National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
Consolidated Assessment Strategies
Consolidated Assessment Strategies define the principles under which National Vocational Qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications should be assessed.
Please ensure to use the correct assessment strategy for the qualification being undertaken.
SVQs
CAS Construction SVQs V3 Approved March 2026 (PDF, 481KB)
NVQs
CAS construction NVQs (PDF, 298KB)
Plant and Lifting Operations
What are NVQs and SVQs?
National Vocational Qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications are competence-based qualifications, which mean you learn and demonstrate practical, work-related tasks designed to help you do a job competently.
The learning content of NVQs and SVQs is based on the National Occupational Standards in the relevant occupational area. These standards define the performance, and knowledge and understanding needed to do a particular job.
NOS and N/SVQ Development Summary
Estimated Availability
Dates and developments are subject to change based on need, industry engagement, and the development and regulatory processes
Q1 2026
Associated Industrial Services
Specialist Installation Occupations
IC – Tunnelling
Thermal Insulation
Stonemasonry
Q2 2026
Wall and Floor Tiling
Wood Occupations
Passive Fire Protection
Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying)
Interior System
Roofing Occupations
Q3 2026
Plastering
Winter Services
Q1 2026
Painting & Decorating *
IC – Tunnelling
IC – Substructure Work Occupations
* NVQ available already, SVQ approved by ACG 18th February
Q2 2026
Associated Industrial Services
Specialist Installation Occupations
Stonemasonry
Thermal Insulation
Q3 2026
Wall and Floor Tiling
Q4 2026
Passive Fire Protection
Wood Occupations
Plastering
Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying)
Interior Systems
Roofing Occupations
Q4 2025
Construction Senior Management
Occupational Work Supervisor
Q1 2026
Building Maintenance, Multi-trade Repair & Refurb
Steel Framed Systems
Site Inspection
Q2 2026
Concrete Drilling & Sawing IC
Steelfixing
Construction Site Supervision
Construction Site Management
Formwork
641, 642, and 643 (“Generic and Common NOS”)
Q3 2026
Demolition
Fitted Interiors
In Situ Flooring IC
Construction using off-site Manufactured Assemblies
Roadbuilding and Maintenance
Cladding Occupations
Specialist Concrete Occupations
Q4 2026
Piling Operations
Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems
Download a PDF version NOS and VQ Development (172KB, PDF)
Or to get involved or contribute to these developments please forward any comments/suggestions to standards.qualifications@citb.co.uk.
Find a qualification structure
CITB is working with stakeholders to develop up-to-date structures with the new measures required by legislation for each qualification in construction.
These structures are designed to meet the changing needs of each sector.
Please contact standards.qualifications@citb.co.uk if you would like an up-to-date copy of a qualification structure.
Awarding organisations
If you have a proposal to offer a vocational qualification, please open the word document below, save the file, complete the form and send as an attachment to the Standards team.
Regulation of qualifications across the UK
The qualification frameworks are regulated differently across the UK.
Regulated Qualifications Framework in England and Northern Ireland
The RQF provides a single, simple system for cataloguing all qualifications regulated by Ofqual and the qualifications are now indexed by their level and size.
The levels are the same as the previous frameworks but with new level descriptors. All qualifications will now have a measure of size known as Total Qualification Time (TQT) which indicates the time a typical candidate would take to achieve the learning outcomes.
Qualifications Scotland Accreditation is the regulatory body in Scotland
Under Scottish Government legislation, Qualifications Scotland Accreditation quality assures qualifications offered in Scotland by approving awarding bodies and accrediting their qualifications. Awarding bodies and their qualifications are regulated against published regulatory requirements.
Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) in Wales
The CQFW is an all-inclusive framework that recognises all forms of learning across all levels and abilities. The framework is designed to provide greater clarity on the qualifications system in Wales.
See details on Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales website.
Qualifications in Wales is the regulator of non-degree qualifications and the qualifications system in Wales. The database contains details of all qualifications that are approved for teaching in Wales for learners aged under 19, excluding higher education.