Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Built Environment Design

The qualification is designed to develop and confirm the learner's occupational competence as a Design Technician. The qualification is aimed at those who are working and are looking for recognition of their prior learning and experience in their chosen industry.

Learners can then build on the skills and knowledge gained from achievement of this qualification when working towards achieving another qualification or gaining employment.

It is intended that the qualification will allow learners to evidence a broad range of experience of topics based on accepted and recognised industrial practices. The Diploma will provide a sound basis for working or advancing in the subject area for a range of potential learners.

Objectives

The qualification is designed to lead the learner to one or more of the following objectives:

• Professional Membership
• Confirming Occupational Competence
• Preparing learners to progress to a qualification in the same subject area but at a higher level or requiring more specific knowledge, skills and understanding

Purpose

The primary purpose of this qualification is to confirm the learners occupational competence as a Design Technician.  As a work-related, competency-based qualification it will provide, on completion, the confirmation to employers and industry managers and card schemes that learners have the skills and knowledge needed to meet the nationally recognised standard to carry out the role of a Design Technician.

The qualification is assessed by completing a portfolio of evidence which details what learners have completed at work through a variety of evidence such as observation, professional discussion, witness testimony and supporting documentary evidence.  The assessor can work alongside the learner to confirm that they have met the requirements of the qualification and that they are therefore competent in their role.

Competence is displayed through the assessor observing the learner demonstrate that they carry out their normal work activities competently and to the industry standard and comply with currently legislation and company procedures.  The assessment process will ensure that the learner can complete the tasks that they have been directed to undertake and that they can interpret the instructions correctly.  The will demonstrate that they can select the appropriate resources for the task.  They will also demonstrate that they can complete tasks within the given timescales and specifications.

As this is a competence based qualification, learners will be acquiring the knowledge and skills required through on-the-job experience or in a learning environment.

Candidates can specialise in two areas of Built Environment Design:

• Architecture
• Civil and Structural Engineering

Both pathways require 4 mandatory core units (83 credits) in addition to:

For the Architecture Pathway: 1 Mandatory Unit (12 credits) plus 1 Optional Unit (min 7 credits).

For the Civil & Structural Engineering Pathway: 2 Mandatory Units (15 credits) plus 2 optional units (min 7 credits). 

This qualification is suitable for:

• school leavers
• people in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects
• learners with no prior experience
• adults returning to education
• learners in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects
• learners not in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects
• apprentices
• individuals who wish to start their own business
• full time part time employees
• school and college students with a part time job or work experience that enables them to develop the appropriate skills in the workplace

Entry to the Qualification is at the discretion of the centre. Specific skills, knowledge understanding or other qualification(s) required before taking this qualification include:

There are no specific skills, knowledge understanding or any other qualifications that must be achieved in order to start this qualification however learners must have the potential and opportunity to gain this qualification successfully.

This qualification is mainly taken by individuals employed/seeking employment as:

• Design Technician

Apprenticeships 

This qualification is a mandatory component in the Construction Technical Apprenticeship.

Progression 

Learners may progress from the Level 3 (NVQ) Diploma in Built Environment Design to a Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision.

This qualification can lead to progression into job roles such as a Construction Design Technician with responsibility for producing detailed design solutions to achieve optimum functionality, energy efficiency and performance of built environment projects and for those who produce drawings and presentations using computer aided design software and sketches, electronic visualisations and models.

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