There are many nationally recognised qualifications in youth work, which can differ depending on if you are planning on working as a youth worker on a part time or full time basis.
These qualifications include ‘National Vocational Qualifications’ (NVQ’s), Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQ’s) and many different ranges of Higher Education Qualifications. In addidtion to qualifying as a youth worker, it is important for employers to be providing a range of training and even learning opportunities to promote their staff’s continuing professional development.
When NVQ’s and VRQ’s are carried out at levels 2 or 3, they provide sufficient training to work as a valid youth support worker. Some NVQ’s and VRQ’s are offered in the workplace by employers, which are aimed at ensuring all staff who work with young people are able to fulfil this post, following all the legalities, and even some local authorities, and may different voluntary youth services provide a programme of basic training.
NVQ’s and VRQ’s are competence based, which means that there are no exams in NVQ’s and in only one part of VRQ’s. The way that NVQ’s and VRQ’s are assessed is through gaining and providing evidence which shows that you can posses a different range of skills, knowledge and understanding. These qualifications consist of a number of mandatory and optional units, which are suited to those working towards a full qualification.
The levels of qualifications –
Level 2 is considered as the equivalent to a GCSE and level 3 to an ‘A’ level.
Level 2 is for individuals working face-to-face with young people in supervised roles, and Level 3 is aimed at those who are involved in direct face-to-face work with young people, but who work under their own initiative, and have additional responsibility for supervising other people, leading projects and even developing their organisation.
Who to contact –
If you would like to train to gain a NVQ or VRQ level 2 or 3 then you can contact your local authority youth service to identify opportunities for voluntary, part time or full time work at this level and discuss what their training programmes may be. The local authority may also have details of any voluntary organisations with opportunities for voluntary or paid work where you can also train to gain vocational qualifications.
Higher Education –
If you would like to make youth work a professional career, then you can gain a higher education. There are three different types of qualifications in this field –
• BA (Hons): three years full time and part time equivalent.
• PG Cert / PG Dip: one year full time and part time equivalent
• MA: one year and part time equivalent
All professional qualification programmes of study are offered by universities or colleges of higher education. There are many different titles of Higher Educational Qualifications, including youth and community, community and youth studies, childhood and youth studies, and informal and community education.
