Certifications
Validating one block, and using it on its own
Every professional qualification is split into standalone blocks — 5 on average. A validated block leads to a personal attestation that stands on its own with an employer, and adds up with the next ones until the full qualification.
One block, one whole capability
A block is cut around a capability exercised as a whole on the job: keeping accounts, running a risk assessment, shipping an interface. It carries its own supervised hours and its own assessment, which makes it usable even when the rest of the qualification comes later.
- A title naming the professional act, not the taught subject
- A volume of supervised hours specific to the block
- A dedicated assessment, with its threshold stated before you start
- A personal attestation with its verification reference
- Accumulation towards the full qualification, keeping the blocks already validated
The split, in figures
- blocks in the catalogue
- 360
- professional qualifications concerned
- 72
- blocks per qualification
- 5
- supervised across all blocks
- 49750 h
The split is regular from one qualification to the next: that is what makes blocks comparable.
One full qualification, block by block
Here is the real split of a level 5 qualification: HSE Supervisor, 70 credits, 700 supervised hours over 9 months. Each of the 5 lines below is validated separately.
| Block | What it covers | Supervised hours |
|---|---|---|
| In-depth risk analysis | Structured methods, scenarios, barriers, simple hazard studies | 190 h |
| Leading prevention across a zone | Leading an HSE team, co-activity, contractors, field audits | 180 h |
| Event management and investigation | Accident investigation, root-cause analysis, action plans, lessons learned | 160 h |
| HSE indicators and reporting | Frequency and severity rates, leading indicators, dashboards | 120 h |
| Supervisory conduct | Safety authority, communication, arbitrating production against safety | 50 h |
What the block attestation carries
The validated act
The exact block title, taken from the filed framework, with no marketing rewording.
The hour volume
The block's supervised hours, as set by the catalogue. An employer converts them into days.
The parent qualification
The professional qualification the block belongs to, and its level. The block sits on a scale.
The public reference
The same verification mechanism as for a full qualification, open without an account.
Questions about blocks
How long do I have to complete the other blocks?
Validated blocks stay acquired and add up at whatever pace suits you. Each keeps its validation date, visible on the public verification: an employer therefore sees both what is acquired and when.
Can I start with the block I care about?
Yes for most qualifications. Some blocks assume a specific prerequisite, stated on the qualification page: the recommended order appears there, and the admissions team confirms it before enrolment.
Does an employer understand a block attestation?
It names a professional act and its hour volume, which is exactly what a job description sets out. It is the most readable format for a skills-based hire, and it is verified online just like a full qualification.
Do validated blocks count towards the full qualification?
They count in full, credits and hours included. The remaining path is set at admission from your attestations, and the full qualification is awarded as soon as the missing blocks are validated.
Explore next
- Level 4 qualificationIHETC level 4 professional qualification (Skilled employee and operative): 20 qualifications, 100 competency blocks, durations from 6 to 12 months, public verification of the awarded document.
- Level 5 qualificationIHETC level 5 professional qualification (Senior technician and supervisor): 18 qualifications, 90 blocks, 9 to 12 months, and the verification reference an employer reads.
- Level 6 qualificationIHETC level 6 professional qualification (Manager and professional): 17 qualifications, 85 competency blocks, 750 to 800 supervised hours, public verification reference.
- Level 7 qualificationIHETC level 7 professional qualification (Expert and executive): 17 executive qualifications, 85 blocks, 700 supervised hours each, public verification of the document.
- Course attestationIHETC course attestation: 5 short formats, 240 supervised hours combined, 24 capitalisable credits and a reference verifiable online.
- Capitalisable unitsIHETC capitalisable units: 181 modules and 360 blocks recorded in the learner's name, kept indefinitely and taken up at every new admission.