Questions and answers about NVQs

A total of around 175 NVQ catalogues that enable NVQ certification are currently available in various professional fields. It makes sense to focus on the NVQ catalogues or professional areas which correspond to your pre-existing work experience and knowledge, as an NVQ is mainly intended for adults who have gained work experience, knowledge, and professional competences and wish them to be evaluated and publicly recognised in accordance with the NVQ catalogue.

A certificate of a National Vocational Qualification obtained in accordance with the National Vocational Qualifications Act is a public document and can be used as such in a procedure for the recognition of a professional qualification abroad, but it does not imply an automatic recognition and is not a permit to perform a job/profession. In the event that a profession is not regulated in the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation, the recognition of professional qualifications is the responsibility of the State (depending on national legislation) or the employer; however, in the case of a regulated profession, the certificate may be used as one of the documents in the recognition procedure in accordance with Directive 2005/36 on the recognition of professional qualifications.

According to the information of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, candidates must submit the application for obtaining a National Vocational Qualification in the Slovenian language, and the same goes for the portfolio. Notwithstanding the foregoing, parties and other participants in the proceedings who do not know the language in which the proceedings are conducted may be accompanied by an interpreter. The costs of the interpreter shall be borne by the candidate in the proceedings. However, it is also necessary to take into account exceptions, as there may be (or will be) NVQ catalogues that have different rules regarding the possibility of monitoring the procedure with the help of an interpreter.

With the NVQ certificate, individuals demonstrate professional competence at a certain level of complexity, but do not receive a level of education. In some cases, an individual may also acquire NVQ at a higher level of complexity than the individual’s level of education.