NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Wood Occupations

Who Is Level 3 NVQ Diploma In Wood Occupations For?

The Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations is for experienced and trained professionals who aim to step up and earn a certification for their expertise in wood occupations. This includes bench joiners, carpenters, shopfitters, etc. This diploma will qualify them for a supervisory role in the construction sector and pursue a CSCS Gold Card, that’s recognised throughout the UK. 

The course consists of different pathways, each pathway further including a list of mandatory and optional units. A qualified assessor will work with you and suggest you a suitable pathway and optional unit that’d go well with your background. For instance, if you’ve previously been a site carpenter, the “Timber Frame Erection” pathway wouldn’t be an appropriate route. So, the assessor will guide you on not only the pathway you should take but also the optional units that you should choose to professionally grow in your career.  

How Will The Process Work?

Initially, you will be asked to fill out an initial assessment form. The sole purpose of this form is to gather your details, including personal credentials and work history. This information would help the assessor make himself familiar with what you’ve largely been a part of. This also will allow him to propose you a pathway that goes with your preferences and future aspirations. 

After you’re enrolled on the course, the assessor will evaluate your portfolio of evidence against standardised criteria. More on this would come later on this page. 

Is It Compulsory To Be Experienced To Undertake This NVQ?

This Level 3 NVQ is for experienced professionals. And, if you don’t have the necessary experience, this would certainly be tough for you to make it through. That’s why we run an initial assessment and filter out learners who’re not suitable for this NVQ. Instead, we guide them towards the NVQ that matches their profiles.

What Is OSAT And What Does It Mean?

This qualification is assessed on-site, and OSAT originally stands for On-Site Assessment and Training. This means that you don’t have to go off your workplace to complete this NVQ. As the name suggests, it’s assessed onsite with an assessor by your side. The best part is, the assessor will be there to support you every step of the way. They’ll share their feedback on your performance in the programme and you can learn from their experience right while you’re on your job. 

Can You Fail This NVQ?

There are very minimal chances of that since this qualification is designed and purposefully made flexible for learners. As long as you keep yourself open to learning, improving and becoming the best version of yourself, this shouldn’t be a problem. The assessor will constantly be in contact with you and you can have them address your queries. And, based on the instructions provided, if you can adapt and improve your craft — you won’t fail. 

What Are The Entry Requirements For The Level 3 Diploma In Wood Occupations?

There are no formal academic requirements to enrol on this diploma but you must be employed as a carpenter, shopfitter, timber frame erector, or any in any other wood occupation relevant to the construction industry. Also, it’s recommended that you’ve access to a workplace where you can perform the tasks and go about producing the portfolio of evidence for this programme. 

Does This NVQ Expire?

This NVQ stays valid for an indefinite period which means that you’re not required to sit recurring renewal exams.

How Long Will It Take You To Complete The Qualification?

Although, it depends on a lot of personal factors such as your motivation to learn, adapt and improve on top of your existing skill set, but still, learners tend to complete this NVQ within 12 weeks.

What Are The Assessment Criteria For This Course?

Anyone signing up for the course is assessed in two stages  — first, the initial assessment form is shared with learners to evaluate if they’re the right fit for this NVQ. The assessor ensures that they look into each profile in depth and analyse if the candidate would be able to meet the requirements. And in case, they find that a learner needs some extra push to bridge the gap, that is done. Contrarily, if they find that the profile doesn’t match the qualification the learner is trying to sign up for, they are then guided towards the relevant diploma. 

Those who successfully get past the first stage officially are enrolled on the course. An experienced assessor is assigned to them, who’s not merely an assessor but more of an aid for the learner to make it successfully through the course. This is a work-based qualification which means that the assessor and the learner will be at the same location. The assessor assigned to you will work with you to design a personalised assessment plan so your learning preferences are rightly catered to. Throughout the course, your competency in your role will be assessed and for that, the assessor will ask for a portfolio of evidence. For instance, the assessor might engage in an oral or written Q&A session. Some other forms of evidence include:

- Assignments/Projects/Reports

- Worksheets

- Portfolio Of Evidence

- Record Of Oral And/Or Written Questioning

How Can You Get A CSCS Gold Card?

Let this be very clear — you don’t receive a CSCS card on successful completion of this programme. Although, it’s a very important step, but still, there are two other stages to actually receiving your card.

Stage 1: Complete the construction-related Level 3 NVQ – Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations is an accepted qualification for the CSCS Gold Card.

Stage 2: Pass the Health, Safety and Environment Test. There are three different categories of the test, and you should prepare for the “Specialist” one if you aim to pursue the CSCS Gold Card

Stage 3: Make an application. This can either be done online on the CSCS portal and the process would relatively be quick, as compared to you applying over the phone.