In January 2006, work on revising the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) levels was completed. The NQF helps learners make informed decisions about the qualifications they want to achieve. It also helps employers to compare the levels of different qualifications and determine staff's qualification needs.
The NQF comprises nine levels (entry to level 8) compared to the previous six levels. Entry Level to level 3 have not changed, however, levels 4 and 5 have been divided into levels 4 to 8. This increase in levels allows learners and employers to recognise the level of demand of a qualification more precisely. The levels do not change the content of NQF qualifications. Learners should be reassured that their existing qualifications retain their value. Previous NQF levels on existing certificates can be compared to the corresponding new levels by searching for the relevant qualification at www.qca.org.uk/openQUALS, which lists all accredited qualifications in the NQF.
All NVQ's and a small number of related qualifications have not had their levels changed. | 
