QCF is a framework of accredited vocational qualifications which has been in place since January 2011. With the QCF framework, a qualification is composed up of several units known as "Competence/Knowledge Units". The majority of qualifications consist of both Competence Units and Knowledge Units some qualifications have one an not the other.

Units and Credits
With the QCF framework, Units are the basic element which a Qualification is made up of. Units can be sorted into mandatory or optiona units or competence or knowledge. Each Unit is assigned a specific credit value which then amounts up to the total Credit required for the required qualification.

Note that Credit is bascially "the number of Hours" spent studying and learning (both Practical and Theoretical aspects). A single credit is made up of 10 hours of National Learning Time (NLT is the national number of hours it takes an avergae learner to meet all the learning outcomes of a particular unit). Credits can be "shared" or "trasfered" between different qualifications as per the requirement of a specific qualification.

A standard "Unit Template" is used for all Units to determine the learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. Each unit has a grade of difficulty assigned to it which determines the amount of in-depth study and effort required on behalf of the candiate.