UK Vocational Qualifications

Qualifications Specific to Wales

Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC)
WJEC is an examining board primarily offering GCE A & AS levels and GCSEs. WJEC collaborates with AQA and City & Guilds (with which joint co-operative arrangements exist) to provide vocational qualifications in a wide variety of subject areas. The examinations are available to centres in Wales, England and Northern Ireland, although the majority are taken within Wales.

WJEC have also been collaborating with the Unitary Awarding Bodies and ACCAC to ensure that VCE and GNVQ examinations are also available in Welsh language.

Other qualifications awarded by WJEC include the Level 3 Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design) and Counselling Awards.

Additionally, the following qualifications with a more specific vocational bias are available in Wales.

Modern Skills Diploma for Adults (MSDAs)
Launched in April 2001, MSDAs are Welsh qualifications designed for people above the age of 25 with the purpose of improving the skill level of the workforce. The Diploma course is a mixture of work-based training, NVQs, Key Skills and other relevant vocational qualifications. It is an NQF level 3 award and entry is usually restricted to adults with an educational level equivalent to NQF level 2.

Certificate in Office Skills
The Certificate in Office Skills is a basic vocational for office-based workers. Its modules cover topics such as Word Processing, Shorthand, Database Processing and Computerised Accounts.

Vocational Units in Welsh Second Language
ACCAC has accredited the WJEC to offer vocational qualifications in Welsh Second Language.

There are three levels of award in line with other NQF qualifications: