HAIRDRESSING COLLEGE
QUALIFICATIONS EXPLAINED
NVQ, SVQ, VRQ - WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
The nationally recognised National Vocational Qualification (NVQ – or SVQ, if you’re studying in Scotland), is the original vocational route into hairdressing. The Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ) came about to mirror the NVQ subjects but with fewer restrictions in place, making it a popular choice for those starting with fewer skills and less confidence.
The main differences between NVQs and VRQs are the number of assessments that you have to carry out to achieve the qualification. There are more assessments with the NVQ route, and they must all be carried out on a range of live models within commercially acceptable timings; with VRQs there are fewer restrictions on models and timings, although assessments must still be within reasonable commercial timings.
The introduction of the VRQ qualification initially introduced a stepping stone to the learner journey. So if you completed an NVQ Level 2 but weren’t quite ready for the NVQ Level 3, you could complete a VRQ Level 3 before completing an NVQ level 3. However, over the last few years funding of post-16 courses has changed and you are now only funded for your first Level 2 or 3, which means that college students tend to take either the VRQ or NVQ route.
The nationally recognised National Vocational Qualification (NVQ – or SVQ, if you’re studying in Scotland), is the original vocational route into hairdressing. The Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ) came about to mirror the NVQ subjects but with fewer restrictions in place, making it a popular choice for those starting with fewer skills and less confidence.
The main differences between NVQs and VRQs are the number of assessments that you have to carry out to achieve the qualification. There are more assessments with the NVQ route, and they must all be carried out on a range of live models within commercially acceptable timings; with VRQs there are fewer restrictions on models and timings, although assessments must still be within reasonable commercial timings.
The introduction of the VRQ qualification initially introduced a stepping stone to the learner journey. So if you completed an NVQ Level 2 but weren’t quite ready for the NVQ Level 3, you could complete a VRQ Level 3 before completing an NVQ level 3. However, over the last few years funding of post-16 courses has changed and you are now only funded for your first Level 2 or 3, which means that college students tend to take either the VRQ or NVQ route.
Hairdressing NVQ/SVQ and VRQs - what to expect from each level:
Check these out: