Employer Advisory Kit for WPLN Credentialing
Prepared by
Generic Skills Development Division (GSDD)
This advisory kit will guide employers in selecting an appropriate WPLN level to use
as alternative qualifications to the GCE N/O levels in recruiting new employees for their
companies.
Employers can select an appropriate WPLN level as the job entry requirement based
on one of the following three ways:
A.
B.
C.
Comparison with academic qualifications
Reference to what other employers are using for similar job positions
By the level of interpersonal interaction and independence required in a job position
The three ways are explained below. A more detailed report on the process and
analysis of these benchmarks is provided in the NARIC report1.
A. Comparison with academic qualifications
If employers are currently using academic qualifications such as Primary or
Secondary education, or GCE O level pass in English and/or Mathematics as job entry
requirements, they could refer to Tables 1 and 2 to establish an alternative qualification using
WPLN levels.
Table 1 shows the inclusion of the WPLN proficiency levels into the Singapore
Standard Educational Classification (SSEC) 2010 published by the Singapore Department of
Statistics. The SSEC is the national standard for classifying educational programmes and
qualifications.
Table 1: WPLN Proficiency Levels (extracted from SSEC 2010)
NO FORMAL QUALIFICATION / LOWER PRIMARY
Never attended school
Primary education without PSLE / PSPE certification or their equivalent
Certificate in BEST 1-3
PRIMARY
Primary School Leaving Certificate (PSLE) / Primary School Proficiency Certificate (PSPE) or
other certificates of equivalent standard
Certificate in BESTS 4
At least 3 ES WPLN Statements of Attainment at Level 1 or 2
LOWER SECONDARY
Secondary education without a GCE O/N Level pass or their equivalent
Certificate in WISE 1-3
Basic vocational certificates (including ITE Basic Vocational Training)
At least 3 ES WPLN Statements of Attainment at Level 3 or 4
1
The NARIC Report is a report by UK NARIC to benchmark WPLN against national and international
standards. UK NARIC is a British national agency responsible for providing advice and expert opinion on
vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications worldwide (www.naric.org.uk).
Copyright 2012 @ Singapore Workforce Development Agency. All rights reserved.
1
SECONDARY
At least 1 GCE N Level pass
At least 1 GCE O Level pass
National ITE Certificate (Intermediate) or equivalent (eg National Technical Certificate Grade
3, Certificate of Vocational Training, BCA Builder Certificate)
ITE Skills Certificate (ISC) or equivalent (eg Certificate of Competency, Certificate in Service
Skills)
At least 3 ES WPLN Statements of Attainment at Level 5 or above
Other certificates or qualifications of equivalent standard
Table 2 shows the mapping of the WPLN proficiency levels with GCE N/O Level as
well as IELTS2 based on the benchmarking study by UK NARIC. UK NARIC found that WPLN
Level 5 is closely matched to GCE N/O level pass in terms of learning outcomes. Hence,
employers using GCE N/O level qualifications for job entry requirements could consider using
WPLN level 5 as an alternative.
Table 2 Mapping of WPLN Proficiency Levels with GCE N & O levels and IELTS
WPLN Proficiency Level
GCE N/O Level
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Secondary with N/O Level pass
Secondary without N/O Level pass
IELTS
8-9
7-8
6-7
5-6
4-5
3-4
2
IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is an internationally recognised English
language assessment developed by the University of Cambridge to assess the language ability of
candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. It covers the
four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking (http://www.ielts.org).
Copyright 2012 @ Singapore Workforce Development Agency. All rights reserved.
2
B. Reference to what other employers are using for similar job positions
Employers could also refer to Table 3 below to find out what WPLN levels the other
employers are using to recruit new employees for similar job positions. It should be noted,
however, that the minimum WPLN level required by the same job position may vary
depending on the specific industry sector.
Table 3 The WPLN levels accepted for specific job positions
Job Position
Minimum
Education Levels
WPLN Level accepted
by most companies as
alternative
Account Positions
O Level/Diploma
5
Administrative Positions
N Level/O Level
5
Ambulance Driver
Secondary
5
Assistant Chief Security Officer
O Level/NITEC
5
Assistant Supervisor
Secondary
4
Baker
Secondary
4
Beauty Consultant
N Level/O Level
5
Beauty Therapist
N Level
3
Building Custodian
Primary
2
Business Development Manager
N Level/O Level
5
Butler
O Level
7
Cashier
Secondary
4
Chief Security Officer
O Level/A Level
5
Cleaner
Primary
2
Clinic Assistant
N Level/O Level
5
Coach Driver
Primary
4
Concierge
N Level/O Level
5
Cook
Certificate
3
Corporate Support
N Level
5
Counter Crew Staff
N Level
4
Customer Service/Relations
N Level/O Level
5
Data Entry
N Level/O Level
5
Despatch Rider (Delivery)
N Level
3
Doorman
Primary
3
Driver
Primary
3
Driver (Delivery)
Primary/Secondary
3
Editor
Degree
8
Engineer
Degree
8
F&B Crew/ Waiter
N Level/O Level
4
F&B Waiter/Captain
N Level
5
Field Assistant
Primary
2
Fitting Room Assistant
Primary
2
Florist
N Level/O Level
4
Forklift Driver
Primary
3
Front Office Receptionist
O Level/NITEC
5
Gardener
Primary
2
General Worker
Primary
2
Healthcare Assistant
O Level/NITEC
7
Housekeeping
Primary
4
Housekeeping Attendant
Primary/Secondary
2
Human Resource Executive
Diploma
5
Copyright 2012 @ Singapore Workforce Development Agency. All rights reserved.
3
Inventory Officer
Kitchen Assistant
Logistics/Operations Assistant
Machine Operator
Machinist
Management Trainee
Managerial Positions
Merchandising Clerk
Medical Registration Officer/Executive
Nurse
Operating Theatre Assistant
Operation Assistant
Operation Coordinator
Operation Executive
Pharmacy Assistant
Phone Receptionist
Product Specialist
Production Operator
Production Worker
Professional Conduct Officer/Executive
Programme/Project Executive
Project Managerial Positions
QA Inspector/Technician
Receptionist
Retail Assistant
Sales
Secretary
Security Officer
Security Supervisor/Senior Security Officer
Site Positions
Supermarket Staff
Supervisory Positions
Technician
Telemarketer
Temp Administrative Positions
Therapy Assistant
Ticketing Officer
Tour Leader
Translator
Warehouse Assistant
Warehouse Coordinator
Workplace Safety & Health Officer
N Level
Primary
N Level/O Level
Secondary
NIL to O Level
N Level/O Level
O Level/Diploma
O Level/Diploma
Diploma/Degree
Diploma
O Level
Secondary
N Level/O Level
Diploma
Secondary
N Level
N Level
N Level/O Level
Primary
Diploma/Degree
O Level/Diploma
Diploma/Degree
N Level/O Level
N Level/O Level
Secondary
N Level/O Level
O Level
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
O Level/NITEC
O Level/NITEC
Secondary
O Level/NITEC
O Level/NITEC
N Level
Primary
Diploma
Primary
N Level/O Level
Diploma
4
3
5
4
2
5
5
5
7
6
7
4
5
5
5
5
5
3
3
7
6
8
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
7
4
5
8
3
5
8
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4
C. By the level of interpersonal interaction and independence required in a job
position
Employers could also select an appropriate WPLN level for job entry requirement by
the level of interpersonal interaction and independence required in a job position. It is noted
that the WPLN level required for a job position is usually proportionate to the amount of
interpersonal interaction as well as the independence required of the job role. Table 4 below
shows the WPLN level other employers have adopted for each job position in relation to the
required level of interpersonal interaction and independence. Employers could refer to it as a
guide to determine the WPLN level used as alternative job entry requirement.
Table 4 The WPLN levels accepted in relation to the level of interpersonal interaction and
independence required in specific job positions
Level of Interpersonal
Interaction
If you are interested in ES or the WPLN credentialing project, you can contact WDA at
6883 5885, or email wda_es_enquiry@wda.gov.sg for more information.
Copyright 2012 @ Singapore Workforce Development Agency. All rights reserved.
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