In order to gain and retain NOCN qualification approval status, centres must continue to meet the required standards of NOCN regarding internal management and systems, delivery staff, resources and equipment, assessment and training, internal quality assurance and external assessment arrangements. Each requirement is detailed as one of NOCN’s Approval Criteria.
For a full list of NOCN Approval Criteria, as well as further guidance and support in meeting that criteria, please refer to the NOCN Quality Assurance Manual, available on the NOCN website under the ‘Help & Support’ section.
Centre Staff Requirements
As part of the requirement to deliver this qualification, the Centre staff involved with the delivery, assessment and quality assurance of the qualification must have a demonstrable level of expertise. NOCN expects that all Tutors/Trainers, Assessors and Internal Quality Assurers are able to demonstrate that they have the relevant occupational knowledge and experience to perform their role.
Tutor/Trainer and Assessor Requirements
A Tutor/Trainer includes anyone within your Centre who is facilitating the training to learners in any environment e.g. tutor, trainer, teacher, coach, facilitator.
A Tutor is not required for NOCN NVQ qualifications, but is required for construction training diplomas.
All construction qualifications require an Assessor. For training diplomas, an individual can perform both roles of Tutor/Trainer and Assessor, where they meet the individual requirements for both. Tutors/Trainers and Assessors are not able to perform the role of the Internal Quality Assurer for cohorts where they have delivered training or assessment.
All Tutors/Trainers and Assessors must:
- Hold verifiable knowledge of the occupational standards at or above the level being taught.
- Hold a recognised teaching/training or assessor qualification (dependent on their role), examples of what NOCN will accept are detailed within the Quality Assurance Manual.
- Keep up to date with industry best practice for the duration of their role.
- Maintain a record of Continuous Personal Development (CPD).
- Hold an up to date CV.
Any specific assessment/training requirements are detailed under the Assessment guidance and/or in the requirements section of each unit.
Internal Quality Assurer Requirements
All construction qualifications must be internally quality assured by an appropriately qualified and experienced IQA. Each Centre must have a quality system which ensures that decisions made by assessors are appropriate, consistent, fair and transparent, and that they do not discriminate any learner. The quality system must ensure the quality of the award, ensuring validity, reliability and consistency.
Further guidance regarding the requirements of a Centre’s quality system is detailed within the Quality Assurance Manual.
All Internal Quality Assurers must:
- Hold verifiable knowledge of the occupational standards at or above the level they are quality assuring.
- Hold a recognised internal quality assurance qualification (for NVQs only), examples of what NOCN will accept are detailed within the Quality Assurance Manual.
- Understand the content, structure, assessments and training/testing requirements of the units they are quality assuring.
- Keep up to date with industry best practice for the duration of their role.
- Maintain a record of Continuous Personal Development (CPD).
- Hold an up to date CV.
Resources and Equipment
For training diplomas, centres must have the resource available for the assessment and training requirements as set out by the relevant health and safety acts. There should be adequate provision of physical resources to support the learning and meet the requirements of the qualification/training.
Please refer to the specific resources and equipment specification for each individual training diploma.