Vocational qualifications – find out if you need qualifications

Brief information about qualifications

Everyone possesses knowledge and skills in a particular area. Be it the profession we have been trained for, a skill learned individually outside of the education system, knowledge gained from courses or classes at a university or knowledge resulting from our experience at work. A qualification is a set of skills, which makes a specific competence. Each qualification in the Integrated Qualifications System (IQS) has been described in detailed by the authorised institution. The description of the requirements to be met in order to be awarded the given qualification has been prepared in cooperation with experts in the field. A set of such requirements is referred to as learning outcomes. An awarded qualification is confirmed with a relevant certificate, whereas the process of assessment of one’s competences is referred to as validation.

How do I know which vocational qualification is right for me?

Descriptions of all qualifications included in the IQS can be found in the Integrated Qualifications Register (IQR). Find the vocational qualification which matches your competences.

Subsequently, read, thoroughly, the description of the qualification – it will provide you with the essential information, such as:

  • a qualification description,
  • initial requirements to be met prior to undergoing the validation process,
  • the list of learning outcomes and their assessment criteria – i.e. what you need to know and what you need to be able to do in order to obtain the certificate.

What will I learn from the description of the qualification?

The description will tell you what the requirements in terms of the learning outcomes are for the given qualification. Learning outcomes consist of knowledge, skills and social competences. All learning outcomes have been briefly described and additionally clarified by the assessment criteria in the register. The criteria describe, in detail, what the certificate attests to, and thus they are important for both candidates and employers.

By reading the description of the qualification, you will learn about all the conditions you need to fulfil in order to apply for a certificate confirming the given qualification. It is not relevant how you have acquired your skills or knowledge. You are eligible for the awarding of the qualification provided you meet the requirements specified in the description.

In the case of certain qualifications though, initial requirements may apply. This means that in some cases, a clean bill of health may be required or other documents confirming one’s licenses, e.g. a driving licence.

The description of the qualification provides the conditions for the performance of the validation, i.e. conditions of the standards to be met by the Awarding Body (AB). These standards ensure the high quality of the entire process and apply to particular conditions, such as:

  • methods for the assessment of learning outcomes,
  • requirements applicable to individuals performing the assessment – assessors and commission members,
  • requirements for individuals responsible for designing the validation process or a validation counsellor,
  • validation process as well as the organisational and material conditions – e.g.: required facilities, required equipment, validation time-frame or other important aspects relating to the organisation of the validation process.

Who the qualification is intended for?

Other information found in the description of the qualification includes: the demand for the qualification on the market or its potential use. This information is useful for individuals thinking about changing their job or finding a job in another sector or industry. Gaining new qualifications may be helpful for individuals who have remained unemployed for a long period of time or would like to return to the labour market following a period, when they were unable to take up a job. What is more, attaining a vocational qualification may open the door to a new career path or help getting promoted. Descriptions of vocational qualifications found in the IQS will tell you what you need to be able to do in order to achieve your goal. For a list of available qualifications, please go to https://rejestr.kwalifikacje.gov.pl.

A certificate – increase your chances of employment!

Due to market requirements, employers are forced to seek qualified personnel. By having your skills officially confirmed, you will become a more attractive candidate on the labour market. With the certificate, you can present your qualifications in a more communicative manner and so the potential employer can rest assured as to your competences. Additionally, the certificate makes candidates feel more at ease. The reliability of our skills improves our chances of success in the recruitment process – we know that our skills have been assessed by experts. It is also worth noting that the certificate maximises our chance of finding employment not only on the domestic but also on the European labour market.

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