NVQs are nationally recognised qualifications that are designed to be practical in nature, and to relate directly to a particular skill or area of work. They are based around what experts in the different relevant industries have agreed that an individual working at a particular level should be competent in doing, and these are used as a benchmark for your own learning as you move through your studies. NVQs are appropriate for people who want a recognised qualification in order to give them a start in a job, so that they can say they have skills commensurate with another applicant at a particular level. They are also helpful as a structured way for somebody with a level of existing experience to develop their knowledge further, in a quicker and clearer way than carrying on just working as normal. They might also be used by people who are happy with the level of skills they already have, but want a nationally recognised way of demonstrating all of their key skills: i.e. as a way of confirming their ability.

Because NVQs are vocational, you will usually need to be in relevant employment in order to study towards one. However, this employment may be part time, may be a short term placement, or can be as part of an apprenticeship. One of the advantages of the NVQ System is that it is designed to give you the time to acquire the skills with confidence, before you are assessed on them. As such, there is not a time limit from when you start studying for an NVQ to when you actually receive the award. Also, as a guide, NVQ Level One and Level Two are designed to be undertaken after a year, and a Level Three after two to three years.

NVQs come in five different levels, depending on where you are in your career. Level One courses roughly equivalent to four GCSEs at grade D and are considered 'entry level', and will introduce you to basic routine tasks involved in the workplace, and some of the general terminology. Level Two is about the same level as five GCSEs, at grades C or above, and is designed to give you skills you can use in a wider number of situations, and will often require you to demonstrate some level of working with others. Level Three NVQ is a higher standard, the same as about two A Levels at grades C or above, and will assess some of the more unusual tasks that may come up less frequently, and will assess your ability to work independently, perhaps even supervising others. Levels Four and Five are geared towards people in more senior positions. Level Four is equivalent to a Higher National Diploma (HND) and requires demonstration of responsibility and a degree of technical knowledge. Level Five is the standard of a non-honours undergraduate degree, and will require you to demonstrate significant responsibility for the work of others, and a significant degree of self determination of how you allocate your own time and resources. The structure of NVQs is such that the skills from one level will help towards the next, meaning, whatever your level, NVQs make a good option for developing and demonstrating your skills throughout your career.