Unit
A unit of assessment is a coherent set of learning outcomes with associated criteria for assessment. A unit has a level and credit value.

Credit Level
Each individual unit will have an assigned credit value and level. OCNs accredit units at Entry level, Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level One, Level Two and Level Three. Entry1, 2, 3 relate the basic skills levels. Level One, is generally comparable to working at GCSE grade D-G, Level Two working at GCSE grade A-C and Level Three working at A level.

Credit Value
Each unit has a credit value. 1 credit is considered to be what can be achieved in 10 nominal learning hours. (please note, this is different to credits awarded for programmes registered before Aug 31 2004 when a credit was worth 30 nominal learning hours. The 10 hour credit has been introduced to come into line with the national definition of credit.)

NQF (National Qualifications Framework)
All qualifications recognised by QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Agency)

Course
A course is a programme of study, made up of a collection of units engaged in by a group of learners as notified to OCNEMR at the point of learner registration.

Intended Credit Target
The number of credits reasonably expected to be achieved by an individual learner on a course. This realistically will be a function of the number of guided learning hours and the level of the course.

NOCN Qualifications
NOCN qualifications are made up of a series of units of assessment and in some cases an external assessment. The achievement of the prescribed combination of units, and if necessary the additional external assessment, constitutes the achievement of the whole qualification. There are numerous NOCN qualifications in a wide range of subject areas details of which can be found on the NOCN website www.nocn.org.uk Each qualification has a qualification guide which details how the qualification is to be operated.

NOCN Qualification Units
The units contained in a NOCN qualification can be delivered, achieved and accredited individually. This makes NOCN Qualifications flexible, because learners will receive their unit accreditation on achievement and can then build on that achievement to complete the full qualification over time.

Local Units
Local units are written and recognised to reflect local needs. They are written in the same format as qualification units using the same definitions of credit and level, they are also subject to the same quality assurance process. This type of unit is useful for recognising local individualised programmes where no appropriate qualification is available. Local units can be delivered alongside qualification units to enhance the learning experience of the learners