What are National Occupational Standards (NOS)?
National Occupational Standards (NOS) define the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for effective workplace performance. They specify what a person should know and do in order to carry out the functions of a particular job in the context of the work environment. Standards are the agreed minimum best practice in an Occupational Area and take into account all statutory requirements. The NOS have been developed and endorsed by the local industry, comprising experts in the specific occupational area.
What are Regional Occupational Standards (ROS)?
Regional Occupational Standards (ROS) are NOS that have been approved by Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA). They reflect the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSAs) for occupational areas prioritised by the CARICOM member states.
The components of National Occupational Standards:
The unit title is a succinct statement of the outcome of the unit of competency. The Unit Title reflects the major activities or functions of an individual’s work.
The unit descriptor communicates the content of the unit of competency and the skill area it addresses.
These are the basic building blocks of the unit of competency. They describe the tasks in which competence should be demonstrated to carry out the specific function.
These are the descriptions of the outcomes of performance required for successful achievement of an element. They specify the required performance in relevant tasks, roles, skills and applied knowledge that enables competent performance.
This describes the essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment, depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item and local industry contexts. It lists the parameters by which candidates must demonstrate their competence.
Knowledge identifies what a person needs to know to perform the work in an informed and effective manner. Skills describe the application of knowledge to situations where understanding is converted into a workplace outcome.
The Evidence Guide is critical in assessment as it provides information to Training Providers and Assessors about how the described competency may be demonstrated. It provides a range of evidence for the Assessor to make determinations and define the assessment context.
Quick Links
National Occupational Standards Database
Trinidad & Tobago National Vocational Qualification (TTNVQ) / Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ)
National Occupational Standards Forms
Career Maps and Pathways