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.
Of the three progression pathways from the Diploma, this qualification will give learners particular access to Apprenticeships and Employment but in addition will support the third pathway into other learning.
Internal verification: Centres are required to have processes in place reviewing each assessor's decisions to ensure that they are correctly interpreting and applying the standards set out in the specifications. The system used to do this is a matter for the individual centres and Edexcel fully supports the use of the centre's own quality assurance systems where this ensures robust internal standardisation. Centres will refer to the BTEC NQF Level 2/3 (including Short Courses at Level 1-3) (updated annually). This updated website/Services for centres/FE Colleges and Schools.
Candidates will need to complete units equivalent to 180 GLH
All units are L3
All units are 60 GLH
A grading scale of pass, merit and distinction is applied to all units.
All the units listed in this qualification are optional however there are a number of factors that should be taken into account. The factors include the aspirations of learners in terms of future progression (including potentially specific pathways within larger BTEC qualifications), their previous experience and any other qualification that they are undertaking in parallel.
The units are all suitable for Engineering (Electrical/Mechanical), (including Further Mathematics for Engineers and Monitoring and Analysing Engineering Equipment). Individual learners could undertake any combination, but there are some natural groupings of the units.
The following units are all suitable for Electrical/Electronics and Communications Technology groupings:
Principles and Applications of Electronic Devices and Circuits; Principles and Applications of Analogue Electronics; Construction and Applications of Digital Systems; Microprocessor Systems and Applications; Principles and Applications of Microcontrollers.
The following unit is suitable for Electrical/Electronics and Mechanical groupings:
Selection and Applications of Programmable Logic Controllers
The following units are only suitable for the Electrical/Electronics grouping:
Electrical Technology; Electrical Installation; Electronic Measurement and Testing; Electronic Fault-finding; Electrical Applications; Three-phase Systems; Three-phase Motors and Drives; Further Electrical Principles.
The following units are only suitable for Communications Technology grouping:
Telecommunications Principles; Communication Workshop Practices; Access Network Techniques and Applications; Core Network Techniques; Telecommunications Systems; Fault Diagnosis and Maintenance of Communications Equipment; Communications Equipment Installation Techniques; Radio Communications Principles and Applications.
The following units are only suitable for the Mechanical grouping:
Applications of Mechanical Systems and Technology; Principles and Applications of Fluid Mechanics; Principles and Applications of Thermodynamics; Electro, Pneumatic and Hydraulic Systems and Devices;
Advanced Mechanical Principles and Applications.