
Degree of risk exposure
6–10 years
Primary
Level 1 Award
Mild
Very low (controlled environment) assessment
11–13 years and over
Junior Secondary (JSS)
Level 1
Low
Low (controlled environment / minimum external environment) assessment
14–16 / 18 years and over
Senior Secondary (SSS)
Level 2
Medium
Medium-risk work environment, external environment, practical work assessment
16–18 years and over
Trade Test 1, NTC, NVC, NBC
Level 3
High
High-risk environment, work exposure and external practical work assessment
18–19–21 years and over
ND, HND, Degree
Levels 4, 5
Very high
High-risk work environment and wide-scope external practical work assessment
Entry point guideline
Level
Expected duration
Age group
Credit value
Guided learning hours
Level 1 NSQ Award
6 months to 2 years
7 years to 18+
10
120 hrs
Level 1 NSQ Certificate
6 months to 2 years
11 years to 18+
15
180 hrs
Level 2 NSQ Award
6 months to 2 years
15 years to 18+
20
200 hrs
Level 2 NSQ Certificate
6 months to 2 years
18 years+
30
300 hrs
Level 3 NSQ Diploma
6 months to 2 years
18 years+
60
600 hrs
Level 4 NSQ Diploma
6 months to 2 years
18 years+
120
1,200 hrs
Level 5 NSQ Diploma
6 months to 2 years
18 years+
240
2,400 hrs
Level 6 NSQ Diploma
6 months to 2 years
18 years+
360
3,600 hrs
The old site carried two different versions of this table. The “QVSE Qualifications Explained” page listed different credit values and hours for some levels (for example Level 1 at 150 hours rather than 180). The values above are taken from the Approved Stages and Levels page. QVSE should confirm the correct figures before publishing.
Once a learner is registered on a qualification at a level, the registration fee charged lasts for the duration the learner spends at that level. The centre is at liberty to charge its own fees per academic year the learner spends studying at that level. QVSE charges are per level of qualification, no matter the length of time the learner spends on any particular level.
- Once a learner is registered on a qualification at a level, the registration fees charged lasts for the duration the learner spent at that level. The centre is at liberty to charge their fees per academic years the learner spent studying at that level. QVSE charges are per level of Qualification, no matter the length of time the learner spend on any particular level.