Levels Definition

A future of more money is in our hands if we invest in learning.

Acquiring new skills and qualifications is a great way to get a new job or advance your career, but did you know there are also financial benefits?

The National Qualifications Framework (levels)	Examples of qualifications	What they give you
Entry	Entry level certificates Skills for Life at entry level	basic knowledge and skills ability to apply learning in everyday situations not geared towards specific occupations
Level 1	GCSEs grades D-G BTEC Introductory Diplomas and Certificates OCR Nationals Key Skills level 1 NVQs Skills for Life	basic knowledge and skills ability to apply learning with guidance or supervision may be linked to job competence
Level 2	GCSEs grades A-C BTEC First Diplomas and Certificates OCR Nationals Key Skills level 2 NVQs Skills for Life	good knowledge and understanding of a subject ability to perform variety of tasks with some guidance or supervision appropriate for many job roles
Level 3	A levels Advanced Extension Awards GCE in applied subjects International Baccalaureate Key Skills level 3 NVQs BTEC Diplomas, Certificates and Awards BTEC Nationals OCR Nationals	ability to gain or apply a range of knowledge, skills and understanding, at a detailed level appropriate if you plan to go to university, work independently, or (in some cases) supervise and train others in their field of work
Level 4	Key Skills level 4 - NVQs - BTEC Professional Diplomas, Certificates and Awards	specialist learning, involving detailed analysis of a high level of information and knowledge in an area of work or study appropriate for people working in technical and professional jobs, and/or managing and developing others
Level 5	HNCs and HNDs - NVQs - BTEC Professional Diplomas, Certificates and Awards	ability to increase the depth of knowledge and understanding of an area of work or study, so you can respond to complex problems and situations involves high level of work expertise and competence in managing and training others appropriate for people working as higher grade technicians, professionals or managers
Level 6	National Diploma in Professional Production Skills - BTEC Advanced Professional Diplomas, Certificates and Awards	a specialist, high-level knowledge of an area of work or study, to enable you to use your own ideas and research in response to complex problems and situations appropriate for people working as knowledge-based professionals or in professional management positions
Level 7	Diploma in Translation - BTEC Advanced Professional Diplomas, Certificates and Awards	highly developed and complex levels of knowledge, enabling you to develop original responses to complicated and unpredictable problems and situations appropriate for senior professionals and managers
Level 8	Specialist Awards	opportunity to develop new and creative approaches that extend or redefine existing knowledge or professional practice appropriate for leading experts or practitioners in a particular field

* Labour Force Survey: Based on all full-time earnings in England, Q2 2007.