Welcome to ABC awards

Land Based / Environmental / Sustainability

Qualification Guides

From 1 February 2010, ABC Awards is changing the way it issues Qualification Guides (Specifications) for all newly accredited qualifications.

A 'skeleton' Qualification Guide  - which will be the unit templates and Rules of Combination will appear on the website as soon as the qualification is accredited. This will be available as a PDF download for anyone to access.

 A 'full' Qualification Guide for any newly accredited qualifications will be made available only to ABC centres with approval for this particular qualification / sector. ABC Administrators will email a copy of the full specification to existing and new centres that are approved to offer the qualification/s.

Centres wishing to become accredited for new qualifications should contact one of ABC’s Business Development Managers who will be happy to arrange a visit to explore the contents of the full Qualification Guide in person.

Qualification Information

Declaration of Authenticity Statement

Landbased Qualifications Administering Office - ABC Chorley

For Landscaping and Building Heritage qualifications, please refer to our Construction & Building Services qualifications page

Level 2 Certificate for Animal Nursing Assistants

Level 2 Certificate in Small Animal Care

Level 3 Award & Certificate in Small Animal Care

Level 2 Award in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals (QCF)

Level 3 Award & Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals (QCF)

Level 2 Diploma in Work-Based Animal Care (Animal Care & Welfare / Zoos & Wildlife Establishments / Dog Grooming / Pet Care & Retail / Animal Training) (QCF)

Level 3 Diploma in Work-Based Animal Care (Animal Care & Welfare / Zoos & Wildlife Establishments / Dog Grooming / Pet Care & Retail / Animal Training / Dog/Animal Wardens / Animals in Education and Entertainment) (QCF)

Level 2 Certificate in Arboriculture (Theory)

Level 3 Technician's Certificate in Arboriculture

Level 6 Professional Diploma in Arboriculture

Level 2 Certificate in Sustainable Energy
Level 2 Award in Converting Wind into Energy
Level 2 Award in Converting Biomass into Fuel & Energy
Level 2 Award in Sustainability and the Renewables Industry

Level 3 Award in Sustainable Energy (QCF)

Level 3 Certificate in Sustainable Energy (Energy from Biomass / Energy from Wind) (QCF)

Level 3 Diploma in Sustainable Energy (Energy from Biomass / Energy from Wind) (QCF)

Level 1 Diploma in Work-Based Environmental Conservation (QCF)

Level 1 Award and Certificate in Practical Environmental & Conservation Skills (QCF)

Level 2 Certificate in Practical Environmental Studies

Level 1 Certificate in Land Based Operations (QCF)

Level 2 Diploma in Work-Based Horticulture (Horticulture / Production Horticulture / Landscaping / Sports Turf - Greenkeeper / Sports Turf - Groundsman / Parks, Gardens and Green Space) (QCF)

Level 3 Diploma in Work-Based Horticulture (Production Horticulture / Landscaping / Sports Turf - Greenkeeper / Sports Turf - Groundsman / Parks, Gardens and Green Space) (QCF)

Other Information

Candidates should contact their centres directly for any information regarding results or related issues.

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Latest News

ABC Gains Ofqual Recogition as a QCF Awarding Organisation

ABC has been fully recognised by Ofqual as a QCF awarding organisation. This means that it is now able to extend the accreditation life of current QCF qualifications beyond December 2010. ABC will be working with relevant SSCs to extend all current QCF provision as quickly as possible.

All new qualifications will be recognised for the QCF and will be approved beyond December 2010. ABC intends to replace the majority of its remaining NQF qualifications with updated provision on the QCF as soon as possible. All plans are subject to SSC approval and timescales. Posted 4.2.10

Counselling Qualifications Update

ABC’s Counselling qualifications have an accreditation end date of 31st December 2010.

We have been engaged with Skills for Health (the Sector Skills Council responsible for Counselling) for the past 12 months concerning the transition of counselling qualifications to the new Qualifications and Credit framework.

They have been conducting research looking at the Counselling landscape, its terms, its scope etc. and the potential for identifying learning pathways.  These pathways might equate to a career development plan for individuals wishing to study toward full specialist areas of counselling with stepping off points to roles along that pathway.  To help us in this endeavour the SSC engaged Consultants whose remit is to produce a report late December 2009. 

Counselling update continued....

Posted 2.12.09

Statement of Intent

Qualifications for the Children and Young People’s Work Force

ABC Awards has been working with other Awarding Organisations under the leadership of the Children’s Work Force Development Council (CWDC) and the Care Council for Wales on units which will form new qualifications at Levels 2 and 3 for the Children and Young People’s Workforce. These will be available for learners to enrol on by August 2010.

They will be:

Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce.
It will:

  • assess both competence and knowledge.
  • be a progression route to the new Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce.
  • reflect the common core skills and knowledge that employers identify as important.

Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce
It will be:

  • approximately 60-65 credits
  • a full and relevant level 3 qualification.
  • assess knowledge and skills
  • in some parts of the children and young people’s workforce a requirement for registration and regulatory purposes
  • contain L4 units to aid progression to further higher level study such as Foundation Degrees
  • provide the opportunity for achieving individual units as CPD

ABC Awards is also working with the Care Council for Wales in collaboration with CWDC on a Level 5 qualification for the sector.  More details will follow shortly.  Further details will also be available from CWDC’s website www.cwdcouncil.org.uk

Posted 2.11.09

Customised Provision

Throughout 2009/2010 ABC will be reviewing its accredited and customised provision and migrating suitable provision onto the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).   Provision that is not suitable for migration onto the QCF will be required to be updated in accordance with current approval requirements, and submitted for re-approval.

The approval period for all current ABC Customised Provision Programmes will therefore end on 31st December 2010. Centres offering Customised Provision Programmes will be contacted individually in due course. Posted 26.8.09

Upcoming Events at ABC Awards

Art, Design & Creative Industries Launch Events
ABC Awards will be holding events in March 2010, across the country to launch its new suite of qualifications in the Art, Design and Creative Industries sector.

Health & Social Care Update & Information Events - June 2010
Covering qualifications in: Youth Work, Vulnerable Young People, Counselling, Reflexology, Child Care. Dates: 15th, 17th,  23rd and 29th June. 

Go to Conference & Events page for further information and booking forms.

Qualifications Directory 2009-2010

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Examination Officers Guide 2009-10

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Alpha Newsletter Winter 2009

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Annual Review 2009

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todays date 12th March 2010

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