Qualification Levels
What Are Levels?
Levels tell you how difficult a Qualification or Endorsed Course is. OCN offer ranges from Entry Level to Level 5.
Here’s a quick guide to the different levels:
Entry Level
Perfect for beginners who are just starting out with a subject. It’s all about learning the basics.
Level 1
A step up from Entry Level, focusing on building basic skills and knowledge.
Level 2
This level is of a similar complexity to GCSEs. It shows a good understanding of a subject or skill.
Level 3
This level is of a similar complexity to A-Levels, Level 3 demonstrates a deeper understanding and the ability to apply your knowledge.
Level 4-5
These levels prepare you for more complex work or higher education.
Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas: What’s the Difference?
Our qualifications come in three types based on the number of credits you’ve earned. Each type shows a different level of learning achievement:
Award
An Award is a smaller qualification and usually requires between 1 and 12 credits. This could represent 10 to 120 hours of learning.
Certificate
A Certificate is a more substantial qualification, requiring 13 to 36 credits. This typically represents 130 to 360 hours of learning.
Diploma
A Diploma is the most extensive qualification, requiring 37 or more credits. This could represent 370 hours or more of learning.
At OCN, we use credits and levels to measure learning and achievement.
Credits are a way of showing how much learning has been achieved. Each credit represents 10 notional hours of learning. Notional learning hours refer to the estimated amount of time it would typically take a learner to complete all the learning activities required for a qualification or a unit.
1 Credit = 10 hours of learning
This could include time spent in classes, studying on your own, or completing assignments.
How Do They Work Together?
The combination of credits, levels, and qualification types gives a clear picture of your learning. For example, a Level 2 Award with 6 credits means you’ve completed a course at Level 2 with about 60 hours of learning, while a Level 3 Diploma indicates a deeper, more advanced study with a larger time commitment.
Qualifications
Whether you're seeking to complete an award, certificate, or diploma, our qualification finder makes it easy to explore a wide range of qualifications that are tailored to your aspirations.
