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 2020

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, wider competences

Website VET register
Austria 2020

Designed as a comprehensive NQF; currently includes qualifications awarded in formal education and training (higher education and VET qualifications); qualifications under the responsibility of other ministries such as defence and health. First non-formal/non-regulated qualifications included.

Eight

knowledge, skills, competence

2012

Website Qualifications register
Belgium-DE 2020 Comprehensive NQF for lifelong learning including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Eight
Belgium-FL 2020

Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training (educational qualifications) and from the professional qualifications system.

Eight

knowledge / skills, context / autonomy, responsibility

2011,
2014 update

Website Qualifications database
Belgium-FR 2020 Designed as a comprehensive framework; including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and from the professional qualifications system. It currently includes vocational and secondary general education qualifications and qualifications awarded through validation at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5, as well as HE qualifications at levels 6 and 7. Eight knowledge / skills, context / autonomy / responsibility 2013 Website Qualifications register
Bosnia & Herzegovina 2020 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 Website
Bulgaria 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Eight plus a preparatory level knowledge, skills, competences (personal and professional) 2013
Croatia 2020 Designed as a comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. It is a qualification and credit framework. Eight, with sublevels at levels 4, 7 and 8 knowledge, skills, autonomy and responsibility 2012 Website Qualifications register
Cyprus 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and from the system of vocational qualifications. Eight, with sublevels at levels 5 and 7 knowledge, skills, competence 2017 Website
Czechia 2020 National framework for vocational qualifications in VNFIL (the national register of qualifications, NSK) and the higher education qualifications framework. Eight in NSK National framework for vocational qualifications in VNFIL: competences (including knowledge and skills) 2011 Website National register of qualifications - NSK ((VNFIL system)
Denmark 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Open to those awarded outside formal education and training. No qualification linked to EQF level 1. Eight knowledge, skills, competence 2011 Website Register of qualifications and programmes in the NQF
Estonia 2020

Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and from the system of occupational qualifications.

Eight

knowledge, skills, scope of responsibility and autonomy

2011, 2016 update

Website 1Website 2 RegisterEstonian register of occupational qualifications (professions register)
Finland 2020 Comprehensive framework including all State-recognised qualifications. No qualification linked to EQF level 1. Eight integrated level descriptors include knowledge, skills and key competences 2017 Website Database of study programmes from VET, general and higher education
France 2020 NQF covers all levels and types of vocationally and professionally oriented qualifications and the national baccalaureate (general, technological and vocational). Open to qualifications awarded outside the formal education system. Eight complexity of knowledge, level of skills and know-how, degree of responsibility and autonomy 2010 Website National register of vocational and professional qualifications (RNCP)
Germany 2020 Comprehensive NQF for lifelong learning; includes qualifications from general education, VET (initial VET and regulated further training), and from higher education. Eight professional competence (knowledge and skills), personal competence (social competence and autonomy) 2012 Website DQR qualifications database
Greece 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Eight knowledge, skills, competence 2015 Website Greek qualifications register
Hungary 2020 Comprehensive NQF for lifelong learning encompassing all State-recognised national qualifications acquired in general education, HE, and the vocational qualifications in the national vocational qualifications register. Eight knowledge, skills, attitudes 2015 Website HuQF qualifications database
Iceland 2020 Comprehensive NQF including 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 2013 Website
Ireland 2020 Comprehensive NFQ including all types and levels of qualification from formal education and training. 10, with five classes of award type: major, minor, special-purpose, professional and supplemental knowledge, skills, competence 2009 2020 update Website The NFQ register of qualifications
Italy 2020 Designed as a comprehensive framework; it will include all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and regional qualifications. Eight knowledge, skills, autonomy and responsibility 2013 major national qualifications from formal education and training linked directly to EQF Website The Atlas of work and qualifications
Kosovo 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training and non-formal and informal learning. Eight knowledge, skills, wider competences 2016 Website Qualifications database
Latvia 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Eight knowledge, skills, competences 2011 Website Latvian qualifications database
Liechtenstein 2020 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) 2016 Website Supplements (with NQF/EQF levels)
Lithuania 2020 Designed as a comprehensive NQF for lifelong learning; currently includes qualifications from VET and higher education; revision and inclusion of general education qualifications at levels 1-4 is in progress. Eight characteristics of activities (complexity, autonomy, variability), types of competences (functional, cognitive and general), 2011 Website Qualifications database
Luxembourg 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Eight knowledge, aptitudes, attitudes 2012 Website Information on secondary education programmesRegister of higher education diplomas
Malta 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Eight knowledge, skills, competences 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016 update Website Register of accredited further and higher education institutions and programmes
Montenegro 2020 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 2014 Website National register of qualifications
Netherlands 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training (except primary education). Open to qualifications offered outside the formal education system. Qualifications bellow EQF level 1 included at entry level. Eight, including a sublevel at level 4 (4+), and an entry level context, knowledge, skills, responsibility and independence 2011, 2019 update Website NLQF database
North Macedonia 2020 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 2016 Website Register of qualifications
Norway 2020 Comprehensive NQF including 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 2014 Website Databases of qualificationsDatabase of study programmes
Poland 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Open to regulated and non-statutory qualifications awarded outside formal education and training. Eight knowledge, skills, social competence 2013 Website Integrated qualifications register
Portugal 2020

Comprehensive NQF including 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

2011

Website National qualifications catalogueDatabase of higher education courses and institutions
Romania 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Open to qualifications obtained through validation of non-formal and informal learning. Eight knowledge, skills, responsibility and autonomy 2018 Website National register of professional qualificationsNational register of qualifications for higher education
Serbia 2020 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 2020 It was referenced to the EQF in 2020 – now not indicated. Website National qualifications database
Slovakia 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Includes a sub-framework of occupational qualifications awarded outside the formal education system. Eight knowledge, skills, competences 2017 Website National qualifications register
Slovenia 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training, from the system of national vocational qualifications and non-regulated supplementary qualifications. 10 knowledge, skills, competences 2013 Website SQF qualifications register
Spain 2020

Designed as a comprehensive NQF for lifelong learning; will include all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training.

Eight proposed

knowledge, skills and abilities, competence

Website Qualifications in the formal education systemThe National repertoire of professional certificates
Sweden 2020 Comprehensive NQF including all levels and types of qualification from formal education and training. Open to qualifications awarded outside the formal education system. Eight knowledge, skills, competence 2016 Website Register of qualifications
Switzerland 2020 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) 2015 Website The List of assigned vocational and professional qualifications (July 2020)A database of all state-recognised occupations and professions
Turkey 2020 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 2017 Website TQF qualifications database