About Qualifications
About Qualifications Across the UK
The United Kingdom has a diverse education system, with qualifications varying slightly between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. To ensure a basic level of consistency, qualification frameworks are in place.
England
Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation)
This government agency regulates qualifications in England (excluding higher education degrees). They ensure qualifications are rigorous and meet national standards.
Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
This framework sets out different levels (from entry level to level 8) for qualifications regulated by Ofqual. It helps compare the difficulty and learning demands of different qualifications.
Scotland
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
The SQA is Scotland’s national body for qualifications, overseeing their development, assessment, and accreditation.
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
Just like the RQF and CQFW, the SCQF provides a framework with levels for qualifications in Scotland, ensuring consistency and allowing comparisons across the country.
Wales
Qualifications Wales
Similar to Ofqual, this government body regulates qualifications in Wales (again, excluding degrees).
Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW)
Mirroring the RQF, the CQFW establishes levels for qualifications in Wales, making it easy to compare them to their English counterparts.
Northern Ireland
Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA)
CCEA regulates qualifications in Northern Ireland (excluding higher education). They work similarly to Ofqual and Qualifications Wales.
Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
Northern Ireland uses the same RQF framework as England, ensuring a high level of comparability between qualifications in these regions.
Higher Education
University Degrees (Bachelors, Masters, PhDs): These fall under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) across the UK. This ensures consistency in the standards of higher education degrees offered throughout the country.
Key Secondary Qualifications
A Levels (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) & Highers (Scotland): These qualifications typically fall under Level 3 of the respective frameworks (RQF, CQFW, SCQF). They mark the end of secondary education and prepare students for university or vocational training.
GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) & National 5s (Scotland): These qualifications are usually at Level 2 of the frameworks. They are taken by students typically around 16 years old and mark an important milestone in secondary education.
European Qualifications
European Qualifications Framework (EQF): The UK operates within the EQF, which allows for comparison of qualifications across Europe. Each UK qualification level (RQF, CQFW, SCQF) has a corresponding EQF level, making it easier to understand how a UK qualification compares to qualifications from other European countries.
Understanding Ofqual Regulated Qualifications and DEFRA Licensing Standards
This section helps you understand the UK’s educational framework and the training, knowledge, and experience necessary to meet DEFRA’s animal licensing requirements.
Ofqual: The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams, and tests in England. Its role includes maintaining standards and confidence in qualifications and regulating the organizations that offer them.
Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF): The RQF is a system for recognizing skills and qualifications in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It provides information about the size and challenge of qualifications.
Key Terms
Awarding Body/Organisation
An organization recognised by Ofqual that designs, delivers, and awards qualifications (e.g., AIM, iPet Network).
Qualification
An official record of achievement recognizing the successful completion of education or training, or the successful demonstration of a skill or competence.
Unit
A part of a qualification covering specific course content. Each unit is usually assessed separately.
Credit
Recognizes the time taken to complete a qualification or unit. One credit equals ten hours of total learning time.
Guided Learning Hours (GLH)
Measures the time spent in direct guidance or supervision from a teacher or tutor.
Total Qualification Time (TQT)
Represents the total time needed to achieve a qualification, including both guided learning hours and independent study.
How to Check If Your Course Is Ofqual Regulated
Search the Register of Regulated Qualifications: Visit Register.Ofqual.gov.uk to find out if a qualification is regulated.
Ask the training provider for the course qualification number to check if it is listed on the Ofqual Register and to determine its level on the RQF.
Useful Background Information
In the RQF, “Award,” “Certificate,” and “Diploma” refer to the size or volume of a qualification, not its difficulty level. The level indicates the difficulty and complexity of the knowledge and skills.
Award: 1 to 12 credit points (10 to 120 hours of total qualification time).
Certificate: 13 to 36 credit points (130 to 360 hours of total qualification time).
Diploma: 37 or more credit points (370 or more hours of total qualification time).
Levels of Qualifications (or difficulty) in the RQF
Each level represents the challenge or difficulty of the work, with Level 1 being the least challenging and Level 8 being the most challenging.
| Level | Description / Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | Basic knowledge and skills for everyday situations. (Sub-levels: Entry Levels 1, 2, and 3) |
| Level 1 | Basic knowledge and skills with guidance. Equivalent to GCSE grades 3-1. |
| Level 2 | Good knowledge and some specific skills. Equivalent to GCSE grades 9-4. |
| Level 3 | Substantial depth of understanding. Equivalent to A-levels. |
| Levels 4-5 | Equivalent to the first two years of undergraduate degrees (HNCs, HNDs). |
| Level 6 | Degree-level qualifications (Bachelor’s degrees). |
| Level 7 | Equivalent to Master’s degree level. |
| Level 8 | Doctorate-level qualifications. |
Recognition of Regulated Qualifications in the UK
The Level 3 qualification is recognised in Scotland. The SCQF is equivalent to the RQF in England and Wales. Thus, an Ofqual Level 3 qualification is equivalent to SCQF Level 6. For more information, contact Skills Development Scotland.
CPD Explained
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It’s all about the learning activities professionals undertake to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date throughout their careers.
The United Kingdom has a diverse education system, with qualifications varying slightly between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. To ensure a basic level of consistency, qualification frameworks are in place.
What you can log for CPD:
- Formal learning: Courses, workshops, seminars, conferences
- Informal learning: Reading industry publications, attending webinars, participating in online forums, watching relevant content
- On-the-job learning: New project experiences, mentoring, shadowing colleagues
- Self-directed learning: Taking online courses, independent research, learning new software
- Certificates: Keep them safe together with your training record.
There’s flexibility! The key is to show how these activities contribute to your professional development.
What counts for CPD:
- Relevance: Does the activity improve your skills in your field?
- Learning outcomes: Did you gain new knowledge or refine existing skills?
- Reflection: How will you apply what you learned in your work?
Many professional bodies in the UK have specific CPD requirements for their members. Check with your relevant body for their guidelines on points, formats, or preferred activities.
Myths about CPD:
Myth: CPD is just about ticking boxes and collecting points.
Reality: It’s about continuous learning and improvement.
Myth: CPD has to be expensive courses or qualifications.
Reality: Many free or low-cost options exist, including online resources and self-directed learning.
Myth: CPD is only for certain professions.
Reality: Anyone who wants to stay relevant and advance in their career can benefit from CPD.
Are CPD from the CPD Certification Service or the CPD Standards Office the only forms of recognised CPD?
No!
Decentralised System: The UK doesn’t have a single, centralised system for CPD accreditation. Many professional bodies and regulatory organisations have their own CPD requirements and may not rely on these specific services.
Focus on Learning: The emphasis in CPD is on the learning outcomes and professional relevance of the activity, not necessarily on where it’s accredited.
Here’s what’s important for recognised CPD:
- Alignment with your profession: The activity should enhance your skills and knowledge relevant to your specific field.
- Credibility of the provider: The source of the learning activity should be reputable and demonstrate expertise in the area. £1.99 courses from the Centre of Effluence are probably not going to pass scrutiny. Equally, if you are working in a regulated service that dictates the importance of positive (pain free) reinforcement, it’s probably not a good idea to select a training course where their ethics don’t align with such learning outcomes or behavioural requirements – i.e. they’re a ‘balanced trainer’. So do your homework.
- Reflection on learning: You should be able to articulate how the activity contributes to your professional development.
Here’s what you can do to ensure your CPD is recognised:
- Check with your professional body (if you have one!): Most professional bodies will outline their specific CPD requirements, including accepted formats and potential CPD providers.
- Focus on quality learning: Choose activities that offer valuable learning experiences and contribute to your professional goals.
- Maintain records: Keep documentation of your CPD activities, including certificates, course content, or even your own reflections on what you learned.
By following these points, you can ensure your CPD activities are recognised and contribute to your professional development.
Meeting Defra’s Licensing Standards (applies to England)
When Defra (the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs) refers to the need for licence applicants to evidence an Ofqual Level 2 or the higher standard, Level 3 under LAIA (Animal Welfare Regulations 2018) in an appropriate subject, it is referring to the qualifications needed for those wishing to run a licensed establishment involving the care of animals.
For those wishing to meet the “Higher Standard” qualification criteria under the Animal Welfare Regulations 2018, subject to the niche, the licence pet care either needs to complete a course that provides an Ofqual regulated Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject, or in the case of the home boarding for dogs niche, the licensing guidance stipulates the Level 3 qualification as one of the ‘Optionals’. Such a course should be officially recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).
For example, upon completion of the Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare course and successfully passing the assessment, participants will receive a Level 3 Award in Canine Care, Behaviour and Welfare certificate or a similar award, depending on the species of animals they are caring for. The exact course and award would be determined by the species of animal being cared for and the specific requirements of the licensing process.
From 1st October 2018, it became a DEFRA requirement for those wishing to run a licensed establishment that the licence holder or a designated manager and any staff employed to care for the animals must have competence to identify the normal behaviour of the species for which they are caring and to recognise signs of, and take appropriate measures to mitigate or prevent, pain, suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour.
The training for these individuals must cover a range of areas, including:
- Animal welfare, including recognising poor welfare and understanding the 5 welfare needs.
- Animal handling.
- Animal behaviour.
- Cleanliness and hygiene.
- Feeding and food preparation.
- Disease control.
- Recognition and first aid treatment of sick animals.
This training must be a minimum of an Ofqual regulated level 2 qualification in a relevant subject, or there must be clear evidence of knowledge and experience.
To meet the “Higher Standard”, a person responsible for the care of the animals requires a relevant Ofqual regulated Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject and the qualified person must be present on the premises during the working day.
NVQs
For example, NVQ Level 3 qualifications still exist in the UK, but they have been largely integrated into a broader framework of vocational qualifications known as Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
The RQF replaced the older National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), providing a unified system for all regulated qualifications.
Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, regulates qualifications, exams, and tests in England. An Ofqual Level 3 qualification refers to any qualification at Level 3 on the RQF, which includes a range of vocational and academic qualifications.
So, NVQ Level 3 qualifications can be considered equivalent to Ofqual Level 3 qualifications, as both are at the same level within the RQF. The content and specific focus of the qualification might differ, but in terms of their level and recognition, they are equivalent.
Animal Licensing in England vs Scotland vs Wales
The Dog Business School’s additional unit, Licensing Guidance in (Commercial) Day Care + Live 1-2-1 Tutorial is an immersion in the English statutory guidance for Day Care.
Both Scotland and Wales have road maps to standardise their approaches to regulated services but at the moment both countries are on a journey so they continue to operate under the 1963 Animal Boarding Establishments Act with local authority licensing variations.
To help aspiring licensed pet carers in Scotland and Wales, the Dog Business School uses the English licensing model as a framework (it’s a useful guide) but in the 1-2-1 tutorial that we offer, we will then use your specific local authority licensing guidance and walk you through their guidance.