The use of National Occupational Standards in professional education

Abstract

The background to National Occupational Standards and competence-based education is traced briefly within the USA and UK. Set in the context of the Dearing Report on Higher Education and the new National Training Organisations for health and care, the progress and controversies surrounding changing definitions of ‘competence' and the development of higher level vocational qualifications are explored. The Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) is presented as an exemplar of a professional qualification whose statement of requirements is derived directly from the National Occupational Standards, The approach is commended as a means of ensuring qualifications which are fit for purpose and as a means of integrating theory with practice.

Key Words:

• Occupational standards
• professional education
• social work education
• vocational education