Qualifications review
You need qualifications that give you the confidence to promote and teach. And, trust that they provide the right standard of communication skills for everyone.
We are constantly challenging ourselves and working with the best people to make sure we can give you the qualifications you need.
We decided the time is right to create a new suite of British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications. Starting from scratch in 2018, we began the review of our higher level (Level 4 and Level 6) British Sign Language qualifications.
In January 2019, we launched our new Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language.
The next qualifications to be reviewed are:
- Level 4 Certificate in British Sign Language
- Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting
- Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Translation
- Level 3 Certificate in British Sign Language
Find out more:
Level 4 in British Sign Language
You have provided us with feedback to the Level 4 in British Sign Language qualification review. The review started in April 2019 and the working group is currently devising the draft qualification.
A new level 4 qualification will be available for teaching from September 2019. Assessments can be booked from January 2020.
> Update 26 July 2019 – We understand how important it is to you that we get these qualifications right. We have taken another look at the launch dates across all three qualifications under review and feel it makes sense to launch them all in one go. It is essential to us all that the progression of learning and assessment through Level 3 to Level 6 is right, to allow learners to grow in confidence and advance their skills and knowledge of BSL as they progress. This means that the new Level 4 qualification will now be available for teaching from January 2020. Assessments can be booked from September 2020.
Level 6 in sign language interpreting and translation
We are reviewing the interpreting and translation qualifications together. This way we can look at the overlap of content across both qualifications. We are also looking to change the qualification structure and move away from the current NVQ model and be more assessment based. We feel this will allow the qualifications to carry more rigour.
This review started in March 2019. We initially surveyed all centres and now have a working group of subject experts drafting the new qualifications.
This qualification will be available for teaching from January 2020. Assessments can be booked from September 2020.
Level 3 in British Sign Language
During the review of our higher level qualifications, we decided to bring forward the review of our current Level 3 in British Sign Language qualification. We feel the level 3 is pivotal for learners in their progression to higher level qualification learning and understand the importance of creating a new structure and focus to better prepare candidates for progression.
The working group are meeting for the first time in June, to start the review and work on drafting a new qualification.
This qualification will be available for teaching from January 2020. Assessments can be booked from September 2020.
