National Certificate
Encyclopedia
National Certificate (often abbreviated to NCert or NC) is the name of an educational award in a number of countries, although the actual merit of award is not always the same.
qualification
in a technology discipline offered by an Institute of Technology or a HETAC-designated institution in Ireland
. The certificate generally exempts a student from the first year of a four-year university Bachelor's degree
or the first two years of an ab initio National Diploma
in Ireland. The certificates are often in business
, engineering
and science
, with most entrants being school leavers and presenting a Leaving Certificate
or similar educational achievement. Many students continue education and transfer to a National Diploma
course or a Bachelor's degree
.
The first National Certificates in Ireland were awarded in 1972 at five Regional Technical Colleges. Since June 2006 and the implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications
, the National Certificate has been replaced by the Higher Certificate
in a number of similar disciplines.
qualification. It is usually rated at Level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework
and is equivalent to A-level, BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3 standard.
. They are typically used to progress on to a Higher National Certificate
or similar degree
course, although a National Certificate is still a recognised qualification on its own.
Ireland
The National Certificate was a two-year broadly based higher educationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
qualification
Professional certification
Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
in a technology discipline offered by an Institute of Technology or a HETAC-designated institution in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The certificate generally exempts a student from the first year of a four-year university Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
or the first two years of an ab initio National Diploma
National Diploma
The National Diploma was a three year ab initio specialised higher education qualification in a technology discipline offered by an Institute of Technology or other HETAC designated institution in Ireland....
in Ireland. The certificates are often in business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, with most entrants being school leavers and presenting a Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
or similar educational achievement. Many students continue education and transfer to a National Diploma
National Diploma
The National Diploma was a three year ab initio specialised higher education qualification in a technology discipline offered by an Institute of Technology or other HETAC designated institution in Ireland....
course or a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
.
The first National Certificates in Ireland were awarded in 1972 at five Regional Technical Colleges. Since June 2006 and the implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications
National Framework of Qualifications
The National Framework of Qualifications is a system used to describe levels of educational qualifications in Ireland. Responsibility for maintaining and developing the framework lies with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland....
, the National Certificate has been replaced by the Higher Certificate
Higher Certificate
The Higher Certificate is an award that has replaced the National Certificate in the Republic of Ireland The Higher Certificate is awarded by various Institutes of Technology...
in a number of similar disciplines.
United Kingdom (except Scotland)
In the United Kingdom, the National Certificate is a standard vocational further educationFurther education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
qualification. It is usually rated at Level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework
National Qualifications Framework
The National Qualifications Framework is a credit transfer system developed for qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
and is equivalent to A-level, BTEC National Diploma or NVQ Level 3 standard.
Scotland
National Certificate courses in Scotland are a one-year course offered by Technical CollegesInstitute of technology
Institute of technology is a designation employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and operating often at variable levels of the educational system...
. They are typically used to progress on to a Higher National Certificate
Higher National Certificate
A Higher National Certificate is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the HNC is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel, and in Scotland, an HNC is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority...
or similar degree
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
course, although a National Certificate is still a recognised qualification on its own.