What is the purpose of this qualification?
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification although they will benefit from having English and Maths skills at level 1. It is available to learners aged 16+, however it is anticipated that it will be of specific relevance to:
• Young people interested in a career in the office professionals sector who intend, but are not yet ready, to access level 3 qualifications or an advanced apprenticeship.
• Young people and adults usually with prior attainment at level 1 and below, including those who have had a significant break from or disjointed experience of education, who wish to work in the office professionals sector but need a broad grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills before applying for work.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification provides a range of introductory skills, as well as core knowledge, relevant to office professionals, alongside generic employability skills which are needed both in the office professionals sector and across other sectors. Mandatory units include:
• Working in Administration
• Effective Communication in the Workplace
Optional units include knowledge and skills relevant to different job roles in the sector (such as handling mail, databases, career progression).
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma. Learners should take the Certificate if they need a broad introduction to the sector, as well as more generic workplace skills, before progressing to employment (with further training where possible), to a level 3 Apprenticeship or to a Level 3 qualification, as illustrated in the target learner profiles provided above. The Certificate may also be the most appropriate size of qualification for learners who have not yet achieved Level 2 English and Maths and need to include significant learning time for these subjects within their learning programme.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification could lead to a number of roles in office professionals such as administrative assistant, secretary, audio transcriber.
How will this qualification support the learner’s independence?
Learners can progress to a Level 3 certificate or diploma in Office Professionals in any of the available pathways, including Technical level qualifications, or to an advanced Apprenticeship in Office Professionals in any of the available pathways. Learners may also be able to progress onto Level 3 Business Administration, Accounting or ITQ qualifications.
Progression & entry requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification although they will benefit from having English and Maths skills at level 1. It is available to learners aged 16+, however it is anticipated that it will be of specific relevance to:
• Young people interested in a career in the office professionals sector who intend, but are not yet ready, to access level 3 qualifications or an advanced apprenticeship.
• Young people and adults usually with prior attainment at level 1 and below, including those who have had a significant break from or disjointed experience of education, who wish to work in the office professionals sector but need a broad grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills before applying for work.
