SkillsActive works with employers, training providers and awarding bodies to develop qualifications that enable people to be competent in a specific area of work or type of role.

These include vocational qualifications, such as Scottish or National Vocational Qualifications (S/NVQs) and vocationally related qualifications (VRQs).

Scottish/National Vocational Qualifications

Scottish/national vocational qualifications (S/NVQs) are qualifications based on national occupational standards (NOS) - statements that describe the skills and knowledge a person needs to do a job effectively.

Scottish/ National vocational qualifications are available at levels 1,2 and 3.

Level 1:

• Active leisure and learning - an introduction to the sector and a pathway into the specific S/NVQs at level 2

Level 2:

• Activity leadership
• Coaching, teaching, instructing (assessed in the context of a specific approved sport or activity)
• Instructing exercise and fitness
• Mechanical ride operations
• Operational services
• Playwork
• Spectator control
• Sport and play installations

Level 3:

• Coaching, teaching, instructing
• Development, training and recreation
• Operations and development
• Outdoor education
• Playwork
• Spectator control

For a list of training providers offering vocational qualifications see

Vocationally related qualifications

Vocationally related qualifications (VRQs) are practical learning programmes that relate directly to a specific role or sector. They cover almost every sector, at every level, and are not purely based on national occupational standards.

Awarding bodies offer vocationally related qualifications in a broad range of subject areas including:

• National governing body coaching, instructing and officiating qualifications
• Fitness-related qualifications
• Lifeguarding qualifications
• Playwork related qualifications
• Outdoor-related qualifications

Common assessment requirements

SkillsActive is concerned with the continued availability of high quality qualifications that are fit for purpose, meet the needs of employers in the sector, command public confidence, and are understood by those taking them and those who use them for recruitment, or for other purposes. SkillsActive has long advocated that consistent standards are maintained across the awarding organisations who deliver qualifications on behalf of the Sport, Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing industry. To ensure that the assessment guidance and evidence requirements for each new qualification is uniform SkillsActive have created a Quality Assurance document for the delivery of S/NVQ qualifications and other more specific Assessment Strategies which the awarding organisations should comply with when delivering qualifications.

Quality Assurance Strategy for qualifications that confirm occupational competence

This document sets out the recommendations of SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council and Standards Setting Body for Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing for the assessment and quality control mechanisms required for S/NVQ qualifications which confirm occupational competence in the workplace.

• Quality Assurance Strategy

Qualification specific assessment strategies and evidence requirements 

These qualification specific assessment strategies have been developed by SkillsActive and appropriate industry experts to provide assessment guidance and evidence requirements for the awarding organisations to implement within their processes for the verification and awarding of each qualification. These documents are to be used with close reference to the more generic quality assurance strategy detailed above.

Health and fitness

• Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Instructing Exercise and Fitness
• Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Personal Training
• Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral
• Level 3 Award in Conversion of Advanced Fitness Instructor to Personal Trainer Status

Leisure Management

• Level 3 Certificate in Leisure Management
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Leisure Management
• Level 2 Certificate in Leisure Operations
• Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being Operational Services

Spectator Safety

• Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Spectator Safety
• Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Spectator Safety
• Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Spectator Safety Management

Playwork

• Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (from Early Years)
• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Playwork
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Playwork
• Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Playwork

Mechanical Rides

• Level 2 NVQ Award in Mechanical Ride Operation

Sport and Play Surfaces

• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Sport and Play Surfaces
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Sport and Play Surfaces

Sport and Recreation

• Level 1 NVQ Award in Sport and Active Leisure
• Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Activity Leadership
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Sports Development
• Level 3 Certificate in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance
• Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Sports Performance
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance

Outdoors

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Outdoor Programmes (Outdoor Recreation/Education/Development Training)

Additional agreed principles

Principles for Development and Assessment of Special Populations Qualifications

Coaching qualifications based on common units

SkillsActive has worked with awarding organisations and NGBs to develop eight coaching qualifications based on common units to meet the needs of employers, staff and volunteers.

Coaching Qualifications based on national occupation standards>

The Register of Regulated Qualifications

The Register of Regulated Qualifications contains details of Recognised Awarding Organisations and Regulated Qualifications in England (Ofqual), Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (Ofqual for vocational qualifications and CCEA for all other qualifications).

Visit the Register to view Recognised Awarding Organisations, Regulated Qualifications, Units and Diploma structures.

The Register of Regulated Qualifications >

Read more about vocational qualifications reform >

Read more about the Sector Qualifications Strategy >

Vocational qualifications

Vocational qualifications, such as vocationally related qualifications (VRQs), Scottish vocational qualifications (SVQs) and national vocational qualifications (NVQs) are work or role-related, competence-based qualifications.

Scottish/national vocational qualifications (S/NVQs) are qualifications based on national occupational standards (NOS), statements of performance that describe what competent people in a particular occupation are expected to be able to do.

Vocational qualifications offer flexible studying, while there are no age limits or special entry requirements. Assessment is normally through on-the-job observation and questioning by assessors.

Vocational qualifications in our sector

Employers in our sector are often concerned with workplace competence, which is why emphasis is placed on S/NVQs as they are based on national occupational standards which reflect the skills and knowledge required to do a job effectively. 

At level 1, there is only one S/NVQ.

• Active leisure and learning, an introduction to the sector and a pathway into the specific S/NVQs at level 2.

At level 2, the eight options are:

• Activity leadership
• Coaching, teaching, instructing (assessed in the context of a specific approved sport or activity)
• Instructing exercise and fitness
• Mechanical ride operations
• Operational services
• Playwork
• Spectator control
• Sport and play installations.

At level 3, the six options are:

• Coaching, teaching, instructing
• Development, training and recreation
• Operations and development
• Outdoor education
• Playwork
• Spectator control.

Find out more

To find out more about providers of these vocational qualifications, check our qualifications database or visit the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.

 

Vocationally related qualifications

Vocationally related qualifications (VRQs) offer a practical learning programme that relates directly to a specific role or sector. 

Vocationally related qualifications differ from national vocational qualifications as they cover almost every sector, at every level, and aren't purely based on national occupational standards.

They are offered by a large number of awarding bodies and often range from broad subject areas to specialist qualifications designed for a particular sector, such as:

• National governing body coaching and officiating qualifications
• Fitness-related qualifications
• Lifeguarding qualifications
• Playwork related qualifications
• Mountain leader awards.

Find out more

To find out more about providers of these vocationally related qualifications, check our qualifications database or visit the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure. Vocational qualification reform

Coaching qualifications based on common units

We have been working with awarding organisations and NGBs to develop a a set of eight coaching qualifications based on common units. These qualifications meet the needs of staff, employers and volunteers working in coaching.

In driving growth for the economy, employers need employees with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time.

In order to achieve this, work-related qualifications have been reformed to better meet the needs of employers, employees and people entering work.

Qualifications are now based on what employers need and what learners can easily access whilst including the best parts of existing vocational qualifications. Fundamentally, they bring choice, clarity and confidence to vocational qualifications.

Find out more about the Vocational qualifications reform.

These standards establish the benchmark of competence required in the sector and form the key component of many qualifications.

National occupational standards (NOS) form the basis of qualifications from Apprenticeships and foundation degrees, to vocational qualifications and training programmes.

Discover more about Apprenticeships >

The standards also help define job roles, measure staff performance and identify and develop routes for progression and professional development.

We work together with employers, partner organisations and experts to develop national occupational standards across the Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being Sector. To find out more about the use of standards in the workplace, we have produced a National Occupational Standards manual.

The format of national occupational standards

National occupational standards are produced as a suite of units for each occupational area. The unit structure allows for easy identification of the relevant NOS for a particular role.

National occupational standards have been developed for the majority of industrial and occupational sectors in the UK. There are NOS that have been developed which focus specifically on key generic areas of competence including administration, management and leadership, and enterprise.

National occupational standards in our sector

Browse the standards available for the active leisure, learning and well-being sector:

• Level 1 national occupational standards
• Level 2 national occupational standards
• Level 3 national occupational standards
• Level 4 national occupational standards
• Standards with no specific level

Current NOS Projects

We constantly review and update our NOS suites to ensure that they remain current with the ever changing work of the industry. We need assistance from those out in the sector to help us shape these NOS projects and ensure that they reflect best working practices. Our current NOS projects are:

• Leisure Operations and Management
• Playwork
• Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance

Hair and Beauty national occupational standards

Through our license with UKCES we manage the Hair and Beauty NOS in partnership with Habia, the sector body for the hair, beauty, nails and spa sector.

Find out out more about these standards on the Habia website