  
IVQ is a an internationally recognized qualification. It shows that you are able to work to a set national standard. In Scotland these are called SVQs, in UK these are called NVQs, so sometimes you will see them referred to as S/NVQs.
IVQs reflect ¡®best practice¡¯ and are based on International Occupational Standards written by the particular employment-led body that represents your work area. International Occupational Standards are written as ¡®units of competence¡¯; you gain an IVQ by achieving a set number of ¡®units¡¯.
You achieve units by demonstrating your competence at work. IVQs are gained in the workplace, whether you are employed or on a placement there, not necessarily in a classroom or exam hall. IVQs require that you have a certain level of background knowledge about your area of work, so you may be able to use college awards (¡®qualifications¡¯) as evidence toward the knowledge part of the requirements for the IVQ. Awards that you completed before you registered for your IVQ may be accepted.
IVQs have eight ¡®levels¡¯, with level eight being the highest. It is a common mistake to think these are ¡°equivalent¡± to academic levels, but in fact they describe levels of operation at work. However, some institutions and universities do accept VEU (Vocational Education Units) for tertiary education entrance.
The level at which you are expected to work should determine what level of IVQ you need. For example, level 1 indicates work that is very highly supervised and requires very little or no individual decision-making. Workers at levels 4 and 5 are relatively unsupervised and will often have supervision of others as part of their task, and frequent responsibility for significant decisions. (These are typically management posts that require a high level of competence.)
The process of gaining an IVQ
IVQ candidates are ¡®assessed¡¯ by qualified ¡®assessors¡¯ who will observe your work and discuss with you your knowledge and understanding of why you work in particular ways.
¡®Collecting evidence¡¯ of your competence to work to a set standard can include: direct observation, oral and written questioning, observing a product or outcome of your work, written testimony, witness statement, or by you keeping a record of your work. The means by which you collect evidence will be discussed and agreed with you by a qualified assessor. This is called ¡®assessment planning¡¯.
Once an ¡®assessment plan¡¯ is agreed then either through direct observation or through other means the evidence of your work is collected. Your assessor will indicate to you how successful this has been. They will give you feedback on how well you are doing.
Once enough evidence has been collected to meet the requirements of the qualification, your assessor will judge your evidence against the standards to which you are working.
When you have been satisfactorily assessed in all the units for your qualification you will be awarded the particular International Vocational Qualification for which you registered.
The IVQ Process
Typically the process you will follow as an IVQ candidate proceeds by the steps outlined below:
- Your initial enquiry.
- A meeting is arranged to discuss your requirements as a company or individual. If you are registering as an individual this meeting will usually be conducted via the telephone.
- The candidate induction process ensures you have all the relevant information for your chosen IVQ.
- The assessor meets candidates on an approximately monthly basis depending on the candidate¡¯s needs.
- Workshops may be an option depending on the requirements which were discussed at the initial meeting.
- An internal verification process is carried out to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the judgements made.
- Steps 4 and 5 can be repeated as necessary.
- Step 6 can be repeated as necessary.
- An external verification process is carried out by VETC, the qualification awarding body, to ensure all accepted International standards of training have been reached.
- The candidate receives their certificate of success.
This is a guide only and will depend upon the needs of the candidate and the awarding body¡¯s requirements at the time of embarking on the program. For further information please contact VETC directly at: council@vetc.us.com
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