Guidance

National Occupational Standards (NOS)

Background on National Occupational Standards (NOS).

Documents

NOS Strategy 2010-2020

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

NOS Quality Criteria

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

NOS Guide for Developers

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Improving the lives of young people through National Occupational Standards

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

NHS Services (Scotland): using National Occupational Standards (NOS) to assist in delivering high cost medical screening in Scotland

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Alfred Bagnall & Sons: using National Occupational Standards to survive a recession and keep on top of the markets

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

A National Occupational Standard (NOS) is a document that describes the knowledge, skills and understanding an individual needs to be competent at a job.

All of the completed and approved NOS are kept on a database – UK Standards. This is easily accessible and allows people to search for the different jobs they are interested in.

A NOS Strategy document is available that sets out the overall policy for NOS. To help develop the products there are two documents, the NOS Quality Criteria and a NOS Guide for Developers. The relevant documents are attached.

NOS can be used in many different ways for example:

  • awarding bodies can create qualifications to train individuals for a job. These qualifications can then be used in an Apprenticeship Framework.

  • employers can create a job description to recruit new staff or a training plan to develop their skills

  • individuals can research different types of jobs and match their skills/experience to those that are needed

The attached case studies give further detail on how NOS can benefit businesses and individuals:

  • NHS Services (Scotland): using National Occupational Standards (NOS) to assist in delivering high cost medical screening in Scotland

  • Improving the lives of young people through National Occupational Standards

  • Alfred Bagnall & Sons: using National Occupational Standards to survive a recession and keep on top of the markets

For more information please contact Sarah Black.

Updates to this page

Published 24 April 2014

Sign up for emails or print this page