Vocational qualifications are either work-related qualifications designed to enable students to gain the skills required to perform a particular job, or qualifications that may be taken as part of a wider study programme or apprenticeship.
The qualifications have been designed to provide an understanding of how holistic health and complementary therapies contribute to an individual's health and wellbeing. Students will have an understanding of the requirements of practitioners in the areas of holistic health and complementary therapies.
The qualifications will be used by colleges of further and higher education in Northern Ireland, for courses which are funded by the Department of Economy.
The qualifications are graded Pass or Fail.
The qualifications are internally assessed, internally verified, and subject to OCNNI's quality assurance processes. Units are achieved through internally set, internally verified evidence. External verification is carried out with centres to confirm the evaluation of risk and compliance, and to ensure the integrity of the qualifications.
There are a number of key considerations for HEPs when reviewing vocational qualifications:
- some of these qualifications are occupational, and may not be designed specifically for progression to HE.
- applicants holding these qualifications may be school or college leavers, however, some may be more mature students who are likely to have other relevant experience alongside these qualifications
- these qualifications may have been taken as part of a wider study programme or apprenticeship
- if they are presented for admission to HE, it is likely to be in conjunction with other qualifications
Applicants holding these qualifications will mainly be further and higher education college leavers.
Link to specification for Diploma – www.ocnni.org.uk/qualifications/ocn-ni-level-3-diploma-in-the-theory-of-holistic-health-and-complementary-therapies-60317942/.
Link to specification for Certificate – www.ocnni.org.uk/qualifications/ocn-ni-level-3-certificate-in-holistic-health-and-complementary-therapies-60127764/.