Alignment of Professional Awards to the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)
New NFQ Descriptors for Professional Awards, together with Revised Policy and Procedures
New descriptors for professional awards and a revised policy and procedures for alignment of the awards of professional bodies to the NFQ were approved by NQAI and HETAC respectively in November 2011.
The legislation for the establishment of Qualifications and Quality Assurance Ireland (QQAI -working title), which will subsume both NQAI and HETAC, continues its passage through the Oireachtas. It is not intended that these new descriptors and policy will be implemented until the new body is established. The Bill maintains the NFQ and provides for much continuity of function between the existing bodies and QQAI. The existence of an updated policy framework in this area (the Descriptors and Policy) should enable the new body to proceed with alignment at an early stage. While the timetable for adoption of the legislation is not clear it is expected that it will be enacted in 2012.
The policy is available here. 
