Workforce Development / Prove You Can Do IT

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The e-skills NTO, nto.telecom, QCA (Qualifications & Curriculum Authority) and SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority), have worked with Microsoft, Cisco and Novel to link their qualifications with NVQs/SVQs, and show how they complement each other.

The IT and IT Services NVQs/SVQs are National/Scottish Vocational Qualifications designed by e-skills NTO in accordance with industry requirements and best practice. They define what employees do in their jobs, based on practical skills demonstrated in the workplace. On the other hand, ITC qualifications such as the ones offered by Microsoft, Cisco and Novell tend to be highly technical and are also well recognised by industry.

The NVQs/SVQs require much of the technical knowledge defined by the vendor qualifications and add to this some of the softer skills (such as communication, problem-solving and management). Furthermore, the way the NVQs/SVQs are examined - in the work place - means they are a true measure of an individual’s competence.

As a consequence, a candidate with both qualifications, an NVQ/SVQ and vendor qualification, will have acquired a detailed technical knowledge and will have proved that he/she can use it in a real world situation.

Please refer to the " Prove you can do IT " section to find out how the Microsoft, Cisco and Novell qualifications relate to IT & IT Services NVQs/SVQs.

The e-skills NTO has also recently worked with the Helpdesk Institute and 3 Com to map their qualifications to the IT and IT Services NVQs/SVQs and results will soon be available online under the "Prove You Can Do IT" section.

This is an on-going project and we are planning to map other well-recognised industry qualifications to the IT and IT Services NVQs/SVQs.

Contact : Chris Morrow on or