OCN Northern Ireland
Learner Registration & Certification
Quality Assurance
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Unit exemptions or equivalents
Unit exemptions or equivalents
With the introduction of the QCF Framework learners are now able to use past achievement against achievement of units within the QCF Framework to allow them to achieve a OCN QCF qualification. These are referred to as exemptions or equivalents. If a unit is identical but was in the NQF framework, so it has a different QCA code and is therefore classed as a different unit, it is classed as an exemption. If a unit is not identical, but it has been agreed that if a learner has achieved it will replace achievement of a specific unit within the qualification, it will be classed as an equivalent. In both these cases as the learner has already achieved the unit, and will have received a certificate to confirm this, their achievement towards this specific qualification MUST be shown as an exemption or equivalent and MUST NOT be allocated any credit achievement.
Learners can also have achieved some learning that is similar to the requirements of a specific unit, but has not been delivered or achieved through the route set out on the unit. In these cases the learner can go through a process where what they have achieved is matched to the requirements of a unit and this is called RPL (recognition of prior learning). In these cases the learner would achieve the actual unit but it will need to be recorded that this was done through RPL. The learner would then achieve the unit and it would be displayed as normal.
For any learner who has previously achieved units that have been approved as Exemptions/Equivalents or will be achieved through RPL it is the provider’s responsibility to inform the OCN at registration. The information about approved exemptions and equivalents can be found within the Qualification Guide. The provider will submit the information about the learner through the completion of the learner registration form appendix 1 (see below), providing information regarding the unit the learner has previously achieved, with copies of the certificated learning, and which units these will be used against within the qualification. Appendix 1 will then be submitted with the LRF and a copy provided to the Internal Verifier at the centre.
LRF Appendix 1 - Unit exemptions or equivalents form
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