VRQ - Vocationally-Related Qualification
For information on the approval of qualifications for funding in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, see the links to DCSF, DIUS, DCELLS, DELNI and DENI below.
When undertaking a qualification that does not appear on the governments' lists as eligible for funding for specific age ranges, users must be aware of legal requirements. Not all qualifications are suitable for all age ranges.
The qualification will be clearly identified on the NQF as a level 3 specialist ICT qualification with nationally accepted UCAS credits for use in progression to HE. In addition, its place within the nationally and internationally recognised BTEC framework of qualifications will allow successful students to progress directly into employment.
The nesting of this Award within the Certificate and Diploma will facilitate easy progression within this sector to gain further knowledge and skills.
The qualification is internally assessed and externally verified using National Standards Sampling.
The Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Award for IT Practitioners consists of two core units plus specialist units that provide for a combined total of 360 guided learning hours (GLH) for the completed qualification.
Within the optional units there are some forbidden combinations that reflect common content between units.
Forbidden Combinations
The optional units contain a number of specialist vendor awards (Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA). Some of these specialist vendor awards overlap in content with other units and a number of forbidden combinations have been identified.
16 Maintaining Computer Systems is a forbidden combination with units 48, 49
22 Network Management is a forbidden combination with units 51, 47
27 Principles of Computer Networks is a forbidden combination with units 42, 47, 48, 49
29 IT Systems Troubleshooting and Repair is a forbidden combination with units 36, 37
30 Networked Systems Security is a forbidden combination with unit 50
36 Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on the XP Operating System (Microsoft) is a forbidden combination with unit 29
37 Supporting Users and Troubleshooting the XP Operating System (Microsoft) is a forbidden combination with unit 29
42 Networking Basics (Cisco CCNA1) is a forbidden combination with units 27, 47, 48, 49*
47 Networking Essentials (Cisco IT Essentials 2) is a forbidden combination with units 22, 27, 42, 48, 49, 51, 54, 58
48 A+ 220-602 (part of CompTIA A+) is a forbidden combination with units 16, 27, 42, 47, 54, 58
49 IT Essentials (part of CompTIA A+) is a forbidden combination with units 16, 27, 42, 47, 45, 58
50 Networking Security (CompTIA Security +) is a forbidden combination with units 30
51 Configuring and Troubleshooting Networks (CompTIA Networks +) is a forbidden combination with units 22, 47
54 Networking for Home and Small Business (Cisco CCNA1 Discovery) is a forbidden combination with units 47, 48, 49*
58 Network Fundamental (Exploration CCNA 1) is a forbidden combination with units 47, 48, 49*
*Additionally to these forbidden combinations, learners may choose Cisco CCNA units from a single group only (ie. Discovery, Exploration etc.); combining groups is forbidden.
Note – a maximum of 33% of the total guided learning hours can be specialist vendor awards.