Common Misconceptions About the Carpentry NVQ
The Carpentry NVQ is one of the most important qualifications for anyone working in the carpentry trade. It allows experienced carpenters to prove their skills, gain formal recognition, and is also one of the requirements for a CSCS Blue Skilled Worker Card (if you’re a carpenter, anyway- any Level 2 NVQ can help you towards a Blue Card).
But despite how valuable and accessible the qualification is, there are still plenty of myths and misunderstandings surrounding the process. So, in today’s blog, we’ll break down who the qualification is actually for, clear up some of the most common misconceptions, and explain why the NVQ might be more achievable than you think.
Who Should Take the Carpentry NVQ?
This NVQ is aimed at people who already work in this trade, and have built up a good amount of experience in the basics of carpentry. It’s not a training course, and it’s not designed to teach you how to become a carpenter from scratch. Instead, it recognises the skills and experience you’ve already gained on-site. The idea behind the NVQ system is simple: if you’re already doing the job, you should be able to prove it and get the relevant qualification for your career.
Most people who take the NVQ are working full-time in construction. That might be on-site with a big company, or as a subcontractor moving between projects. Some are self-employed and have built up years of experience without acquiring any formal credentials. The NVQ gives these workers a chance to back up their skill set with an industry-recognised qualification, allowing them to future-proof their career aspirations. For example, if for whatever reason they could no longer support themselves working on their own, it would be a lot easier to get hired as a carpenter elsewhere if they had their NVQ.
The Level 2 NVQ in Carpentry covers the practical, hands-on tasks carpenters do every day- things like installing joists, partition walls, doors, frames, staircases, and structural components.
Common Misconceptions About the NVQ
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about how the Carpentry NVQ works, and how NVQs in general work. But the process is simple. Here are some of the most common misconceptions:
- “You need to go to college to do an NVQ”. You don’t need to go to college. The Carpentry NVQ is assessed on-site, while you work. There’s no classroom learning or college attendance required
- “It takes several months to complete”. It’s true that some candidates take months to complete their NVQ, but with CST Training, many candidates are finished within 4 to 8 weeks. It just depends on their workload and how quickly they can provide the evidence for their online portfolio. If they need to take longer, they can do so, because there’s no deadlines with National Vocational Qualifications
- “You have to pass exams”. There are no written exams. The qualification is based on the work you’re already doing, and your ability to demonstrate your skills, largely through remote observations by your assessor
- “It’s only for apprentices”. While apprentices can work toward an NVQ, this qualification is open to any experienced carpenter, regardless of how they learned the trade
- “You need loads of paperwork”. You’ll need to provide evidence that you’re skilled in the trade of carpentry, but your portfolio exists online, so you won’t have to keep track of physical paperwork
Conclusion: Common Misconceptions About the Carpentry NVQ
The Level 2 NVQ in Carpentry is designed for people who already know their trade. You don’t need to go back to college, and you don’t need to take an exam. If you’re an experienced carpenter, the NVQ is just about proving what you already do. That’s really all there is to it.
If you still have any questions regarding the NVQ, then do not hesitate to get in touch.
Phone – 020 3488 4472
