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TSQF awards

There are five levels of award plus individual module certificates available within the framework which are assessed by both examination and portfolio of skills competence.

Certificate of competence

requires the candidate to complete the Legal Systems paper (Foundation Level) plus the entire Service Delivery Module (subject area).

eg for Agriculture, complete the Agriculture written examination, oral examination and the portfolio of evidence. A Competency Award cannot be achieved in Legal Metrology.

Foundation in consumer affairs and trading standards (FCATS)

requires the candidate to complete the three written examinations in Legal Systems, Law of Contract & Tort and Consumer Protection Environment, and the foundation portfolio of evidence.

Module certificates

require the candidate to have completed all elements of the foundation level, and all elements of the Service Delivery Module.

eg for Legal Metrology, complete the written examinations, practical and oral and the portfolio of evidence.

Diploma in consumer affairs and trading standards (DCATS)

requires the candidate to have completed all elements of the foundation level and have completed the 40 point requirement from the Service Delivery Modules. Each module is worth 10 points except legal metrology, worth 20 points.

Higher diploma in consumer affairs and trading standards (HDCATS)

requires the candidate to have completed the Foundation and DCATS awards as well as all elements within the higher qualification, ie Management of Quality and Management of Regulatory Services written examinations, the project and the portfolio of evidence.

Higher certificate in consumer affairs and trading standards (HCCATS)

A stand alone award which requires you to successfully complete the higher examinations, the portfolio of evidence and undertake a 4000-word real life project.

HCCATS is not a practitioners qualification as you will not have gained the required field competencies. This higher element of the framework is strategically focused. Operational officers are encouraged to attain the DCATS followed the HDCATS.