Across Scotland, employers invest heavily in developing high-quality in-house training. Much of this learning is highly structured, assessed and essential to workforce competence – but without formal recognition outside the organisation.
Third party credit rating provides a way to change that, by formally placing learning on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
At Glasgow Clyde College, we support organisations through this process from initial enquiry through to approval and ongoing review.
Most recently, we credit rated NHS Scotland’s Central Decontamination Unit (CDU) Training Programme. Let’s take that as an example to see what happens behind the scenes.
1. Initial enquiry and suitability check
The process usually begins when an organisation asks a simple question: “Could this be credit rated?”
At this point, we carry out an initial discussion to assess whether the programme is likely to meet SCQF requirements. We are looking for four core conditions:
- Clearly written learning outcomes
- A minimum of 10 notional learning hours
- Formal assessment of learning
- A quality assurance process already in place
If these are in place (or close to being in place), the programme is likely suitable to progress.
In the CDU programme, NHS colleagues already had a highly structured, assessed training pathway aligned to clinical safety requirements, which made it a strong candidate from the outset.
2. Due diligence and organisational credibility
Before any credit rating work begins, the college must be satisfied that the organisation is a credible and stable training provider.
This involves reviewing evidence such as:
- Quality assurance systems and governance arrangements
- Assessment and marking processes (including independence, where applicable)
- Staff qualifications and training capability
- Internal verification or audit processes
- Learner support arrangements
- Organisational stability and delivery capacity
A formal agreement is then put in place between the college and the organisation setting out responsibilities, ownership of materials, and use of SCQF branding.
For the CDU programme, this included clarity on NHS Scotland Academy’s national delivery model and existing quality assurance structures across multiple sites.
3. Programme development and mapping
Once approved to proceed, the detailed credit rating work begins.
The organisation submits:
- A full programme specification
- Unit outlines (or structured learning components)
- Assessment materials and guidance
- Evidence of delivery and internal quality assurance
At this stage, we work closely with the organisation to refine documentation so it clearly demonstrates:
- What learners will know, understand and be able to do
- How they will be assessed
- How consistency is maintained across delivery
For NHS Scotland’s CDU programme, this involved breaking down technical workplace learning into clearly defined units aligned to practice in decontamination units.
4. SCQF level and credit allocation
A subject-specific credit rating panel is then convened by Glasgow Clyde College.
The panel includes:
- Subject specialists
- SCQF experts
- Independent members not involved in programme design
The panel’s role is to:
- Map learning outcomes against SCQF level descriptors
- Agree the appropriate SCQF level
- Calculate credit points based on notional learning hours (10 notional learning hours equates to 1 SCQF credit point)
- Record and justify decisions formally
This is one of the most important stages, ensuring consistency and integrity across the framework.
5. Outcome and formal approval
Once the panel has agreed the level and credit value, the college issues formal confirmation.
This includes:
- SCQF level and credit points awarded
- Any conditions or recommendations
- Requirements for use of the SCQF logo and terminology
- Confirmation of recognition
At this point, the programme becomes officially credit rated and can be promoted as SCQF-recognised learning. It is also added to the SCQF Register, which is a searchable database of all credit rated qualifications.
For the CDU programme, this meant the training was formally recognised at SCQF level 6, giving national visibility to a critical NHS workforce pathway.
On average, it takes around 6 months for a learning programme to go through the credit rating process, and it’s largely dependent upon the size of the project.
6. Ongoing monitoring and review
Credit rating is not a one-off exercise.
We maintain oversight through agreed review points to ensure:
- Programme content remains current
- Assessment methods remain valid
- Any changes are re-checked against SCQF levels
- Quality assurance continues to meet agreed standards
This ensures the integrity of SCQF credit rating over time.
Why the CDU programme matters
The CDU Programme demonstrates something important – structured, workplace-based training already delivering high standards can achieve national recognition without being redesigned as an academic course.
For learners, this means:
- Skills are visible and portable
- Clearer progression pathways within the NHS
For employers, it means:
- Stronger workforce development and retention
- Greater consistency and governance
- Recognition of complex, safety-critical training
Is your programme suitable for the SCQF?
Many organisations are surprised to learn their training programmes are already close to meeting SCQF requirements.
If your training:
- Develops real workplace competence
- Includes assessment and quality assurance
- Supports progression beyond basic induction
… it may already be ready for credit rating.
Getting started
Most organisations begin with a simple conversation and a draft outline of their programme. From there, we can advise on suitability and next steps.
To discuss a potential project and costs, which start at around £3,500, contact Elaine Donnelly at edonnelly@glasgowclyde.ac.uk