Other Qualifications

In addition to National Qualifications, Higher National qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications, SQA provides a number of other products and services, including Scottish Progression Awards, Professional Development Awards, and Customised Awards.

Scottish Progression Awards

Scottish Progression Awards (SPAs) are vocational qualifications that can be used by school pupils, school leavers or adults who are unemployed. The model of progression award that SQA is currently developing is made up of a grouping of Units.

The assessments are challenging and meaningful but still achievable within the context of a school/college/ETP (Employer/Training Provider) setting. They can be used to enhance candidates’ experience of vocational/enterprise training and thus increase their opportunities for employment.

Another positive aspect of the new progression awards is that they can be located on the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework. Initially, they will be placed at level 4/5 within the SCQF. This gives them comparability to Standard Grades at General and Credit levels.

SPAs also have links to the world of work and can provide good skills training in a particular occupational area that will be of benefit to candidates when seeking work. Progression awards are smaller than the related Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs), and do not have the same assessment demands.

Look at: www.sqa.org.uk/spa for information on SPAs.

Professional Development Awards

PDAs are offered by colleges, ETPs and some universities. They can help in career development or facilitate career changes.

They are available in a wide variety of occupational areas, such as Computing, Petroleum Operations Engineering, Materials Management, Engineering Practice, and Business Counselling.

There is also a PDA in Introduction to Adult Literacies Learning for those who deliver/support delivery of adult literacies.

Customised Awards

In addition to qualifications like HNDs, SVQs and PDAs, which are designed to meet the needs of most employing organisations, we have an alternative kind of vocational qualification called Customised Awards.

Customised Awards are usually designed for organisations to offer to their staff. They are designed to fill gaps in the national framework of qualifications if, for instance, the existing qualifications are not specific enough for one organisation’s purposes.
 
The organisation seeking the Customised Award has to pay the cost involved in its design and development. The certificates candidates achieve normally include the logo of the sponsoring organisation.

These awards are developed and implemented by the Customised Awards Section but, in the first instance, please contact your Customer Account Manager if you want to discuss these awards.