Professional Certifications mapping to the UK NQF

Discussion in 'Training & Development' started by Kitkatninja, Dec 30, 2007.

  1. Kitkatninja
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    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    I've decided take a quick look into this as alot of people (not just here in CF) question where professional certs sit and map to the national qualification framework in the UK.

    For those that don't know what the NQF is, see here. This is the framework of both academic and vocational qualifications.

    So doing some research this is what was found.

    Level 1 of the NQF
    IC3 (certiport)

    Level 2 of the NQF
    A+
    MOS (specialist)/MCAS
    MCDST

    Level 3 of the NQF
    CCNA (Cisco)
    Network+ (Comptia)
    Security+ (Comptia)
    Linux+ (Comptia)
    Server+ (Comptia)
    MOS (expert)

    Level 4 of the NQF
    Project+ (Comptia)
    MCSE*

    *in South Africa the MCSE sits at Level 5 of the NQF, see here.

    This isn't a complete list and some people may disagree with where the certs sit, but this is where those qualifications currently sit within the UK NQF**

    **the NQF does change, the last change was in Jan 2006.

    I hope that this does help people out when trying to see what level their professional qualifications sit at.

    -Ken

    References:
    Comptia, Edexcel, Microsoft SA, Comptia 2, Edexcel 2, Certiport.
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  2. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    Cheers Ken

    I had no idea what NQF was, thanks for the info :D
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  3. VantageIsle

    VantageIsle Kilobyte Poster

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    Interesting post, cheers
     
    Certifications: A+, ITIL V3, MCSA, MCITP:EST, CCENT, 70-432-SQL, 70-401 SCCM
    WIP: MCSA upgrade MCITP:SA then EA
  4. nXPLOSi

    nXPLOSi Terabyte Poster

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    Very interesting Ken, thanks for posting 8)
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 (270, 290, 291), MCTS (640, 642), MCSA 2008
    WIP: MCSA 2012
  5. Adrian.Popescu

    Adrian.Popescu Byte Poster

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    Useful info...thank's a lot :)
     
    Certifications: City&Guild's Level2&3, CompTIA A&N+, MCP
    WIP: MCDST
  6. Node

    Node Byte Poster

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    so does that mean I can go to UNI with an MCSE?
     
    Certifications: MCSA, MCSE,
  7. craigie

    craigie Terabyte Poster

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    Awesome work as always Ken.

    Would I be right in saying that the MCSA would be Level 3?
     
    Certifications: CCA | CCENT | CCNA | CCNA:S | HP APC | HP ASE | ITILv3 | MCP | MCDST | MCITP: EA | MCTS:Vista | MCTS:Exch '07 | MCSA 2003 | MCSA:M 2003 | MCSA 2008 | MCSE | VCP5-DT | VCP4-DCV | VCP5-DCV | VCAP5-DCA | VCAP5-DCD | VMTSP | VTSP 4 | VTSP 5
  8. UKDarkstar
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    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

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    Extremely useful post and link, especially as when I started doing "O" and "A" levels all this NVQ stuff wasn't around.

    Nice to see how it all maps.

    Cheers Ken :biggrin
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  9. Kitkatninja
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    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    It depends, just because a certain certification/qualification is mapped to a particular level in the NQF, it is down to the individual Uni whether they accept it. And to be honest when you hit 21, you're classed as a mature student and alot of Uni's will accept you on their part-time courses as long as you have the relevant work experience - but again it's down to the individual Uni. I got onto the higher education route (the HNC -> BSc program) when I only had a hand full of C&G certs and a NVQ2 in Software Creation.

    Yes, however don't make the mistake that the Network+ and the MCSA are equal (even though they sit at the same level). Just take a look at the new 14-19 diplomas that the UK Government are bringing in, see here.

    The higher diploma (aimed at 14-19's - not to be confused with the ND or HND's) are worth 3.5 A Levels, it sits at the same level as the A Levels, but are worth more than a single A level.

    The English education system is a complicated mess, imo, where if a person say's diploma no-one know what level it is.

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  10. steve_f

    steve_f Byte Poster

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    Certifications: MCDST, MCSA 2003+Messaging, MCITP:SA, MCSA 2008, ITIL v3 Foundation, Comptia Server+ 2009, CCA Xenapp 6.5, VCP5-DV
    WIP: CCENT, CCNA, CCSA
  11. MJN

    MJN Bit Poster

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    I found this thread whilst Googling to find out whether or not the CCNA qualification is considered Level 3 on the NQF. Can anyone confirm (with independent verification) that this is the case (or not)?

    Mathew
     
    Certifications: CCNA
    WIP: Relaxing...
  12. Kitkatninja
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    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    You mean like this? From Btec/Edexcel: Networking Basics (Cisco CCNA1) NQF Level 3

    If you want hard evidence direct from QCA or any educational body, contact them directly. I didn't just pucked up various certs and stick them in any order you know :rolleyes:

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  13. MJN

    MJN Bit Poster

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    Yes, kind of. I was ideally after something a bit more concise that spelled out in no uncertain terms that a CCNA qualification is classified as Level 3. I appreciate that that document confirms that the CCNA1 course is *at* Level 3, but it's not clear what else is required to achieve a qualification at Level 3. It is also difficult for me to map across to my self-study route i.e. it's the end result (CCNA pass) that I'm trying to pin down to being Level 3.

    I would do that if I knew who was who - I am rather confused about who fits in where with all of this - the more I search the more frameworks and educational bodies there seem to be! I thought the QCA website would have the answer somewhere but I haven't been able to find it - as informational sites go it is pretty dire. I'll give them a call as I am sure it's probably my ignorance that is leading to so many dead ends.

    Of course, and please accept my apologies if that's how my query came across. Unfortunately though a forum post is insufficient verification for what I require (it's a really great start though so I do appreciate it!).

    Mathew
     
    Certifications: CCNA
    WIP: Relaxing...
  14. Kitkatninja
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    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    Oh ok... You're asking about full qualifications, rather than levels of certain professional qualifications...

    You will find that harder, if not near impossible, to find... Unlike academic or vocational qualifications which were designed with the National Qualification Framework (NQF)/education sustem in mind. Professional certifications, specifically vendor specific, weren't. They were designed to show/demostrate that you can & could work with the technology in the job.

    Now due to that, in order to show/place where professional certifications were in relation to academic/vocational qualifications, organisations like BTEC/Edexcel, OCR, City & Guilds, etc have worked with vendors (like MS, Cisco, Comptia, etc) to integrate professional certs into their programs (like the link that I provided above), for example, the CCNA at level 3, the MCDST at level 2, etc.

    To be honest if you want a full level 3 qualification then I would strongly recommend doing the BTEC course (which incoporates the CCNA) or the NVQ3 in Systems Support (there are normally 2 routes either the CCNA or the MCSA route, dependant on course provider). That way you get the CCNA as well as the full academic/vocational qualification.

    Just to throw one more thing in, there is the work based framework: SFIA, which maps some professional qualifications as well as work based duties/roles.

    Hope this helps

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  15. MJN

    MJN Bit Poster

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    Ah, I see - thanks for that. I think I was getting slightly confused and hence it's no wonder I couldn't really find what I was looking for!

    From my limited research I thought that one of the purposes of the NQF framework was to provide some consistency across qualifications etc in order to enable some sort of comparison to be made. Hence, I thought a CCNA qualification would, say, be equivalent to Level 3 on the NQF.

    The basis for my question was that we have a bonus scheme at work to reward professional development and, in order to provide consistency, everything is based against the NQF hence my query as to where CCNA would sit. I should probably have provide this context before my first question!

    Mathew
     
    Certifications: CCNA
    WIP: Relaxing...
  16. Kitkatninja
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    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    Comptia does have this page which may help you. They actually state where their quals sit in the NQF:

    However while they sit that those levels, I can't say if they are full level X qualifications in the eyes of the UK Education system (OQC/NQF). I would get clarification on your bonus scheme at work, otherwise really your work only pays bonuses for academic/vocation qualifications and not professional.

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  17. MJN

    MJN Bit Poster

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    They'll pay out for all development, the only question is how much! That's where the frameworks come in - merely to provide a consistent approach to how much is awarded for what. It's not the be all and end all, but it's a good starting point.

    I found this which shows CCENT as Level 3 so I'll go with that applying to CCNA too.

    Thanks for all your help,

    Mathew
     
    Certifications: CCNA
    WIP: Relaxing...

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