This qualification aims to provide learners with the skills and underpinning
knowledge required by employers in a broad range of contexts where information, advice or guidance is provided.

This qualification is appropriate for learners who have responsibility for information, advice or guidance as part of their core work and for those who may be involved in general signposting within the sector.

Within Further Education, this qualification may be offered to staff who are involved in supporting young people with careers and personal choices such as teachers, lecturers, classroom / teaching support staff and learning mentors.

It is also appropriate qualifications for those who may be giving advice in the Voluntary Sector, health workers and anyone in the advice giving sector who would benefit from a programme of study which reinforces good practice, provides underpinning knowledge and give formal recognition for learning and skills developed through experience. The NOCN Level 3 Award in Information, Advice or Guidance and the NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Information, Advice or Guidance aim to provide learners with the skills and underpinning knowledge required by employers in a broad range of contexts where information, advice or guidance is provided.

The qualifications are appropriate for learners who have responsibility for information, advice or guidance as part of their core work and for those who may be involved in general signposting within the sector. The qualifications also support work-based learning within the sector.

Within Further Education, the qualifications may be offered to staff who are involved in supporting young people with careers and personal choices such as teachers, lecturers, classroom / teaching support staff and learning mentors.
They are also appropriate qualifications for those who may be giving advice in the Voluntary Sector, health workers and anyone in the advice giving sector who would benefit from a programme of study which reinforces good practice, provides underpinning knowledge and give formal recognition for learning and skills developed through experience.
The qualifications aim to up-skill the personal advisor workforce and to fill the acknowledged gap in provision at this level. They give formal recognition to the work of those who may have already been giving information, advice or guidance in an informal role. These are flexible credit-based qualifications that are responsive to both the needs of the learner (the employee) and the employer and show incrementally what a learner has achieved.

Information, advice or guidance is a key part of the Government agenda in widening participation and reducing social exclusion. This places an emphasis on the delivery of a good quality information, advice or guidance service as a means of identifying progression routes to educational, training and work opportunities for adults who live in a wide range of environments.
The purpose of the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills’ strategy detailed in Skills for Sustainable Growth is to ‘return the economy to sustainable growth, extend social inclusion and social mobility and build the Big Society. Underpinning every aspect of this purpose is the improvement of skills.’ As part of this strategy the aim is to improve both the quality of information available about skills and make it easier to access through the new all-age careers service.
The qualification was developed with:
• Employment National Training Organisation (ENTO)
• Lifelong Learning UK
• Children’s Workforce Development Council
• Voluntary Sector Organisations including National Citizens Advice Bureau
• Museums, Libraries and Archive Council and the local Library Service
• Private Training Providers, for example A4E
• FE CollegesGeneral Advice Sector, for example Advice UK
• Careers Education Sector
• Schools and 14-19 education service providers.

What are the entry requirements?

There are no specific recommended prior learning requirements for this qualification.

How is this qualification structured?

The qualification is made up of two main mandatory units:

• J/502/7994 Applying Interaction Skills for Information, Advice or Guidance
• A/502/8950 Information, Advice or Guidance – Principles and Practice

How is it assessed?

This qualification is assessed via Portfolio of Evidence

Funding for our qualifications

This qualification is available via a learner loan.