Please find below a list of useful questions and answers relating to NVQs. Under the PDF Downloads tab to the right of this page is a 'candidate flow chart' and a 'Frequently Asked Questions' document. 

1. What is an NVQ?
An NVQ is a National Vocational Qualification. It is a work-based qualification designed to measure competence in a professional role.

An NVQ is different from a traditional taught course as it requires you to show what you currently do and how you have the underpinning knowledge necessary to do your work, as opposed to teaching and testing you on new knowledge. To prove their competence, candidates collect evidence from their workplace according to the National Occupational Standard (NOS) of the NVQ.

The PDF attached to this web page outlines the route from registration to completion of an NVQ.

2. What qualifications are equivalent to an NVQ?
Because NVQs are work-based qualifications, it is difficult to give exact academic equivalents.

However, as a guide:

• Level 3 NVQ - BTEC National Certificate or Diploma
• Level 4 NVQ - BTEC Higher National Certificate or Diploma
• Level 5 NVQ - First degree or professional qualification

3. Why should I do an NVQ?
Completion of an NVQ shows your current and potential future employees that you are competent in your work and demonstrates an interest in continued development, improving your employability.

If you complete an NVQ through the RICS NVQ Centre, you will be eligible for technical membership of RICS and all its associated benefits.

Whilst studying you can also register as a student member of RICS and benefit from access to RICS Library.

4. Who decides my starting level?
The level you work at in your current employment determines what NVQ level you first aim for.

The RICS NVQ Centre only accepts candidates who wish to become technical members of RICS. As such, you must have a minimum number of relevant years’ experience.

If you do not have the relevant experience, you may be able to undertake an NVQ through a different centre.

Please contact the Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE) for details of alternative NVQ centres.

5. How can an NVQ help me to become a technical member of RICS?
If you have a certain number of relevant years’ work experience and an accredited NVQ, you may be eligible for direct entry to TechRICS.

You will be required to fulfil the requirements below:

• NVQ Level 3: 10 years’ relevant experience
• NVQ Level 4: 0 years’ relevant experience (however in order to be able to complete the requirements of the NVQ you will need at least 3 years’ relevant experience in a managerial role.
• NVQ Level 4 specified units route: 5 years’ experience in a managerial role.

6. What is the specified units route?
In order to reward candidates with over 5 years’ relevant work experience, RICS has designed an experienced route to technical membership.

Candidates must be approved for this route by submission of their CV to RICS NVQ Centre.

Experienced candidates are not required to complete the full NVQ, rather a number of specified units. This enables candidates to commence on their Assessment of Technical Competence (ATC) sooner.

7. Do I have to attend a college or night school?
No. NVQs are an assessment of your competence in your workplace. An assessor will visit you in your workplace to carry out a range of assessments.

Your assessor may also need to talk with your colleagues and/or line manager.

8. Is there any homework?
Yes, there may be. You will collect most of your evidence in the workplace as a result of your daily work.

Organising and cross referencing your evidence and compiling your portfolio will also need to be done.

You may have to do this at home if you do not have enough time within your working hours.

9. Are there any examinations?
No. Your assessor will assess you over a period of time in your workplace.

10. Will it stop me from doing my job?
No. In fact, the NVQ should complement your job and demonstrate your competence.

11. How much time will it take?
You can work at your own pace. The time it takes for you to complete your NVQ may be affected by workload, your commitment (and the employer's) and how easily you can find the evidence required.

As a rough guide:

• Level 3 NVQ 9-12 months
• Level 4 NVQ 12-18 months

You do not have to complete within these timescales. However if you are unable to complete within three years through no failing on the part of RICS, an annual continuation fee is due.

The minimum time required for NVQ completion is 10 weeks.

12. What qualification will I obtain?
Candidates who register with the RICS NVQ Centre take NVQs to help them achieve technical membership of RICS. If you complete the full NVQ you will be awarded a certificate from the awarding body, ABBE.

If you are an experienced candidate and opt to take the specified units route, you will be awarded a certificate for the units you complete. Upon completion, you may be able to apply for technical membership of RICS.

13. Can I fail an NVQ?
No. If you have not provided enough or the right evidence, your assessor will help you find additional or different evidence.

14. How often will I see my assessor?
Your assessor should either visit or contact you every four weeks.

15. How long will a visit last?
This will vary depending on what your assessor has planned with you. It may take 2-3 hours or longer if you are being observed carrying out a lengthy piece of work.

16. What if I change my employer?
You will need to tell the Centre who your new employer is and their address. You will also need to discuss with RICS NVQ Centre how you may be able to continue.

17. Where will my assessor come from?
If a number of staff in your business wish to undertake an NVQ, your employer will assign an experienced and/or qualified person to assess you. If the person assigned to you is not a qualified NVQ assessor, RICS NVQ Centre will organise training for them.

If you are an individual candidate, RICS NVQ Centre will appoint an occupationally competent assessor to guide you through your NVQ.

18. What qualifications will my assessor have?
All assessors will either be qualified with a TDLB D32, TDLB T33 or A1 assessor award, or will be working towards their qualification.

All assessors have to be 'occupationally competent'. This means that their professional experience must match the NVQs that they wish to assess. For example, someone wishing to assess an NVQ in Estate Agency must have practised as an estate agent.

19. Who can I contact if I have any technical questions?
There are a number of people you can contact if you have any technical questions related to your NVQ. They are:

• Assessors
• Fellow candidates through the NVQ Centre
• RICS Library

20. Can I enrol as a student member of RICS during my NVQ training?
Yes. All candidates on HNC, HND or equivalent, or NVQ courses are entitled to register as student members of RICS free of charge.

Once enrolled as a student member, you will be issued with a membership card.

Free student membership gives you access to:

• information on land, property, construction, economics and environmental issues
• the RICS library: www.rics.org/library 
• cutting-edge research from the RICS Foundation and RICS specialist faculty websites
• specialist online literature from RICS bookshop
• Free RICS e-news, keeping you up to date with the latest industry developments.

21. How can I apply for an NVQ?

• Review the What is an NVQ page online (www.rics.org/nvq)
• Review the National Occupational Standards for the NVQ you wish to undertake, available on the ABBE website. 
• Download and complete the relevant questionnaire for your preferred NVQ and send it to the NVQ Centre, RICS, Westwood Way, Coventry, West Midlands CV4 8JE, along with your current CV and job description.
• An occupationally-competent Lead Internal Verifier will review your application to assess your eligibility for the qualification. 
• If you are in a suitable position and have the correct level of experience, you will be requested to complete an NVQ application form. Upon return of the application form, you will be invoiced. 
• Fees do vary across NVQs. A general guideline is £2 500 for an NVQ Level 3 and £3 000 for an NVQ Level 4. An individual costing will be provided to you upon application.