INCUAL. National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications

NATIONAL CATALOGUE OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (CNCP)

What is it?
Aims and Functions
Structure
The Professional Qualification
Methodology
The Professional Qualifications in the CNCP

What is it?

The National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications (CNCP) is an instrument of the National System for Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training (SNCFP), which lists the professional qualifications according to the appropriate competences for the professional exercise.

Some of the main objectives of the CNCP are to integrate the existing programmes on vocational education and training in order to adapt them to the characteristics and demands of the Spanish productive system.

The CNCP comprises the most important professional qualifications of the Spanish productive system. It includes the vocational education and training (VET) contents corresponding to each qualification. The contents are organized in modules, which are included in a Modular Catalogue of Vocational Education and Training.

The National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL) is responsible for defining, drawing up and updating the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications (CNCP) and the corresponding Modular Catalogue of Vocational Education and Training.

Aims and Functions

The main aims of the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications are the following:

To adapt the vocational education and training to the requirements of the productive system.
To integrate the different offers on vocational education and training. This Catalogue will be the common reference for the design of the vocational education and training both for unemployed and initial VET.
To be a reference for the assessment and recognition of competences acquired through informal and non-formal paths.
To promote lifelong learning.
To raise the quality of vocational education and training as a whole by meeting the users needs in order to increase the social demand for this kind of education.
To make the labour market more transparent in order to facilitate the adjustment of labour supply and demand.
To promote a more qualified working population through lifelong learning as laid down by the National System for Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training.
To improve work information and guidance.
To promote the quality and assessment of the National System for Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training.

Capítulo 3 Structure of the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications

The Spanish National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications (CNCP) consists of professional qualifications arranged in level of qualification and professional family.
The 26 professional families which make up the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications (CNCP) have been created according to affinity criteria among the different professional competencies.

The 5 levels of professional qualification are based on the professional competency required for each productive activity taking into account different criteria like knowledge, initiative, autonomy, responsibility and complexity, among others, necessary for the accomplishment of every activity.

3.1. The Modular Catalogue of Vocational Education and Training (CMFP)

The Modular Catalogue of Vocational Education and Training consists of all the learning modules. Each module is associated with one of the competence units which form a professional qualification. The Modular Catalogue provides a common reference for the integration of the vocational education and training offer in order to enable the capitalization of learning and the promotion of lifelong learning.

The Modular Catalogue of Vocational Education and Training promotes a quality vocational education and training (VET) offer, which is updated and appropriate for the different target groups, according to their expectations for professional promotion and personal development.

Besides, the Catalogue meets the productive sectors demands for vocational education and training (VET). The catalogue aims to increase competitivity by reinforcing the working populations qualifications.

3.2. Professional Families and Qualification Levels

Professional Families

Qualification Levels

Agriculture (AGA)
Maritime Industry & Fisheries (MAP)
Food Industry (INA)
Chemistry (QUI)
Personal Image (IMP)
Health (SAN)
Security & Environment (SEA)
Mechanical Manufacturing (FME)
Electricity & Electronics (ELE)
Energy & Water (ENA)
Installation & Maintenance (IMA)
Extraction Industry (IEX)
Transport & Maintenance of Motor Vehicles (TMV)
Construction & Civil Work (EOC)
Glass & Ceramics (VIC)
Wood, Furniture & Cork (MAM)
Textiles, Manufactures, Leather & Fur (TCP)
Graphic Arts (ARG)
Image & Sound (IMS)
Computing & Communications (IFC)
Administration & Management (ADG)
Trade & Marketing (COM)
Sociocultural & Community Services (SSC)
Hotel Industry & Tourism (HOT)
Physical & Sporting Activities (AFD)
Arts & Craftwork (ART)

	Competence in a reduced group of relatively simple working activities related to normalized processes, in which the theoretical knowledge and practical capacities involved are limited.
	Competence in a group of well-determined professional activities with the capacity to use particular instruments and techniques concerning, mainly, an execution activity, which can be autonomous within the limits of the above-mentioned techniques. It requires knowledge on the technical and scientific fundamentals of the activity concerned and capacity for the comprehension and the application of the process.
	Competence in a group of professional activities which require the command of different techniques and can be executed in an autonomous way. It involves responsibility on the coordination and supervision of technical and specialized work. It demands the understanding of the technical and scientific fundamentals of the activities concerned as well as the assessment of the factors in the process and the assessment of the economic repercussions.
	Competence in a wide group of complex professional activities performed in a great variety of contexts which require to combine technical, scientific, economic or organizational variables to plan actions, or to define or develop projects, processes, products or services.
	Competence in a wide group of professional activities of great complexity performed in different contexts, often unpredictable, which imply to plan actions or to conceive products, processes or services. Great personal autonomy. Frequent responsibility on the assignment of resources and on the analysis, diagnosis, design, planning, execution and assessment.

3.3. The Professional Qualifications in the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications

The qualifications must be published in the State Official Bulletin. . of them can be consulted in a database . At this moment the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications has 661 publised Qualifications.

The qualifications are established by Royal Decrees approved by the Government. The text of the qualifications can be found in the annexes of the Royal Decrees. These annexes feed the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications and its corresponding Modular Catalogue of Vocational Education and Training.

These are the first Royal Decrees approved by the Government:

Royal Decree 295/2004 of 20 February 2004, establishing 97 new qualifications (State Official Bulletin of 9 March 2004).
Royal Decree 1087/2005 of 16 September 2005, establishing 65 new qualifications (State Official Bulletin of 5 October 2005).
Royal Decree 1228/2006 of 27 October 2006, establishing 61 new qualifications (State Official Bulletin of 3 January 2007).
Royal Decree 665/2007 of 25 May 2007, which publish 5 qualification of Agriculture family (State Official Bulletin of 13 June 2007).
Royal Decree 729/2007 of 8 June 2007, which publish 6 qualification of Food Industry family (State Official Bulletin of 27 June 2007).
Royal Decree 730/2007 of 8 June 2007, which publish 7 qualification of Chemistry family (State Official Bulletin of 27 June 2007), and updates qualifications setup in Royal Decree 295/2004 of 20 February 2004.
Royal Decree 790/2007 of 15 June 2007, which publish 3 qualification of Personal Image family (State Official Bulletin of 28 June 2007), and updates qualifications setup in Royal Decree 295/2004 of 20 February 2004.
Royal Decree 813/2007 of 22 June 2007, which publish 1 qualification of Mechanical Manufacturing family (State Official Bulletin of 2 July 2007).
Royal Decree 815/2007 of 22 June 2007, which publish 2 qualification of Transport & Maintenance of Motor Vehicles family (State Official Bulletin of 2 July 2007).
Royal Decree 814/2007 of 22 June 2007, which publish 2 qualification of Security & Environment family (State Official Bulletin of 4 July 2007).
Royal Decree 872/2007 of 29 June 2007, which publish 4 qualification of Construction & Civil Work family (State Official Bulletin of 11 July 2007), and updates qualifications setup in Royal Decree 295/2004 of 20 February 2004.
Royal Decree 873/2007 of 29 June 2007, which publish 4 qualification of Extraction Industry family (State Official Bulletin of 18 July 2007).
Royal Decree 1114/2007 of 24 August 2007, which publish 4 qualification of Energy & Water family (State Official Bulletin of 11 September 2007).
Royal Decree 1115/2007 of 24 August 2007, which publish 6 qualification of Electricity & Electronics family (State Official Bulletin of 12 September 2007).
Royal Decree 1135/2007 of 31 August 2007, which publish 6 qualification of Graphic Arts family (State Official Bulletin of 13 September 2007).
Royal Decree 1136/2007 of 31 August 2007, which publish 3 qualification of Wood, Furniture & Cork family (State Official Bulletin of 18 September 2007).
Royal Decree 1200/2007 of 14 September 2007, which publish 3 qualification of Image & Sound family (State Official Bulletin of 26 September 2007).
Royal Decree 1201/2007 of 14 September 2007, which publish 8 qualification of Computing & Communications family (State Official Bulletin of 27 September 2007).
Royal Decree 1199/2007 of 14 September 2007, which publish 10 qualification of Textiles, Manufactures, Leather & Fur family (State Official Bulletin of 3 October 2007).
Royal Decree 1368/2007 of 19 October 2007, which publish 6 qualification of Sociocultural & Community Services family (State Official Bulletin of 25 October 2007).
Royal Decree 1521/2007 of 16 November 2007, which publish 4 qualification of Physical & Sporting Activities family (State Official Bulletin of 1 December 2007).
Royal Decree 1698/2007 of 14 December 2007, which publish 3 qualification of Energy & Water family (State Official Bulletin of 4 January 2008).
Royal Decree 1699/2007 of 14 December 2007, which publish 8 qualification of Mechanical Manufacturing family (State Official Bulletin of 4 January 2008).
Royal Decree 1700/2007 of 14 December 2007, which publish 13 qualification of Hotel Industry & Tourism family (State Official Bulletin of 5 January 2008).
Royal Decree 1701/2007 of 14 December 2007, which publish 6 qualification of Computing & Communications family (State Official Bulletin of 5 January 2008).
Royal Decree 107/2008 of 1 February 2008, which publish 7 qualification of Administration & Management family (State Official Bulletin of 20 February 2008).
Royal Decree 108/2008 of 1 February 2008, which publish 8 qualification of Agriculture family (State Official Bulletin of 20 February 2008).
Royal Decree 109/2008 of 1 February 2008, which publish 7 qualification of Trade & Marketing family (State Official Bulletin of 21 February 2008).
Royal Decree 182/2007 of 8 February 2008, which publish 12 qualification of Installation & Maintenance family (State Official Bulletin of 22 February 2008).
Royal Decree 327/2008 of 29 February 2008, which publish 3 qualification of Personal Image family (State Official Bulletin of 12 March 2008).
Royal Decree 328/2008 of 29 February 2008, which publish 8 qualification of Electricity & Electronics family (State Official Bulletin of 13 March 2008).
Royal Decree 329/2008 of 29 February 2008, which publish 8 qualification of Textiles, Manufactures, Leather & Fur family (State Official Bulletin of 14 March 2008).
Royal Decree 1179/2008 of 11 July 2008, which publish 17 qualification (State Official Bulletin of 26 July 2008).
Royal Decree 101/2009 of 6 February 2009, which publish 6 qualification of Maritime Industry & Fisheries family (State Official Bulletin of 19 February 2009).
Royal Decree 1956/2009 of 18 December 2009, which publish 8 qualification of Extraction Industry family (State Official Bulletin of 21 January 2010).
Royal Decree 1957/2009 of 18 December 2009, which publish 9 qualification of Image & Sound family (State Official Bulletin of 22 January 2010).
Royal Decree 1958/2009 of 18 December 2009, which publish 4 qualification of Wood, Furniture & Cork family (State Official Bulletin of 23 January 2010).
Royal Decree 715/2010 of 28 May 2010, which publish 10 qualification of Agriculture family (State Official Bulletin of 18 June 2010).
Royal Decree 716/2010 of 28 May 2010, which publish 6 qualification of Energy & Water family (State Official Bulletin of 18 June 2010).
Royal Decree 1222/2010 of 1 October 2010, which publish 5 qualification of Maritime Industry & Fisheries family (State Official Bulletin of 22 October 2010).
Royal Decree 1223/2010 of 1 October 2010, which publish 3 qualification of Security & Environment family (State Official Bulletin of 22 October 2010).
Royal Decree 1224/2010 of 1 October 2010, which publish 5 qualification of Textiles, Manufactures, Leather & Fur family (State Official Bulletin of 22 October 2010).
Royal Decree 1225/2010 of 1 October 2010, which publish 5 qualification of Transport & Maintenance of Motor Vehicles family (State Official Bulletin of 22 October 2010).
Royal Decree 140/2011 of 4 February, which publish 4 qualification of Health.(State Official Bulletin of 17 February 2011).
Royal Decree 141/2011 of 4 February, which publish 2 qualification of Physical & Sporting Activities.(State Official Bulletin of 17 February 2011).
Royal Decree 142/2011 of 4 February, which publish 5 qualification of Graphic Arts.(State Official Bulletin of 17 February 2011).
Royal Decree 143/2011 of 4 February, which publish 6 qualification of Chemistry.(State Official Bulletin of 17 February 2011).
Royal Decree 144/2011 of 4 February, which publish 7 qualification of Electricity & Electronics.(State Official Bulletin of 17 February 2011).
Royal Decree 144/2011 of 4 February, which publish 7 qualification of Electricity & Electronics.(State Official Bulletin of 18 February 2011).
Royal Decree 145/2011 of 4 February, which publish 10 qualification of Arts & Craftwork.(State Official Bulletin of 24 February 2011).
Royal Decree 146/2011 of 4 February, which publish 12 qualification of Physical & Sporting Activities.(State Official Bulletin of 4 March 2011).
Royal Decree 558/2011 of 20 April, which publish 2 qualification of Administration & Management.(State Official Bulletin of 7 May 2011).
Royal Decree 559/2011 of 20 April, which publish 3 qualification of Electricity & Electronics.(State Official Bulletin of 7 May 2011).
Royal Decree 560/2011 of 20 April, which publish 3 qualification of Electricity & Electronics.(State Official Bulletin of 7 May 2011).
Royal Decree 561/2011 of 20 April, which publish 3 qualification of Hotel Industry & Tourism.(State Official Bulletin of 7 May 2011).
Royal Decree 562/2011 of 20 April, which publish 5 qualification of Transport & Maintenance of Motor Vehicles.(State Official Bulletin of 7 May 2011).
Royal Decree 563/2011 of 20 April, which publish 4 qualification of Agriculture.(State Official Bulletin of 9 May 2011).
Royal Decree 564/2011 of 20 April, which publish 4 qualification of Installation & Maintenance.(State Official Bulletin of 9 May 2011).
Royal Decree 565/2011 of 20 April, which publish 4 qualification of Arts & Craftwork.(State Official Bulletin of 9 May 2011).
Royal Decree 566/2011 of 20 April, which publish 2 qualification of Mechanical Manufacturing.(State Official Bulletin of 9 May 2011).
Royal Decree 567/2011 of 20 April, which publish 4 qualification of Sociocultural & Community Services.(State Official Bulletin of 9 May 2011).
Royal Decree 887/2011 of 24 June, which publish 3 qualification of Health.(State Official Bulletin of 11 july 2011).
Royal Decree 888/2011 of 24 June, which publish 1 qualification of Graphic Arts.(State Official Bulletin of 12 july 2011).
Royal Decree 889/2011 of 24 June, which publish 1 qualification of Graphic Arts and 1 qualification of comercio y marketing(State Official Bulletin of 12 july 2011).
Royal Decree 885/2011 of 24 June, which publish 6 qualification of Maritime Industry & Fisheries .(State Official Bulletin of 13 july 2011).
Royal Decree 886/2011 of 24 June, which publish 2 qualification of Health.(State Official Bulletin of 13 july 2011).
Royal Decree 1029/2011 of 15 july, which publish 2 qualification of Arts & Craftwork. (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1031/2011 of 15 july, which publish 3 qualification of Security & Environment. (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1032/2011 of 15 july, which publish 4 qualification of Mechanical Manufacturing. (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1033/2011 of 15 july, which publish 4 qualification of Maritime Industry & Fisheries . (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1034/2011 of 15 july, which publish 5 qualification of Physical & Sporting Activities. (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1035/2011 of 15 july, which publish 5 qualification of Sociocultural & Community Services. (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1036/2011 of 15 july, which publish 7 qualification of Arts & Craftwork. (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1038/2011 of 15 july, which publish 5 qualification of Maritime Industry & Fisheries , Energy & Water, Glass & Ceramics, Textiles, Manufactures, Leather & Fur and Trade & Marketing. (State Official Bulletin of 4 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1030/2011 of 15 july, which publish 2 qualification of Construction & Civil Work. (State Official Bulletin of 31 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1037/2011 of 15 july, which publish 7 qualification of Security & Environment. (State Official Bulletin of 31 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1096/2011 of 22 july, which publish 9 qualification of Sociocultural & Community Services. (State Official Bulletin of 31 august 2011).
Royal Decree 1549/2011 of 31 October, which publish 2 qualification of Administration & Management. (State Official Bulletin of 23 November 2011).
Royal Decree 1550/2011 of 31 October, which publish 3 qualification of Trade & Marketing. (State Official Bulletin of 23 November 2011).
Royal Decree 1551/2011 of 31 October, which publish 5 qualification of Agriculture. (State Official Bulletin of 23 November 2011).
Royal Decree 1552/2011 of 31 October, which publish 2 qualification of Hotel Industry & Tourism. (State Official Bulletin of 23 November 2011).
Royal Decree 1548/2011 of 31 October, which publish 13 qualification of Constructuion & Civil Work. (State Official Bulletin of 24 November 2011).
Royal Decree 1788/2011 of 16 December, which publish 12 qualification of Chemistry, Energy & Water, Transport & Maintenance of Motor Vehicles, Graphic Arts, Physical & Sporting Activities, and Arts & Craftwork (State Official Bulletin of 19 January 2011).
Royal Decree 1789/2011 of 16 December, which publish 3 qualification of Transport & Maintenance of Motor Vehicles (State Official Bulletin of 19 January 2011).
Royal Decree 1790/2011 of 16 December, which publish 2 qualification of Health (State Official Bulletin of 19 January 2011).

The Professional Qualification

4.1. Definition

A professional qualification is defined as a set of professional competences significant in employment which can be acquired through vocational education and training (VET) modules or any other kind of learning structure as well as through work experience (Organic Act 5/2002 on Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training).

It is understood that a person is qualified when he/she achieves the expected outcome during his/her professional performance, with reasonable resources and quality levels.

From a formal point of view, a qualification is a group of competences (knowledge and capabilities) which satisfy occupations and job posts in the labour market.

The competence of one person comprises the whole range of personal, professional or academic knowledge and capabilities of that person, acquired following different paths and in all levels available.

At the same time, a competence unit is the minimum set of professional qualifications which can be partially recognized and accredited.

The National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications includes technical competences (specific to a qualification and transversal to other qualifications) as well as the core competences.

The core competences are those which allow the individuals to adapt to a changing labour environment. They make possible the achievement of good outcomes during the professional career in different fields or social contexts. Therefore, they are the key for workers occupational or functional flexibility as they facilitate mobility within one occupational sector or from one sector to another.

The National System for Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training aims to identify the competences required for employment and it takes into account both the technical competences and the core competences which are not linked to specific knowledge fields but are essential in the labour market.

4.2. The Professional Qualification Structure

Each qualification has a general competence which defines briefly the workers essential tasks and functions.

Other elements are also described such as the professional environment in which the qualification takes place, the corresponding productive sectors and the relevant occupations or posts which can be accessed with that qualification.

Qualification Structure

4.3. The Competence Unit

Every qualification consists of competence units (UC, in Spanish). The competence unit is the minimum set of professional competences which can be partially recognized and accredited.

Every competence unit is linked to a learning module which describes the necessary learning to acquire that competence unit.

This structure facilitates the assessment and accreditation of the every workers competence unit acquired both through work experience and non-formal or informal learning. Recognized and accredited competence units can be accumulated so as to obtain the accreditation of a qualification, an official diploma on vocational education and training (VET) or an Occupational Aptitude Certificate.

The Competence Unit Structure

Each competence unit has a standardized format, which includes its identification information (denomination, level, alphanumeric code) and the specifications of that competence.

The competence units are divided into Professional Performances. They establish the expected behaviour of one person, that's to say, the expected consequences or results of the activities performed by that person. They help to know whether one person in competent at a competence unit.

The Performance Criteria express the acceptable level of one professional performance to meet the productive organizations targets, and they are a reference guide for the assessment of professional competences.

The Professional Context is a guiding description of means of production, products and results of work, used or generated information, and any other analogue element considered to be necessary to set a professional performance.

4.4 The Learning Module

Each competence unit is associated with a learning module, which describes the necessary learning to acquire that competence unit.

The National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications Methodology

The Catalogue methodology is based on the methodological guidelines approved by the General Council of Vocational Education and Training, in May 2003. The Council is the advisory body of the Spanish Government on vocational education and training. It is organized on a tripartite basis with representation of the central and regional Administration, the employers organizations and the trade unions.

In order to define the qualifications, 26 working groups have been created (one per professional family). The members of these working groups are educational and productive experts selected by the organizations of the General Council of Vocational Education and Training.

The working groups are directed by the National Institute of Qualifications, the body responsible for the definition, development and update of the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications and the related Modular Catalogue of Vocational Education and Training. Some working groups are placed in different Spanish regions depending on the importance of the productive sectors which cooperate with the National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL).

Stages in the determination and development the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications:

Stages