National Occupational Standards (NOS)

National Occupational Standards (NOS) specify the standard of performance an individual must achieve when carrying out a function in the workplace and the knowledge and understanding they need to meet that standard consistently. Each NOS defines one key function in a job role. Each NOS must be a concise and readable document, usually consisting of a few pages. NOS describe functions, standards of performance and knowledge/understanding.

NOS is used for two main purposes:

• To develop curriculum for the delivery of training; and
• To develop assessment instruments and tools for the assessment and certification of learners.

In addition, industry partners can use NOS as the platform for almost any other aspect of human resource management and development, for example:

• Workforce planning including organizational design and developing career pathways
• Performance appraisal and development systems
• Job descriptions
• Workplace coaching
• Reflective practice

NOS, as the name suggests, are national standards representative of a sector that is useful for all companies. NOS are developed by involving a representative sample of organizations in the occupation to which the NOS apply. This will include large, medium-sized small and 'micro' organizations and include both the organized and unorganized sectors. NOS are also standards because they are measurable and identify the acceptable standard of performance required.

Each NOS describes:

• A specific work activity
• Knowledge and skills required to perform the activity in a competent manner

NOS helps in understanding the following:

• Work activity and what it involves
• Particular skills (and level of skills) that are needed to perform the work activity
• Conditions under which the work activity may be conducted
• Evidence that is needed to demonstrate that a person is competent in the work activity
• Knowledge and skills that are required to perform the work activity
• Generic work skills that are needed
• Evidence that should be gathered to demonstrate competency
• Resources that may be needed to gather the evidence

A Qualification Pack (QP) defines the set of NOS which are aligned to one Job Role. A QP is available for every job role in each industry sector. These drive both the creation of curriculum and assessments.

Following are the components of NOS and QPs:

Qualification:
Qualification is a formal outcome of an assessment and validation process obtained when a competent authority determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards.

Qualification File:
Evidence that a qualification meets NSQF requirements is gathered together in a Qualification File document. The Qualification File (QF) is the template designed to capture all the necessary information to establish NSQF compliance for a Qualification.

National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF):
is intended to bring together technical, vocational and general qualifications and organize them according to 10 levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. Level 1 is the most basic and level 10 the most complex level. These levels are defined by level descriptors or domains that set out learning outcomes on a scale of increasing complexities.

A learning outcome in the NSQF is the statement of what a person knows, understands or can do on completion of a learning process, and which would be expressed in terms of knowledge, skills and competence.

Each level of the NSQF is described by a statement of learning outcomes in five domains known as level descriptors.
These five domains are:

• Process
• Professional knowledge
• Professional skill
• Core skill
• Responsibility

The NSQF is anchored by the NCVET and is being implemented through the National Skills Qualifications Committee (NSQC).