NVQ's: a bit of info

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mum

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Hi Geeks

I thought I'd give a bit more info on NVQ's in the hope that another aspect of the NVComplication is a bit clearer! :idea: (just worked out how to use these! :o Sad!)

I read a comment in a recent thread that said that the course (that was being referred to) included more detail than the NVQ 3. An explanation may help to make this clearer. There are 2 bits:

1. The NVQ Level 3 (which is new right now, this month) involves 8 units, is very involved and will take quite a while to achieve. It is probably the equilavent of a couple of A levels (it is certainly entry into 'foundation' degree level). I think reference to NVQ 3 at the moment means the 1 unit at the level in Beauty Therapy that covers artificial nails. This is not an NVQ, just 1 out of 8 for beauty not nails.

2. Probably the most important point here is that an NVQ is NOT a course! :confused: An NVQ at any level is a qualification you receive when you prove that you are competent in your professional skill (i.e nails). An NVQ, basically, is a (vast) list of criteria, both practical and theoretical, that you need to show you can do and understand (why, how, when, etc etc). If you can meet the entire list you have demonstrated that you are skilled at your job and entitled to the qualification. The industry authority (HABIA) has, through long consultation, 'decreed' that this qualification is the MINIMUM required for a 'professional'. With the new qualifications, this MINIMUM has grown and grown to the place it should be.

The training course does not necessarily bare any relationship to the requirements. Every course from every place (private and via a college) will have a different structure, a different teacher, different products, different time scales etc. That is absolutley fine :p

What is important is that the outcome of that training (in your aunty's back room with a weight lifter if that is what is available). You must be able to demonstrate on REAL clients with a wide range of problems that you can do the job, understand what you are doing, why you are doing it and what to do when it goes wrong.

Any training course for nails will be 'working towards' an NVQ. Picking up a file, sitting straight and filing nails is 'working towards an NVQ'. Filing correctly is one of the criteria. But it is one of many.

Every training course available will lead to an NVQ. If an NVQ (or units in it) are what you actually want to achieve then you need to make sure that you have the access to do achieve it. That can only be done via approved training centres and approved assessors and does not necessarily require or involve more training, just assessments.

No one does an NVQ course. Everyone does a course that can result in an NVQ. Everyone who has done a course of any kind can go to an assessment centre and prove they are 'competent'

The industry, at present, does not have any legislation that requires specific qualification. However, those committed to their industry and career will have no problem in proving their competence! Those that want to earn decent money and not have to put up with inexperienced techs that just give the industry a bad name will embrace raising the MINIMUM requirements that are acceptable.

Just make sure you will get what you expect, you are going for the best you can manage, if it is in small chunks that's fine as long as you understand it is a small chunk and try to be the best not do just enough to get by :)

Marian
 
That was excellent Marian, thank you for clarifying - its all starting to sink in properly now :) !
 
Hi Marian
If you've done the previous NVQ 3 Unit 19 which involved Liquid & Powder & Fibreglass at the college I attended, can these be APL'd as 2 units etc. Then go on to take the gel component (& whatever else was missing, e.g. airbrushing, media, etc) to complete the 8 units??

Did that make ANY sense to you :?:

Thanks
Karen
 
Do you think colleges / ANT SACs etc will start to do courses that gain an NVQ level 3 like hairdressing and beauty therapy (ie they learn and qualify all in one place)? I sometimes feel that the qualifications I have will soon mean nothing, and that I'll have to shell out even more money!

What i am trying to get at in a very illiterate way is that I find it hard to pay out for private courses which are very expensive, and then have to pay out again to someone for an NVQ assessment to confirm that my skills are concurrent with the NVQ.

I apologise because I really haven't worded this very well.
 
Hi Marian,

I know that NVQ's are worked based. You complile the work over a period of time and get assessed by a teacher/accessor. Do you know who offers the whole NVQ through an approved centre at moment, as I would like to do it. I have done NVQs in other subjects. Is the NVQ for Nail Extension/technology on the same basis that you work through the units and gain evidence in the performance criteria and knowledge and understanding? :confused: I have also just completed the VCTC qualification can you cross reference from that portfolio of works to some of the criteria for an NVQ?

Sorry for all the questions I just want to be clear what the way forward is and how to get the right qualifications.

Jenny :biggrin:
 
Brilliant post!
 
Well explained Marian, even I can understand it now lol...................
See ya Sunday xxx
 
:D Wow! that was explained so well about the NVQ system, no wonder I couldn't find a course on it!!.......ahhh i'm soo new to this game. Seriously though, having that explained in detail will now guide me in my future training to work towards an NVQ qualification. I'm going to concentrate on getting as much training as possible and then keep up to date with even more training after that forever more!

Jay
xx
 
nailtech said:
Hi Marian
If you've done the previous NVQ 3 Unit 19 which involved Liquid & Powder & Fibreglass at the college I attended, can these be APL'd as 2 units etc. Then go on to take the gel component (& whatever else was missing, e.g. airbrushing, media, etc) to complete the 8 units??

Did that make ANY sense to you :?:

Thanks
Karen

Hi Karen
Your previous Unit 19 can be APL'd (accreditation of prior learning i.e. used in new qualification and not lost). The new units though are structured very differently (it adds to the confusion but does actually make sense...ish!).

The new unit requires all 3 systems, all assessed very thoroughly and separately. This is unlike the old one which only really required 1 thoroughly assessed with bits of another. This unit does NOT include maintenance. There is a whole new unit that covers maintenance VERY thoroughly. This is at Level 3. At Level 2, however, there is 1 unit that covers a fibre system (wrap) for both application and maintenance.

You can def take all of what is missing for the full level. There are 4 skill units and 4 that cover H&S and businessy things. This is the same at Level 2.
Hope that answers you
Marian ;)
 
Sassy Hassy said:
Do you think colleges / ANT SACs etc will start to do courses that gain an NVQ level 3 like hairdressing and beauty therapy (ie they learn and qualify all in one place)? I sometimes feel that the qualifications I have will soon mean nothing, and that I'll have to shell out even more money!

What i am trying to get at in a very illiterate way is that I find it hard to pay out for private courses which are very expensive, and then have to pay out again to someone for an NVQ assessment to confirm that my skills are concurrent with the NVQ.

I apologise because I really haven't worded this very well.


Hi Sassy!
SAC definately provide assessments without training. I don't know if they train too but expect they do.
Some private courses include NVQ assessments. Not sure which ones but I am sure other Geeks will know???

All private courses COULD provide the qualifications but, unfortunately, not many do. There are many reasons for this: one is that it is not the easiest option and short courses are; another is that not many training providers want to take the time or effort to find out how it's done. This does take a bit of getting used to as it is a bit complicated (!) when starting out but it is REALLY not difficult and the industry in general should be getting behind the professional status and making access to qualifications easy not the most difficult thing in the world (which it is right now!)

There is no real legislation that insists on qualifications and unlikely to be in the near future. The Government prefer industry sectors to 'police' themselves. I am sure that, as an industry, we would rather NOT to be made to do something but I believe we have a responsibility to lift the professional status ourselves because it can only benefit everyone.

Sorry, I've waffled on now! Hope that answers your questions
Marian
 
beautybonanza said:
Hi Marian,

I know that NVQ's are worked based. You complile the work over a period of time and get assessed by a teacher/accessor. Do you know who offers the whole NVQ through an approved centre at moment, as I would like to do it. I have done NVQs in other subjects. Is the NVQ for Nail Extension/technology on the same basis that you work through the units and gain evidence in the performance criteria and knowledge and understanding? :confused: I have also just completed the VCTC qualification can you cross reference from that portfolio of works to some of the criteria for an NVQ?

Sorry for all the questions I just want to be clear what the way forward is and how to get the right qualifications.

Jenny :biggrin:

Hi Jenny
Whew! I'm having a mammouth answering 'moment' ;)

You have described the process exactly and, yes, you can cross reference your existing portfolio. You just need to look at the new criteria and see if you have covered it already and reference the actual place that has been 'signed off' by an assessor.

I don't know who does the whole thing yet. (Maybe some answers will arrive here) FE colleges will eventually be doing it but they may take a bit of time to get it sorted. They are beauty colleges and may not have the necessary facilities and staff in place. Anyone taking this course REALLY must have a nail specialist taking it, NOT a beauty therapist that did a short course 5 years ago!!

Any NVQ does not have to be taken all at once. Units can be done as and when it is suitable. The problem is finding the place to do it!

Marian
 
Sassy Hassy said:
Do you think colleges / ANT SACs etc will start to do courses that gain an NVQ level 3 like hairdressing and beauty therapy (ie they learn and qualify all in one place)? I sometimes feel that the qualifications I have will soon mean nothing, and that I'll have to shell out even more money!

What i am trying to get at in a very illiterate way is that I find it hard to pay out for private courses which are very expensive, and then have to pay out again to someone for an NVQ assessment to confirm that my skills are concurrent with the NVQ.

I apologise because I really haven't worded this very well.
I understand youperfectly! :)

The qualifications you have will always mean something. At the moment, yes, you would have to go to be assessed at a centre and it would cost you to do so for registration and assessments etc ... That is the way it is if you want to acheive this qualification! As Marian says, it's not mandatory for you to have it but it is something you can acheive slowly at your own pace and as funds permit if you want it. Unit by unit.
 
Thanks Marian, I covered maintainance assessments in mine but it looks like it would be better to take the whole thing again & get the full qualification (over time of course - college work is very time "consuming" with everything else on my plate). I took my latest NVQ back in 2000 so it'll be 4 years soon.

And to those of you wondering why I would want to do this, well its because I agree with continuing education & learnt gels over the years thru trial & error & conversion courses, etc (we were shown at college but thats all) & the airbrushing, media, etc will be fun to complete. Hopefully by next year the colleges will have everything in place.

Best wishes
Karen
 
Thanks Marion and Gigi for understanding what I was trying to get at and replying! Guess I'll have to get an even bigger piggy bank!
 

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