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Key features of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma inLaboratory and Associated Technical ActivitiesThis qualification: is nationally recognised is based on the Level 3 Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (NOS).The NOS, assessment requirements/strategy and qualification structure(s) areowned by SEMTA.The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 NVQ in Laboratory and AssociatedTechnical Activities have been approved as components for theLevel 3 Laboratory Technicians Apprenticeship framework.What is the purpose of this qualification?The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities provides recognition of the skills and knowledge of individuals who workin a laboratory. It covers health and safety; effective working relationships; dealingwith laboratory specimens/samples and communicating information. It contains twoPathways: Industrial Science and Education Science.Who is this qualification for?This qualification is for all learners aged 18 and above who are capable of reachingthe required standards.Pearson’s policy is that the qualification should: be free from any barriers that restrict access and progression ensure equality of opportunity for all wishing to access the qualification(s).What are the potential job roles for those working towards this qualification? Analytical scientist Biochemist Biomedical scientist Biologist Biotechnologist Clinical scientist Microbiologist Physicist Research scientist4Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 2017

Education laboratory technician Laboratory technician Medical laboratory assistant Scientific laboratory technicianWhat progression opportunities are available to learners who achieve thisqualification?Progression from this qualification can be to other relevant level 3 and/or level 4qualifications, for example: Pearson Edexcel Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Laboratory Science Pearson Edexcel Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities. Pearson Edexcel Level 4 HNC in Applied Biology Pearson Edexcel Level 4 HNC in Applied Chemistry.Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 20175

What is the qualification structure for the PearsonEdexcel Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory andAssociated Technical Activities?The Total Qualification Time (TQT) for this qualification is 480 hours.The Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for this qualification is 300.Within the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities learners may achieve one of the following pathways: Education Science orIndustrial Science.For the Education Science pathway learners must achieve a minimum of 48 creditsby completing two common mandatory units, one pathway mandatory specific unitand five pathway specific optional units. Three of these optional units should betaken from Group A and the remaining units may be taken from Group A or GroupB, within the Education Science pathway.For the Industrial Science pathway learners must achieve a minimum of 60 creditsby completing two common mandatory units, three pathway mandatory specificunits and three pathway specific optional units. Two of these optional units shouldbe taken from Group A; the remaining unit may be taken from Group A or Group Bwithin the Industrial Science pathway.UnitTitleCreditLevelCommon Mandatory unitsUnit 1:Maintain health and safety in a scientific ortechnical workplace53Unit 2:Maintain effective and efficient workingrelationships for scientific or technical activities536Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 2017

UnitTitleCreditLevelEducation Science PathwayMust complete the following unit plus five more optional units (three must come fromGroup A).Unit 19:Evaluate and provide scientific or technicalassistance for learning activities63Group A - Optional unitsUnit 11:Diagnose faults, repair and maintain scientific ortechnical equipment for workplace activities83Unit 16:Provide training for scientific or technicalactivities in the workplace83Unit 20:Demonstrate scientific or technical methods,techniques and skills to others in the workplace83Unit 21:Improve the quality and reliability of scientific ortechnical activities in the workplace103Unit 22:Test and evaluate new scientific or technicalmethods and equipment for learning activities123Unit 23:Provide technical support for computerapplication software and equipment for learningactivities103Maintain and control stocks of all resources,equipment and consumables for scientific ortechnical activities43Unit 14:Make presentations for scientific or technicalactivities in the workplace63Unit 15:Assess their own scientific or technicalknowledge and skills for workplace activities43Unit 17:Provide scientific or technical leadership for aworkplace team163Group B - Optional unitsUnit 13:Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 20177

UnitTitleCreditLevelIndustrial Science PathwayMust complete the following units plus three more optional units (two must come fromGroup A).Unit 3:Carry out scientific or technical testingoperationsUnit 4:Access and communicate scientific or technicalinformation to authorised personnelUnit 5:Provide technical advice and guidance forscientific or technical activities12363123Group A - Optional unitsUnit 6:Plan scientific or technical sampling and testingactivities83Unit 7:Carry out complex scientific or technical testingoperations123Unit 8:Carrying out complex scientific or technicalsampling operations83Unit 9:Carry out scientific or technical investigations93Unit 10:Carry out small scale processing83Unit 11:Diagnose faults, repair and maintain scientific ortechnical equipment for workplace activities83Unit 12:Measuring, weighing and preparing compoundsand solutions for laboratory use163Maintain and control stocks of all resources,equipment and consumables for scientific ortechnical activities43Unit 14:Make presentations for scientific or technicalactivities in the workplace63Unit 15:Assess their own scientific or technicalknowledge and skills for workplace activities43Unit 16:Provide training for scientific or technicalactivities in the workplace83Unit 17:Provide scientific or technical leadership for aworkplace team163Unit 18:Following aseptic procedures in the laboratoryenvironment92Group B - Optional unitsUnit 13:8Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 2017

How is the qualification graded and assessed?The overall grade for the qualification is a ‘pass’. The learner must achieve all therequired units within the specified qualification structure.To pass a unit the learner must: achieve all the specified learning outcomes satisfy all the assessment criteria by providing sufficient and valid evidence foreach criterion show that the evidence is their own.The qualifications are designed to be assessed: in the workplace or in conditions resembling the workplace, as specified in the assessmentrequirements/strategy for the sector, or as part of a training programme.Assessment requirements/strategyThe assessment strategy for this qualification has been included in Annex D. It hasbeen developed by SEMTA in partnership with employers, training providers,awarding organisations and the regulatory authorities. The assessment strategyincludes details on: criteria for defining realistic working environments roles and occupational competence of assessors, expert witnesses, internalverifiers and standards verifiers quality control of assessment evidence requirements.Evidence of competence may come from: current practice where evidence is generated from a current job role a programme of development where evidence comes from assessmentopportunities built into a learning/training programme whether at or away fromthe workplace the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where a learner can demonstratethat they can meet the assessment criteria within a unit through knowledge,understanding or skills they already possess without undertaking a course oflearning. They must submit sufficient, reliable and valid evidence for internaland standards verification purposes. RPL is acceptable for accrediting a unit,several units or a whole qualification a combination of these.Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 20179

It is important that the evidence is:Validrelevant to the standards for which competence is claimedAuthenticproduced by the learnerCurrentsufficiently recent to create confidence that the same skill,understanding or knowledge persist at the time of the claimReliableindicates that the learner can consistently perform at this levelSufficientfully meets the requirements of the standards.Types of evidence (to be read in conjunction with the assessment strategy inAnnexe C)To successfully achieve a unit the learner must gather evidence which shows thatthey have met the required standard in the assessment criteria. Evidence can takea variety of different forms including the examples below. Centres should refer tothe assessment strategy for information about which of the following arepermissible. direct observation of the learner’s performance by their assessor (O) outcomes from oral or written questioning (Q&A) products of the learner’s work (P) personal statements and/or reflective accounts (RA) outcomes from simulation, where permitted by the assessment strategy (S) professional discussion (PD) assignment, project/case studies (A) authentic statements/witness testimony (WT) expert witness testimony (EPW) evidence of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).The abbreviations may be used for cross-referencing purposes.Learners can use one piece of evidence to prove their knowledge, skills andunderstanding across different assessment criteria and/or across different units. Itis, therefore, not necessary for learners to have each assessment criterion assessedseparately. Learners should be encouraged to reference the assessment criteria towhich the evidence relates.Evidence must be made available to the assessor, internal verifier and Edexcelstandards verifier. A range of recording documents is available on the Pearsonwebsite: qualifications.pearson.com. Alternatively, centres may develop their own.10Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 2017

Centre recognition and approvalCentre recognitionCentres that have not previously offered Pearson qualifications need to apply forand be granted centre recognition as part of the process for approval to offerindividual qualifications. New centres must complete both a centre recognitionapproval application and a qualification approval application.Existing centres will be given ‘automatic approval’ for a new qualification if they arealready approved for a qualification that is being replaced by the new qualificationand the conditions for automatic approval are met. Centres already holding Pearsonapproval are able to gain qualification approval for a different level or differentsector via Edexcel online.Approvals agreementAll centres are required to enter into an approvals agreement which is a formalcommitment by the head or principal of a centre to meet all the requirements of thespecification and any linked codes or regulations. Pearson will act to protect theintegrity of the awarding of qualifications, if centres do not comply with theagreement. This could result in the suspension of certification or withdrawal ofapproval.Quality assuranceDetailed information on Pearson’s quality assurance processes is given in Annexe A.What resources are required?Each qualification is designed to support learners working in the Laboratory andAssociated Technical Activities sector. Physical resources need to support thedelivery of the qualifications and the assessment of the learning outcomes andmust be of industry standard. Centres must meet any specific resourcerequirements outlined in Annexe C: Assessment requirements/strategy. Staffassessing the learner must meet the requirements within the overarchingassessment strategy for the sector.Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 201711

Unit formatEach unit in this specification contains the following sections.This is the formal title of the unit that will appearon the learners certificateUnit title:This is the unit owner’s reference number for the specified unit.Unit code:This code is a unique reference number for the unit.Unit reference number:All units and qualifications have a level assigned to them. The level assigned isinformed by the level descriptors by Ofqual, the qualifications regulator.Level:Credit value:All units have a credit value. The minimum credit value is one, and credits canonly be awarded in whole numbers. Learners will be awarded credits when theyachieve the unit.Guided learning hours:Guided Learning Hours (GLH) is the number of hours that a centre delivering thequalification needs to provide. Guided learning means activities that directly orimmediately involve tutors and assessors in teaching, supervising, and invigilatinglearners, for example lectures, tutorials, online instruction and supervised study.This provides a summary of the purpose of the unit.Unit summary:Assessment requirements/evidence requirements:Assessment methodology:Learning outcomes:The assessment/evidence requirements are determinedby the SSC. Learners must provide evidence for eachof the requirements stated in this section.This provides a summary of the assessment methodology to be used for the unit.Assessment criteria:Evidence type:Portfolioreference:The learnershould use thisbox to indicatewhere theevidence canbe obtained egportfolio pagenumber.Learning outcomes state exactlywhat a learner should know,understand or be able to do as aresult of completing a unit.12The assessment criteria of a unitspecify the standard a learner isexpected to meet to demonstratethat a learning outcome, or a set oflearning outcomes, has beenachieved.Date:The learnershould give thedate when theevidence hasbeen provided.Learners must reference the type ofevidence they have and where it isavailable for quality assurancepurposes. The learner can enter therelevant key and a reference.Alternatively, the learner and/orcentre can devise their ownreferencing system.Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 2017

UnitsSpecification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 201713

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Unit 1:Maintain health and safety in ascientific or technical workplaceUnit reference number:H/601/9718Level:3Credit value:5Guided learning hours:35Unit summaryThis unit covers the skills and knowledge needed to prove the competencesrequired to maintain health and safety in a workplace where scientific or technicalactivities are performed. The learner is required to observe all legal, statutory andorganisational requirements, and they must be able to identify any hazards andpotential risks to health and safety. They must also know what actions to take incase of an emergency and, as well as ensuring their own safety, they must showresponsibility towards their colleagues and others. They will be expected to initiateand complete tasks and procedures as well as exercise autonomy and judgementwithin specified parameters. They will also be aware of different perspectives orapproaches used within the workplace.On completion of workplace activities, the learner will be required to show theyhave addressed problems that, whilst well defined, may be complex and nonroutine. They will be expected to show they have identified, selected and usedappropriate scientific or technical skills, methods and procedures. They will useappropriate investigation to inform actions and review how effective these methodshave been.The learner’s responsibilities will require them to comply with organisational policyand procedures for the scientific or technical activities undertaken, and to reportany problems with the activities, materials or equipment that they cannotpersonally resolve, or that are outside their permitted authority, to the relevantpeople. They will be expected to initiate and complete scientific or technical tasksand procedures, including, where relevant, responsibility for supervising or guidingothers. They will be expected to exercise autonomy and judgement within limitedparameters, taking personal responsibility for their own actions and for the qualityand accuracy of the work that they carry out. They will be expected to work toinstructions, with a minimum of supervision, either on their own or as part of ateam.The learner’s underpinning knowledge will enable them to use factual, proceduraland theoretical understanding to complete workplace tasks and address problemsthat, whilst well defined, may be complex and non-routine. They will be able tointerpret and evaluate relevant workplace information and ideas. They will have anunderstanding of the scientific or technical process used, and its application, andwill know about the equipment, materials and consumables in adequate depth toprovide a sound background for carrying out the activities to the requiredspecification.Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 201715

They will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out scientific ortechnical activities. They will be required to demonstrate safe working practicesthroughout, and will understand the responsibility they owe to themselves andothers in the workplace.Assessment requirementsAssessment requirements are set down in Annexe C: Assessment strategy.Assessment methodologyThis unit is assessed in the workplace. Learners can enter the types of evidencethey are presenting for assessment and the submission date against eachassessment criterion. Alternatively, centre documentation should be used to recordthis information.16Specification – Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory and Associated TechnicalActivities – Issue 23 –December 2017 Pearson Education Limited 2017

Learning outcomes and assessment criteriaLearning outcomesAssessment criteria11.1Ensure that their work is carried out in accordance withworkplace procedures1.2Identify hea

Laboratory technician Medical laboratory assistant Scientific laboratory technician What progression opportunities are available to learners who achieve this qualification? Progression from this qualification can be to other relevant level 3 and/or level 4 qualifications, for example: Pearson Edexcel L