BASI and the SCQF

Over the last 5 years, BASI has been going through an alignment process with the University of Edinburgh to align BASI Qualifications with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

The aim of this exercise was to have a nationally recognised scale to which BASI qualifications are aligned. This will give Members, potential employers and institutions an idea of the level of learning that BASI Members need to complete to achieve a qualification. It also allows members to compare the level of learning they have achieved against other aligned qualifications (such as university degrees, etc.).

The Benefits of the SCQF Framework

  • Helps learners decide how to progress their learning;
  • Helps individuals understand qualifications they are not familiar with;
  • Helps employers understand different types of qualifications and also supports effective workforce development;
  • Helps education and training providers of all kinds to identify the level that has been studied in a particular subject and make it easier to transfer credit points between different learning programmes; and
  • Provides recognition of a very wide range of learning types

More Information regarding the aims and benefits of the SCQF can be found here.

How the SCQF works

creditThe Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework has 12 levels. The different levels indicate the level of difficulty of a particular qualification.

In addition to a level, qualifications are also allocated credit points. Credit points are a way of showing how much time it takes, on average, to complete a qualification or learning programme. Credit points are specific to the SCQF levels; you can’t add points together from courses at different SCQF levels.

Credit Transfer

In some instances, it may be possible to transfer SCQF credit points to other learning programmes to ensure that a learner does not have to repeat any learning they have already undertaken.

Universities and colleges, SQA and other awarding bodies decide how many of the credit points already received from previous learning can be transferred into their programmes. In all cases of credit transfer, it would be the decision of the accepting learning institution as to how many credit points could be transferred.

More information on Credit Transfers can be found here

The SCQF and EQF

Qualifications are aligned to the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework which itself aligns to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

The EQF enables the learners, learning providers and employers to compare qualifications between different EU national systems. This is thought to help increase mobility in the EU labour market within and between the EU countries because it makes it easy to determine a person’s level of qualification which in turn will improve the balance between demand and supply of knowledge and skills.

More information about the EQF can be found here

You can also compare SCQF levels with Qualification Credit Framework (QCF) Levels (used in England) here

How are BASI Qualifications Rated

We currently have 15 courses/modules aligned with the following ratings. There are 8 more BASI courses due to be added to the SCQF by October 2017.

Course/Modules SCQF Level SCQF Credits Points allocated EQF Level
Adaptive Level 1 6 8 4
Adaptive Level 2 7 12 5
Alpine Level 1 6 8 4
Alpine Level 2 7 12 5
Alpine Level 3 Teaching 9 24 6
Alpine Level 3 Technical 9 4 6
Level 3 Mountain Safety 9 5 6
Alpine Level 4 Teaching 10 24 6
Alpine Level 4 Technical 10 4 6
Level 4 EMS 10 10 6
Nordic Level 1 6 8 4
Nordic Level 2 7 12 5
Snowboard Level 1 6 8 4
Snowboard Level 2 7 12 5
Telemark Level 1 6 8 4
Telemark Level 2 7 12 5

Can my aligned BASI Qualification be used to access higher education?

This would be at the discretion of the institute where you intend to study. We recommend that you include your qualification and mention the SCQF level and credit points achieved in your application. BASI Qualifications cannot replace a degree, however, if you plan to study a course with similar content to that of a BASI course you have passed, you may be able to transfer credits.

Can my aligned BASI Qualification be used to access job opportunities

Yes. Some employers now refer to qualifications at particular SCQF levels in their job adverts allowing them to recognise a variety of relevant qualifications and skills which would have otherwise been difficult to detail in a way that is meaningful and easy to understand.

I completed my qualification a long time ago, is it still aligned?

Alpine level 1 and 2 qualifications are aligned if completed after 1 November 2008.

Level 1 and 2 qualifications from other disciplines are aligned if completed after 1 May 2009.

Alpine level 3 modules are aligned if completed after 8th July 2011

Alpine level 4 modules are aligned if completed after 3rd November 2011

If you have any questions about the SCQF alignment, please email dave@basi.org.uk.