Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Entry Level Certificate in Skills for Further Learning
and Employment (Entry 3) (QCF)
600/8670/1
QUALIFICATION OVERVIEW
The Certa Entry Level Certificate in Skills for Further Learning and Employment (E3) is
a nationally recognised qualification. It is a dual-purpose qualification that helps learners to
re-engage with learning and overcome barriers to work. It enables learners to try out some
subjects in a flexible course that can be tailored to their needs.
What does this qualification cover?
The Entry Level Certificate (E3) has 15 Credits so learners will need to study for about 150
hours.
At least 3 credits must be from the core group. Learners can study topics that will help them
plan their learning and / or prepare for future employment, such as:
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career planning
induction to study
interview skills
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demonstrating speaking and listening skills
developing a personal learning programme
planning for personal development
The other 12 credits can be from units in any of the groups but a maximum of 6 credits only
can be taken from the IT group. This flexibility means that learners can choose topics to reengage their interest in learning and try out a range of vocational areas including:
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business administration
building and construction
catering
engineering
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health and social care
retail and warehousing
sport, leisure and tourism
animal care
Learners can also study English, maths and ICT topics to help with further learning such as:
 improving practical reading, writing and spelling skills
 money management and budgeting
 numeracy skills such as using decimals, percentages and fractions
 spreadsheet, word processing and database skills.
What specific knowledge, skills and competences will the learner develop?
Learners will develop knowledge and skills in planning and managing their learning, and for
employment. They will develop knowledge and skills in a range of vocational areas,
depending on their choices. They will also develop the maths, English and ICT skills they
need to support their learning.
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Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Entry Level Certificate in Skills for Further Learning
and Employment (Entry 3) (QCF)
600/8670/1
Who is this qualification for?
The Entry 3 Certificate is for learners who need a varied set of knowledge, understanding
and skills to help them re-engage and progress. Learners who would benefit include those
who:
 are ready to re–engage with learning and prepare for employment within the same
course of study
 are not yet ready for study at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G)
 need careful approaches to learning, perhaps because of poor or disrupted
experiences at school, or because they are returning to study after some time away
 may previously have been reluctant learners, who are at risk of dropping out of
education or training
 need some support with their learning
 need more confidence before entering or re-entering the job market
 have been unemployed for a while and need to develop personal skills as well as
some vocational knowledge and skills
 need to explore future career options and try out some vocational areas.
Are there any age restrictions?
The Certa Entry 3 Certificate is for learners aged 14 and over.
Do learners need any prior qualifications, attainment or experience?
There are no formal entry requirements.
How are learners assessed?
Tutors assess the Entry 3 Certificate by a variety of tasks that learners build into a portfolio
of work as their learning progresses. These will include written tasks as well as some
practical assessments. There are no formal examinations.
All assessments will be in English (or British Sign Language by arrangement with Certa).
Are there different versions of this qualification? If so, why should learners
choose this one?
Learners should choose this Entry 3 Certificate in Skills for Further Learning and
Employment if they are not yet ready for study at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G) and want to
re-engage with learning and prepare for employment on a course of reasonable length (150
learning hours). It is suitable for learners who may need support for their learning and who
want to develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. It may also suit those who need
to study other qualifications alongside this one.
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Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Entry Level Certificate in Skills for Further Learning
and Employment (Entry 3) (QCF)
600/8670/1
Learners who need a short qualification should consider the Certa Entry Level Award in
Skills in Further Learning and Employment (Entry 3) (30 hours of learning), which may suit
those who want to ‘top-up’ their skills and knowledge quite quickly. At the other end of the
scale, the longer Entry 3 Diploma has 370 hours of learning and is particularly suitable for
full time learners who want to re–engage with learning, try out more vocational areas and
develop more in-depth vocational knowledge and skills.
The Certa qualifications in Skills for Further Learning and Employment are shown in the
table below. This Entry 3 Certificate is shaded to show where it fits in the progression ladder.
For those who are capable of study at higher levels, there are qualifications at Level 1
(GCSE grades D to G).
CERTA QUALIFICATIONS IN SKILLS FOR FURTHER LEARNING
AND EMPLOYMENT
Maximum number of
LEVEL
SIZE
CREDITS
learning hours
Award
3
30
Entry 3
Certificate
15
150
Diploma
37
370
Award
6
60
Level 1
Certificate
21
210
Diploma
39
390
The qualifications in Skills for Further Learning and Employment are dual-purpose quals,
designed to enable learners to re-engage and address gaps in their learning, while at the
same time develop some skills that may help them overcome barriers to work.
Learners who wish to focus on overcoming barriers to work should consider the Certa Work
Preparation qualifications. Those who need to focus on building up their knowledge and
skills should consider the Certa Qualifications in Progression.
WHAT COULD THIS QUALIFICATION LEAD TO?
The Certa Entry 3 Certificate in Skills for Further Learning and Employment is
designed to re-engage people in learning and help them overcome barriers to work. It will
enable learners to progress to further learning at Level 1, eg, the Certa Level 1 Certificate in
Skills for Further Learning and Employment. It may also prepare learners for progression to
a Traineeship, or to further training in a specific sector. It may help some learners progress
to employment in entry-level jobs in a range of sectors.
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Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Entry Level Certificate in Skills for Further Learning
and Employment (Entry 3) (QCF)
600/8670/1
Will the qualification lead to employment? If so, in which sector or job role, at
what level?
This qualification is not part of an apprenticeship, and does not lead directly to employment.
However, it will support learners who want to re–engage in learning, develop personal skills
that are useful in work, and develop some vocational skills. This may increase their chances
of gaining employment in the future.
Learners who use the Certificate to progress to Level 1 may go on to train for jobs in a range
of vocational areas, such as business administration, building and construction, catering,
engineering, health and care, or retail and warehousing.
Some learners may be able to move into supported employment or an entry level job such
as working in a shop or a garden centre, supporting a receptionist or customer care
assistant.
Will the qualification support progression to further learning?
The Entry 3 Certificate is designed to re-engage people in learning and help overcome
barriers to work. It will enable learners to progress to further learning at Level 1, eg, the
Certa Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Further Learning and Employment. It may also prepare
learners for progression to a Traineeship, or to further training in a specific sector.
The Entry 3 Certificate enables progression to a range of Certa Level 1 qualifications such
as:
 Certa Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Further Learning and Employment (21credits)
 Certa Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and Employment (39 credits)
 Certa Level 1 Certificate in IT User Skills (ITQ) (13 credits)
 Certa Level 1 Certificate in Work Preparation (15 credits).
Other possible progression routes include:
 vocational training at Level 1, to support a future job role
 vocational training at Level 1, followed by further learning at Levels 2 and 3 to
support a future career, eg as part of an Apprenticeship
 vocational training at Level 1 as part of a Traineeship
 supported employment or an entry-level job such as working in a shop or a garden
centre, supporting a receptionist or customer care assistant.
WHO SUPPORTS THIS QUALIFICATION?
A number of Centres support this Entry Level Certificate (E3), including those listed below.
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Barnsley College UKPRN 10000536
Doncaster MBC UKPRN 10002008
Leeds City College UKPRN 10024962
The Centres are all based in Yorkshire and Humber, and are part of the Certa local learning
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Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Entry Level Certificate in Skills for Further Learning
and Employment (Entry 3) (QCF)
600/8670/1
community. The tutors attend regular training and best practice sessions. This enables them
to learn from each other and from Certa, to maintain high standards for the course.
To find out if Certa offers this qualification near where you live, please contact
http://www.certa.org.uk/contact.
To find out more please go to: http://www.certa.org.uk/qualifications_and_units
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