Welcome to the

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Where can we

take you today?

View our Interactive Framework
Do you know

your SCQF level?

Find your level
A woman wearing a grey shirt and black apron, with a pair of safety goggles around her neck. She signifies the range of learners and employees the SCQF supports.
I am a

Parent or Carer

Learn More
An icon featuring a person with a graduation cap on, to signify the SCQF Framework's role in education I am a

Learner

Learn More
An icon of a person holding up a pointing stick at a board with writing on it, to signify the SCQF Framework's role in education I am an

Educator or Adviser

Learn More
An icon of a person holding up a briefcase, signifying that the SCQF supports employers to understand qualifications I am an

Employer

Learn More
I am a

Credit Rating Body

Learn More

Discover our tools

Interactive
Framework
What’s my
SCQF level?
Recognition of
Prior Learning
SCQF Register of
Learning Programmes

Interactive Framework

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is the qualifications framework for Scotland. It features qualifications offered by schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, training organisations, and in the community.

The Framework has 12 levels, and these levels can help you understand and compare your qualifications.

View Interactive Framework
A tablet screen showing the SCQF interactive framework website page. The tablet is being held up by two hands.

Know your SCQF Level

Knowing your SCQF level can help you plan your next steps, whether that’s in education or employment.

You can use your qualifications, skills or experience to discover your SCQF level.

Explore our tool to find your SCQF level.

Know Your SCQF Level
A young women in fluorescent workwear and overalls with safety goggles sitting on top of her head. She's holding a paint roller and painting a wall white. She signifies the range of learners and employees that the SCQF supports.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can help learners fast-track their education by recognising the skills and knowledge gained from previous education, work or life experiences.

Explore our RPL Hub for learners, educators and advisers to find out more.

RPL Hub
Brian Gorman, who successfully used RPL to return to university as a mature student. He is an SCQF case study.

SCQF Register

Our register can help you find learning programmes that are on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

You can also find the SCQF level and number of SCQF credit points that have been allocated to each learning programme.

SCQF Register
A woman wearing blue overalls and a welder's safety guard on her head. She signifies the range of learners and employees that the SCQF supports.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework helps people of all ages and circumstances to access the education and training that is appropriate to them over their lifetime. It can help you plan your learning and develop progression routes to follow, whatever your situation may be.

Transnational Services

A delegation of visitors who attended the SCQF Partnership office in Glasgow for a study visit. The group are smiling at the camera and are accompanied by our CEO, Pauline Radcliffe.

International
Projects

We have been involved in projects all around the world.

Learn More

Study
Visits

We offer themed and bespoke study visits on a range of topics.

Learn More

Sharing Our
Knowledge

We provide consultancy services for international education development.

Learn More

Case
Studies

Explore our case studies to see how learners, employers, educators and more are using the SCQF to achieve their goals.

View All Case Studies
Two male students from St Andrew's Secondary School, in Glasgow, wearing their uniform. One student is leaning on the other and they're both smiling. The student on the left is holding up a gold SCQF School Ambassador plaque.

Get your learning programme on the SCQF

Find out how we can support you to have your learning programme placed on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

Get your learning programme on the SCQF

News & Blogs

View all
SQA results certificate 2025

Understanding the SCQF on the Scottish Qualifications Certificate

All you need to know about SCQF levels and credit points on your SQA certificate..
A young boy sits at a table with a young female therapist in a community centre. The boy is engaged in a supportive counselling session, actively participating in the discussion. The therapist is warm and approachable, creating a nurturing environment. The room is brightly lit and welcoming, with comfortable seating, reflecting a safe space for sharing and healing.

Is that on the SCQF…? Diploma in Counselling Children & Young People

The Diploma in Counselling Children & Young People is an SQA Customised Award developed by S.M.I.L.…
RPL tender promotional graphic

Invitation to tender: Help shape Scotland’s new RPL system

We’re looking for a skilled and motivated professional to help us deliver the first phase of a …
5 female pupils from St Matthew's Academy. The middle pupil is holding up a gold SCQF Ambassador plaque

St Matthew’s Academy – our SCQF Ambassador journey to gold

Learn all about St Matthew’s Academy’s journey to gold in our School Ambassador Recognition …
Graphic featuring a picture of the Programme for Government document, and a quote from Pauline Radcliffe about RPL

SCQF Partnership welcomes Ministers’ Programme for Government commitment to addressing skills gap

The SCQF Partnership has welcomed a commitment by the Scottish Government to establish a national …
Graphic featuring Gillian Brydson headshot, with text 'Meet the Quality Committee: Gillian Brydson, chair' and a quote from Gillian that reads 'Contributing to a national organisation is enriching for me'

Meet the Quality Committee: Gillian Brydson, Chair

In the first of a new blog series featuring our Quality Committee (QC) members, we speak to QC …
A group of 12 people smiling and posing for a photo at an indoor event. They are standing in front of a purple banner that reads “Sleep Action.” One person in the front is holding a large Sleep Action sign. The group includes men and women of various ages, dressed in smart casual attire.

Join the dream team: Sleep Counselling at SCQF level 7

Paediatric Sleep Counselling is now on the SCQF at Level 7 — designed for professionals in health,…

Glossary Term

Authority

Appears at Level 12 only where it is used in the phrase ‘demonstrate substantial authority’, reflecting a recognised high level and depth of expertise/expert knowledge and understanding, along with confidence. It does not mean ‘exercise authority over staff and resources’ etc, as that could clearly apply at earlier levels.

Glossary Term

Exercise

Used in connection with management and/or supervisory responsibility, denotes a requirement of a formal, substantive role.

Glossary Term

Directive

Applied to ‘supervision’, signifies a task or activity that is guided.

Glossary Term

Graphical Data

Encompasses maps, plans, diagrams, tables and graphs.

Glossary Term

Synthesis

Combine discrete elements into a coherent whole.

Glossary Term

Analysis

Examine in detail with a view to explanation and interpretation.

Glossary Term

Present

Set out, put forward, deliver information using a variety of mediums as appropriate.

Glossary Term

Hypothetical

Supposed, assumed for the sake of argument.

Glossary Term

Straightforward

Clear and uncomplicated activity, but not as demanding or systematic and therefore not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Creativity

Often used in combination with ‘originality’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of creativity appears to be imagination.

Glossary Term

Originality

Often used in combination with ‘creativity’. There is overlap in definition, but the defining characteristic of originality appears to be independence.

Glossary Term

Professional

Used throughout as an adjective and applied to terms including level, skills, techniques, practices, contexts, and issues where it bears broad interpretation as ‘behaving appropriately/doing things properly and well and to notions of accepted, (including externally) prescribed standards’, as well as narrow, relating to a specific occupation designated as a profession. In this latter sense, the term applies in all contexts including academic study, eg footnoting properly.

Glossary Term

Unfamiliar

New territory for an activity.

Glossary Term

Routine

Used as an adjective throughout and applied to terms including skills, tasks, elements, practices, contexts, methods and problems where it describes activity that is standard, usual, unvarying, customary, common.

Glossary Term

Everyday

Slightly more advanced and beyond personal but a known experience/activity encountered/applied regularly - less advanced than ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Familiar

Often encountered or experienced; common; something one has a good knowledge of - more advanced than ‘personal’ and ‘everyday’, not as advanced as ‘routine’.

Glossary Term

Personal

An experience relating only or primarily to the person – one would expect to start here then widen out into the rest of the world, so not as advanced as ‘familiar’.

Glossary Term

Critical

Fully informed, capable of supporting in-depth analysis and assessment.

Glossary Term

Discerning

Using judgement to recognise differences but not fully equipped/informed to analyse and discuss them in depth, so less advanced than critical.

Glossary Term

Awareness

Consciousness, including a background consciousness. Can be a starting point for further exploration.

Glossary Term

Appreciation

A sense, perception, a hold, fix or grasp of one or more of the various aspects of a subject/discipline/sector.

Glossary Term

Understanding

A thorough and firm grasp of a subject/discipline/sector or an element or elements of it, derived from education/study, experience and reasoning in appropriate combination. Can be defined as ‘know why’, as opposed to ‘know that’. More holistic knowledge of processes and contexts, so more advanced than appreciation and knowledge.

Glossary Term

Simple

Undemanding activity not necessarily part of a formal structure - not as advanced as ‘basic’.

Glossary Term

Knowledge

Facts, ideas, theories and concepts in a subject/discipline/sector acquired through experience and/or education – a surer grasp than appreciation so more advanced.

Glossary Term

Basic

Activity is early stepping stone on a structure or framework that can be built upon – more advanced than ‘simple’.