Diploma in ICT Professional Competence
The QCF framework
• New way of recognising achievement: awarding a credit value for
units and qualifications
• Qualifications titles, sizes and levels (entry→ L8) standardised
nationally: Awards (1-12 credits), Certificates (13-36 credits),
Diplomas (37+ credits)
• Qualifications will be:
– designed to fit a national (unit) template with learning outcomes
and assessment criteria
– subject to agreed rules of combination (RoC)
– migrated to the new framework by end 2010
Credits and Levels
• All units will be assigned a credit value at a level
• Levels are same as NQF – L2 roughly GSCE level, L3 A Level, L4
1st year undergrad, L8 PhD.
• One credit = 10 notional learning hours (NLH)
• NLH
– average time it would take a learner to complete a unit
– consists of guided learning hours (GLH), personal study time,
‘on the job’ experience, assessment preparation and
assessment time
QCF Structure
Ofqual’s Equivalencies
General observations
• The framework has changed, but methods of assessment have not
• Each unit needs to be able to be assessed separately in a work
environment, but evidence can still be used across a number of
units where appropriate
• Greater flexibility may result in qualifications with more than one
assessment model - OCR will consider the assessment burden
when developing rules of combination
• Full scheme documentation, including entry details, will be
available on the our website
• Named and unnamed registration routes will be available
• Full qualification and unit entry will be available
Further information
More information about the QCF is available on the
following websites:
www.ocr.org.uk/qcf
www.ofqual.gov.uk
Diploma in ICT
Professional Competence
• Developed to replace the existing QCF/NVQ units with the
Professional Competence qualifications
• Existing units redeveloped
• New units developed
• Diploma available at Levels 2-3 to include level 4 units
• The QCF allows candidates to complete units for a qualification
across levels
• A candidate working towards a level 3 qualification can achieve
with units awarded at level 2* and level 4*
*provided the minimum requirements for the level are met
Competence credits
Level 2 Diploma in ICT Professional competence – 48 Credits
• Mandatory units – a minimum of 9 credits
• Optional Units – a minimum of 39 credits (Includes new and
existing NOS based units, plus vendor units)
• Restricted Optional - Up to a maximum of 12 credits (Includes IT
User options, imported units and employer units)
Competence credits
Level 3 Diploma in ICT Professional
competence – 72 credits
• Mandatory units – a minimum of 12 credits
• Optional units – a minimum of 60 credits (Includes new and
existing NOS-based units, and Vendor units)
• Restricted optional - Up to a maximum of 24 credits (Includes IT
User options, imported units and employer units)
New & Existing units
Unit Title
Level
Credit
New or replaced unit
Computer games development
2
4
New
Computer games development
3
10
New
Creating a procedural computer
programme
2
10
Software development – component
creation
Creating a procedural computer
programme
3
12
Software development – component
creation
Creating an event driven computer
programme
2
7
Software development – component
creation
Creating an event driven computer
programme
3
12
Software development – component
creation
Creating an object orientated computer
programme
2
7
Software development – component
creation
Creating an object orientated computer
programme
3
12
Software development – component
creation
New & Existing units cont.
Data modelling
2
6
Data analysis and data structure design
Data modelling
3
9
Data analysis and data structure design
Data Structures and Algorithms
4
15
Data analysis and data structure design
Designing and Developing a Website
4
15
Software Design
Designing and Developing Event Driven
Computer Programmes
4
10
Software Design
Designing and Developing Object Orientated
Computer Programmes
4
15
Software Design
Designing and Developing Procedural
Computer Programmes
4
15
Software Design
Develop own effectiveness and professionalism
2
6
Develop personal and organisational
effectiveness
Develop own effectiveness and professionalism
3
9
Develop personal and organisational
effectiveness
New & Existing units cont.
Introduction to IT Systems Development
2
6
Investigating and defining requirements
Investigating and defining customer
requirements for ICT systems
3
12
Investigating and defining requirements
IT Project Management
2
4
New
IT Project Management
3
10
New
Technical Advice and Guidance
2
9
Technical Advice and Guidance
Technical Advice and Guidance
3
12
Technical Advice and Guidance
Technical Fault Diagnosis
2
9
Technical Fault Diagnosis
Technical Fault Diagnosis
3
12
Technical Fault Diagnosis
Existing units cont.
The following units (at levels 1 to 3) have been extended and will be included in the new
Professional Competence qualifications with no changes to their content or credit values.
Title
Level
Credit
Title
Level
Credit
Health & Safety for ICT
1
3
Software Installation and
Upgrade
2
3
9
12
Customer Care in ICT
2
3
9
12
System Management
2
3
6
12
Interpersonal and Written
Communication
2
9
ICT System Operation
2
3
9
12
Quality Management of ICT
Systems and Products and
Services
3
12
Testing ICT Systems
2
3
9
12
Remote Support for products
and services
3
12
User Profile Administration
2
3
6
9
Security of ICT Systems
3
12
Working with ICT Hardware and
Equipment
2
9
Vendor Units
Please see e-skills/NDAQ website for full list of vendor units
once accredited as there are too many to list.
• Microsoft – All Active units are available
• CompTIA – A wide range are available
• Cisco – CCNA Discovery/Exploration & IT Essentials are available
• Oracle – Includes Database Administrator
• VM Ware – Master Enterprise Administrator/Design
Diploma in ICT Professional
Competence – Mandatory units
L2 Diploma
48 credits
Personal Effectiveness L2 (6)
Health & Safety L1 (3)
L3 Diploma
Personal Effectiveness L3 (9)
72 credits
Health & Safety L1 (3)
Spiky Profile – Cross Level
Achievement
• Level 2 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence – (48 credits)
example of achievement
L2
Mandatory
Unit Personal
effectiveness
– 6 credits
L3 Optional
unit Technical
Advice and
Guidance
- 12 credits
L2 Optional
unit –
Creating a
procedural
computer
programme
– 10 credits
L2
Restricted
Optional unit
- Set up an
IT System –
4 credits
L2 vendor
unit Cisco IT
Essentials
Part 1 – 10
credits
L1
Mandatory
unit - Health
& Safety
– 3 credits
Candidate achieves a full level 2 qualification meeting the mandatory
requirements with units from adjacent levels and vendor units
L2 vendor
unit -Preinstalling for
OEM’s
Windows
Vista and
server
operating
systems – 3
credits
Assessment
• Candidates are still required to meet all assessment objectives
• Evidence must not be simulated
Support
• Exemplar material to be developed for new units
• New handbooks and units available from Sept 2010
Summary
L2 Diploma in ICT
Professional Competence
L3 Diploma in ICT
Professional Competence
Threshold
48
72
Achievable at level
29
44
Mandatory
9
12
Optional (min)
39
60
Restricted optional (max)
12
24
250-386
369-608
Range of GLH
60% must be achieved at level