What are the National Occupational Standards?

The National Occupational Standards are:

  • Statements of the skills, knowledge and understanding needed in the workplace
  • Expressed as outcomes of competent performance

All National Occupational Standards must conform to criteria set by the Regulatory Bodies. They must:

  • Identify the main roles and responsibilities within a defined occupational area and reflect best employment practice.
  • Describe what is essential for successful performance
  • Specify what an individual needs to know and understand to do their job
  • Describe what an individual should achieve, not how they should do it
  • Include relevant technical, planning and problem solving skills, the ability to work with others and use information technology (Key Skills)
  • Include statutory, legal and Health & Safety obligations/ requirements
  • Include relevant environmental aspects
  • Capture defining occupational characteristics such as ethics, values and creativity
  • Be written in plain language and in a user friendly format
  • Be free from discrimination (overt or covert) against any sector of the community
  • Provide a satisfactory basis for the design of assessment
  • Meet the needs and have the support of all significant groups of employers and potential users
  • Distinguish clearly between occupational standards and qualifications

 

Back to Standards and Qualifications home page