Over the last two decades more than 150 countries and regions have developed National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) to assist learners in ensuring recognition of their educational achievements. The NQF is a simple tool that describes the relationship between educational qualifications in a country. An NQF assists learners as they pursue employment, professional licensure, and further education and increases mobility by facilitating acceptance of qualifications in other countries. U.S. learners, agents, and educators will benefit from the advantages of this globally recognized tool. Stakeholders are moving forward in making this goal a reality, and the United States is now on the cusp of obtaining an NQF.
In 2022 a group of stakeholders convened a United States Qualifications Framework (USQF) Advisory Council to accelerate the ongoing effort to establish a National Qualifications Framework in the United States.
With the encouragement of a broad range of participants from those involved in U.S. higher education, governmental agencies, employer groups, trade organizations, international education, and others, the USQF Advisory Council built on existing work to achieve the following:
Designed and developed a draft United States Qualifications Framework
Began testing and obtaining feedback on the draft USQF
Identified key stakeholders to move adoption of the USQF forward
Collaborated with current initiatives that complement the USQF
Gained expertise from previously established NQFs around the globe
To learn more about the progress made in this initiative, please visit www.usqf.org.
Why a United States Qualification Framework?
In the U.S. you can obtain an associate degree for both academic and vocational purposes. This may not be the case in other countries with robust Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems in place. In some instances a student with a TVET certificate is only allowed to continue in a practical training program and would not be given credit for a university-level program. They would essentially be starting from the ground up (or as a freshman) if they wanted to transfer to the traditional academic sector.
Likewise, professional programs are slightly different in the U.S. educational system. There is no direct matriculation route from secondary school (high school) to a first professional degree in the fields of medicine, dentistry, law, and veterinary medicine. These academic professional training programs require previous undergraduate studies for admission. In most cases the stated admission is based on two or three years of undergraduate study, but in practice the prerequisite is a bachelor's degree.
In the health professions undergraduate studies should focus on sciences (chemistry, biology, life sciences), while in law the prescribed pathway includes philosophy, political science, and the like. This is a significant difference in the U.S. system that can lead to confusion when migrating to another system. The LLB (Bachelor of Law) in South Africa or England bases admission on the benchmark secondary qualification, requires three years of study, and leads to law practice. A lengthy apprenticeship follows in South Africa, but the law degree, unlike the U.S. Juris Doctorate degree (JD), requires the NSC (the benchmark secondary credential) for admission and leads to licensure. Licensure in the U.S. system cannot be obtained without a bachelor's degree and a three-year JD.
In establishing a USQF, one of the most important challenges includes how these professional programs function and where they reside in relation to other qualifications. In some respects, the MD, DDS, JD, and DVM function like graduate degrees; they are, after all, called doctorates. They require highly specialized expert knowledge in the field combined with knowledge of related fields. They also are first degrees in the respected profession and lead to graduate degrees. A holder of a JD can advance to a master's program in law, for example. This creates a conundrum. Because of this dual functionality, the professional degrees in effect maintain their own niche on the USQF.
How Would a USQF Benefit Agents?
As we’ve demonstrated, there can be confusion surrounding the various pathways a student may take to obtain a particular degree, diploma, or certificate. This is where a National Qualifications Framework comes into play. The goal of the USQF is to make these credentials (and their credits) easily understood to employers, agents, and international partners. The benefits of having a functional National Qualifications Framework are vast. Of few of them are:
Clarity and transparency:
An NQF provides a clear and standardized framework that defines the qualifications, skills, and knowledge required for various educational and occupational pathways. It helps establish a common language and understanding of qualifications, making it easier for individuals, employers, and educational institutions to assess and compare qualifications.
Mobility and transferability:
With an NQF, individuals can more easily transfer their qualifications and skills across different educational institutions and industries. This facilitates mobility within the country, allowing individuals to pursue education and employment opportunities in different states or regions without facing unnecessary barriers or loss of recognition.
Alignment with international standards:
Many countries have already implemented their own national qualifications frameworks, and having a compatible NQF in the United States helps align the qualifications and educational standards with international benchmarks. This is particularly important in a globalized economy where employers and educational institutions increasingly value qualifications that are recognized and understood internationally.
Lifelong learning and upskilling:
An NQF can facilitate lifelong learning by providing a comprehensive framework that encompasses various educational pathways, from primary and secondary education to vocational training, higher education, and professional development. It encourages individuals to continuously upgrade their skills and qualifications to adapt to changing labor market needs and technological advancements.
Enhancing workforce development:
An NQF supports workforce development efforts by enabling better alignment between educational and training programs and the needs of the labor market. It helps identify skill gaps, inform curriculum development, and facilitate the recognition of prior learning and work experience, which can enhance individuals' employability and contribute to economic growth.
In general, the USQF will promote clarity, consistency, and compatibility in the recognition and assessment of qualifications, ultimately benefiting all stakeholders. For agents, this means a faster and simpler tool for guiding students on possible transfer credit or admission options.
Melissa Ganiere is a Client Solutions Manager at Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) and the project manager for the United States Qualifications Framework. She has performed various roles over her 17 years of employment at ECE, including Evaluator, Research Evaluator, International Detective, and Professional Googler. Her areas of expertise include alternative credentials and pathways, fraud and documentation issues, and international education from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe.