Overview
Use the table and the filters below to gain an overview of NQF developments in Europe. It is possible to compare countries based on reporting year, stage of development and whether the NQF has been linked to EQF.
Country | Reporting year | Scope of the framework | Number of levels | Level descriptors | Legal basis/stage of development | NQF linked to EQF | NQF/EQF website | Qualifications register/database |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 2022 | Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and lifelong learning qualifications for adults and people undertaking specialised courses for professional development. | Eight | knowledge, skills, competences | NQF law (adopted in 2010, revised in 2018) (in Albanian) |
2021 | Website | The National Catalogue of VET qualifications |
Austria | 2022 | The NQF is open to all types of qualifications from the formal and non-formal sectors. General education qualifications are not yet included in the framework. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, competence |
Federal Law 14/2016 on the NQF |
2012 |
Website | Qualifications register |
Belgium-DE | 2022 | Comprehensive NQF for lifelong learning including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. |
Eight |
occupational competence (knowledge and skills), personal competence (social competence and autonomy) |
Decree on establishing a qualifications framework for the German-speaking Community (2013) |
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Belgium-FL | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualifications from formal education and training (educational qualifications) and professional qualifications that can be awarded awarded both inside and outside formal education. |
Eight |
knowledge / skills, context / autonomy / responsibility |
Decree on the qualification structure (2009) |
2011, 2014 update, 2023 update |
Website | Qualifications database |
Belgium-FR | 2022 | The framework includes educational and professional qualifications awarded by the public sector and skills certificates awarded through the validation of non-formal and informal learning. |
Eight |
knowledge / skills, context / autonomy / responsibility |
Decree on cooperation agreement between the three francophone governments on the creation and management of CFC (2015) |
2013 |
Website | Qualifications register |
Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2022 | Designed as a comprehensive NQF for lifelong learning including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Open to those awarded outside formal education and training. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, competence |
Decision of the CoM on the adoption of the baseline qualifications framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2011) (in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian) |
Website | ||
Bulgaria | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. | Eight plus a preparatory level, covering pre-school education | knowledge, skills, competences (personal and professional) | Decision No 96 of the CoM on the NQF (2012) |
2013 | ||
Croatia | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. |
Thirteen |
knowledge, skills, autonomy and responsibility |
CROQF Act (2013, last amendment in 2021) (in Croatian) |
2012 |
Website | Qualifications register |
Cyprus | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and qualifications from the system of vocational qualifications; the latter are awarded through non-formal and informal learning. | Eight, with sublevels at levels 5 and 7 | knowledge, skills, competence | Decision of the CoM, No 67445 on establishing the CyQF (2008) |
2017 | Website | |
Czechia | 2022 | Τhe national register of qualifications (NSK) functions as a framework for qualifications obtained through further education and through validation of non-formal and informal learning. The framework for higher education (RKVV) covers qualifications at EQF levels 6–8 |
Eight in NSK |
NSK: competences (including knowledge and skills) |
Act on the verification and recognition of further education results (179/2006) |
2011 |
Website | National register of qualifications - NSK ((VNFIL system)National register of higher education institutions and accredited study program… |
Denmark | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of formal qualifications, along with qualifications awarded outside the formal system. | Eight | knowledge, skills, competence | Administrative decision on the Danish NQF for LLL approved by the Ministers for Education; for Science, Technology and Innovation; for Culture; and for Economic and Business Affairs (2009) Integrated in sectoral legislation |
2011 | Website | Register of qualifications and programmes in the NQF |
Estonia | 2022 | The framework includes all national qualifications, awarded within or outside formal education and training by nationally accredited institutions. There are two main types of levelled qualifications: formal education qualifications and professional qualifications. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, responsibility and autonomy |
Professions Act (2008) |
2011, 2016 update |
Website 1Website 2 | Professional qualifications registerEstonian education infosystem (EHIS |
Finland | 2022 | The framework covers state-recognised qualifications, i.e. formal qualifications awarded by the education and other ministries, and competence modules, which may be shorter than a qualification and can be awarded outside formal education and training. |
Eight |
integrated level descriptors include knowledge, skills and key competences |
Act on the national framework for qualifications and other competence modules (93/2017) |
2017 |
Website | Studyinfo database |
France | 2022 | The NQF covers all levels and types of formal qualifications apart from initial education qualifications (nursery school, primary school and first cycle/lower secondary level). It is open to qualifications awarded outside the regulated qualification system, including private-sector and international qualifications, and industry or sectoral qualifications (CQPs) |
Eight |
complexity of knowledge, level of expertise, degree of responsibility and autonomy |
Law No 2002-73 on social modernisation (2002) |
2010 |
Website | National register of vocational and professional qualifications (RNCP) |
Germany | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualifications from formal education and training (general education, initial VET, regulated further training and higher education). |
Eight |
professional competence (knowledge and skills), personal competence (social competence and autonomy) |
Joint resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers for Education and Cultural Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Economic Affairs and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Technology (2013) |
2012 |
Website | DQR qualifications database |
Greece | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, competence |
Law on development of lifelong learning and other provisions (3879/2010) |
2015 |
Website | Greek qualifications register |
Hungary | 2022 | The NQF includes state-recognised qualifications acquired in general and higher education, vocational qualifications included in the national register of vocational qualifications and certain state-recognised adult education and training qualifications. Adult training qualifications can also be awarded outside formal education and training. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, attitudes, autonomy and responsibility |
Government Decision 1229/2012 on the Hungarian qualifications framework |
2015 |
Website | HuQF qualifications database |
Iceland | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training, including certified adult learning. No qualification linked to EQF level 1. | Seven, with sublevels at NQF levels 5 and 6 | integrated level descriptors include knowledge, skills and competence | No overarching legal basis for the ISQF (its role and mandate are stated in a series of acts and decrees). |
2013 | Website | |
Ireland | 2022 | The NQF includes all types and levels of qualification from formal education and training. It also seeks to accommodate qualifications obtained through non-formal learning, offered by international, private and professional bodies. |
10, with five classes of award type: major, minor, special-purpose, professional and supplemental |
knowledge, skills, competence |
Qualifications (Education and Training) Act (1999) |
2009, 2020 update |
Website | The NFQ register of qualifications |
Italy | 2022 | The NQF covers formal qualifications from general, technical and vocational education, higher education, adult education, VET qualifications administered at regional level and qualifications of regulated professions. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, autonomy and responsibility |
Interministerial decree of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and of the Ministry of Education, University and Research on the establishment of the NQF (2018) |
2013, 2022 update |
SkillON website | The portal of the education ministry (La scuola in chiaro)The web portal of the Ministry of University and Research UniversItalyNational repository of education, training and vocational qualifications |
Kosovo | 2022 | Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and non-formal and informal learning. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, competences |
Republic of Kosovo (2008). Law 03/L-060 on national qualifications |
2016 |
Website | |
Latvia | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training, including professional qualifications . |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, competences |
Regulation No 990 of the CoM on the education classification of Latvia (2010) |
2011, 2019 updated |
Website | Latvian qualifications database |
Liechtenstein | 2022 | NQF for vocational and professional qualifications (NQF-VPQ) and NQF for higher education. |
Eight |
Level descriptors of the NQF-VPQ:, knowledge, skills, competences (professional and personal) |
Ordinance on the national qualifications framework of the Principality of Liechtenstein for VET qualifications (2017) |
2016 |
Website | Supplements (with NQF/EQF levels) |
Lithuania | 2022 | The NQF includes all officially recognised qualifications in general (primary and secondary) education, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education. |
Eight |
characteristics of activities (complexity, autonomy, variability), types of competences (functional, cognitive and general), |
Government resolution on approving the description of the Lithuanian qualifications framework (2010) |
2011 |
Website | Qualifications database |
Luxembourg | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. |
Eight |
knowledge, aptitudes, attitudes |
Law on the recognition of professional qualifications (2016) |
2012 |
Website | Information on secondary education programmesRegister of higher education diplomas |
Malta | 2022 | The NQF includes qualifications and awards at all levels acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning. |
Eight plus two introductory levels A and B |
knowledge, skills, competences |
Legal notice 294 on MQF for lifelong learning regulations (Subsidiary Legislation 327.431) (2012) |
2009, 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2023 update |
Website | Malta qualifications database |
Montenegro | 2022 | Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and from the system of national vocational qualifications (NVQs). |
Eight, with sublevels at levels 1, 4 and 7 |
knowledge, skills, competence |
Law on the MQF (2010) |
2014 |
Website | National register of qualifications |
Netherlands | 2022 | The NQF includes two main groups: regulated qualifications awarded in the formal education and training system (except primary education), and non-regulated – mainly private – qualifications awarded on the labour market (non-formal qualifications). |
Eight, including a sublevel at level 4 (4+), and an entry level |
context, knowledge, skills, responsibility and independence |
Approval of the NLQF by the Dutch Government and the Dutch Parliament (2011) |
2011, 2019 update |
Website | NLQF databaseNLQF register |
North Macedonia | 2022 | Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training, and vocational qualifications. |
Eight, with sublevels at levels 5, 6, 7 |
knowledge and understanding, skills, competence |
Law on the NQF (2013, updated in 2016) |
2016 |
Website | |
Norway | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. No descriptor or qualification linked to EQF level 1. |
Seven, with sublevels at levels 5 and 6 |
knowledge, skills, general competence |
Ministerial Decision on the NQF (2011) |
2014 |
Website | Databases of qualificationsDatabase of study programmes |
Poland | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training, along with state- and non-regulated (market) qualifications awarded outside formal education and training. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, social competence |
Law on the integrated qualifications system (2015) |
2013 |
Website | Integrated qualifications register |
Portugal | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and from the national system for the recognition, validation and certification of competences. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, attitudes |
Ministerial order on the NQF (2009) |
2011 |
Website | National qualifications catalogueDatabase of higher education courses and institutionsPortal displaying learning opportunities |
Romania | 2022 | The NQF includes the whole spectrum of nationally recognised qualifications regardless of learning context, including those acquired through validation of non-formal learning. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, responsibility and autonomy |
Government decision 918/2013 on the approval of the NQF (2013) |
2018 |
Website | National register of professional qualificationsNational register of qualifications for higher educationNational register of postgraduate programmes (NRPP) |
Serbia | 2022 | Designed as a comprehensive and integrated NQF, including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training, and non-formal and informal learning. |
Eight, with sublevels at levels 6 and 7 |
knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes |
Law on the NQF for Serbia (2018) |
2020 |
Website | National qualifications register |
Slovakia | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualifications from formal education and training, and a sub-framework of occupational qualifications awarded outside the formal education system. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, competences |
Act on Lifelong Learning (2009) and amendments to certain acts (2012) |
2017 |
Website | National qualifications register |
Slovenia | 2022 | The NQF includes educational qualifications (awarded through general, vocational/technical and higher education), vocational qualifications and supplementary qualifications awarded outside the regulated qualifications system. | Ten | knowledge, skills, competences | Slovenian Qualifications Framework Act (2015) (in Slovenian) |
2013 | Website | SQF qualifications registerNVQ database |
Spain | 2022 | The NQF includes formal qualifications from general education, initial VET and higher education, along with professional certificates; the latter can be obtained through adult learning / continuing training and through the validation of non-formal and informal learning. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills and abilities, competence |
Royal Decree 1027 (2011) establishing the Spanish qualifications framework for higher education (MECES): levels 5-8 |
Website | Register of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT)The National repertoire of professional certificates | |
Sweden | 2022 | The NQF includes all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training, along with qualifications awarded outside the formal education and training system |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, autonomy and responsibility |
Ordinance (2015:545) on qualifications framework for lifelong learning, including the general framework (in force since October 2015) and the application procedure (in force since January 2016. |
2016 |
Website | Database of qualifications |
Switzerland | 2022 | NQF for vocational and professional qualifications (NQF-VPQ) and NQF for higher education (nqf.ch-HS). |
Eight |
Level descriptors of the NQF-VPQ:, knowledge, skills, competences (professional and personal) |
Ordinance on the NQF for vocational and professional qualifications (NQF-VPQ) (2014) |
2015 |
Website | The List of assigned vocational and professional qualifications (July 2020)A database of all state-recognised occupations and professions |
Turkey | 2022 | Designed as a comprehensive NQF; it will include all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and from the national vocational qualification system. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, competence |
Regulation on the procedures and principles of its implementation (TQF Regulation) (2015, updated in 2019) |
2017 |
Website | TQF qualifications database |
Ukraine |
2022 | The NQF includes qualifications awarded in the formal education system and in the labour market. There are two categories of qualifications: educational and professional, which can be full and partial. |
Eight |
knowledge, skills, communication, responsibility and autonomy |
NQF Decree 2011 |
not yet but comparison in 2023 |
WebsiteWebsiteWebsite | Professional qualificationsGeneral education standardsVET standards |