- Level 2 Award for Parking Enforcement Officers (supercedes the Level 2 Award for Civil Enforcement Officers)
- Level 2 BTEC Award for Vehicle Immobilisers
- Level 3 Award for Notice Processors
- Level 2 NVQ in Controlling Parking Areas
- Level 3 NVQ in Business and Administration
- Levels 3/4/5 Award and Certificate in Leadership and Management for Parking Operations
We believe that providing the opportunity for those working within the parking sector to gain professional qualifications is becoming ever-more important for recruiters to retain those with the talent and determination to succeed. We also believe that what benefits individuals within the sector, benefits the sector as a whole.
That’s why we continue to strive forward in the provision of nationally accredited qualifications, which are fit for purpose across the sector and meet the skills gaps identified through ongoing research and feedback from the sector.
We now have a strong suite of qualifications available at an entry and operational level and have recently launched our management qualifications, aimed at higher levels.
Where to study for a parking qualification:
This document (excel spreadsheet) will give you a list of all the City & Guilds learning providers and the parking qualifications each centre is approved to offer. Contact details for the centres can be found on the second sheet.
Level 2 Award for Parking Enforcement Officers (supercedes the Level 2 Award for Civil Enforcement Officers)
This qualification, new for 2012, replaces the very popular civil enforcement officer qualification that was originally launched in 2005. This new and improved qualification’s core unit is conflict management and candidates now have a choice of taking one of four other units to complete their qualification; including for the first time, a private land pathway. The new pathways mean that the qualification is open to a wider variety of job roles than before. The four optional pathways are:
- Enforcement under Traffic Management Act 2004
- Enforcement under Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984
- Enforcement on private land (under the Approved Operator Scheme)
- Parking and traffic enforcement using CCTV
The Benefits:
- The qualification provides an excellent knowledge base for people working in parking enforcement
- It gives the candidate an understanding of conflict management
- It is used successfully as an induction and most parking enforcement officers will have achieved this qualification before starting work
- It is assessed by a multiple choice exam, making it more accessible and less daunting to those who haven’t studied for a while.
For more information on the content of this qualification, view this datasheet (pdf).
The full City & Guilds handbook, providing further details is available to download here
For further details on the awarding body, City and Guilds, please visit their website here.
Level 2 BTEC Award for Vehicle Immobilisers
This qualification provides a foundation for those looking to work in the field of immobilisation. The achievement of this qualification is an essential element in gaining the licence to practise, required by law, for immobilisers in the private sector.
The Benefits:
- The qualification ensures all immobilisers work to best practice and covers elements such as communication skills and conflict management, as well as more technical elements regarding devices and their application, the records required and the practices and procedures which should be followed
- It is delivered primarily in a classroom environment and assessed by a multiple choice examination, making it more accessible and less daunting to those who haven’t studied for a while
- It enables operatives to apply for their licence to practise, hence raising the standards across the profession.
For more information on the content of this qualification, view this datasheet (pdf).
The full Edexcel handbook, providing further details is available to download here.
For further details on the awarding body, Edexcel, please visit their website here.
Level 3 Award for Notice Processors
This qualification, launched in April 2010 and updated in October 2011, has proved to be very popular for those wishing to work in a more administrative office-based role, within the sector.
The Benefits:
- The mandatory first unit gives an introduction to notice processing and information management within the sector and candidates can then choose from one of the remaining two units, depending on whether they will be working in the public or private sector
- The second unit focuses on processing penalty charge notices and responding appropriately to challenges, representations and appeals
- The third unit concentrates on notice processing requirements for parking enforcement on private land
- The qualification is assessed by two multiple choice examinations, both taken online to offer flexibility
For more information on the content of this qualification, view this datasheet (pdf).
The full City & Guilds handbook, providing further details is available to download here.
For further details on the awarding body, City and Guilds, please visit their website here.
Level 2 NVQ in Controlling Parking Areas
Whereas the vehicle immobilser and notice processor qualifications provide a foundation, and are therefore ideal for those new to the sector, the NVQ in Controlling Parking Areas enhances those skills already gained through working in the parking sector, by developing and recognising competence in real work situations.
The Benefits:
- The qualification has a choice of specialisms, making it ideal for a range of operational roles in parking, including: car park attendants, CCTV enforcement, vehicle immobilisation and removal and civil enforcement
- It supports learning through the recognition of existing achievements
- There is no examination as NVQs are studied through the development of portfolios and workplace assessments, meaning time away from the work environment is minimal.
For more information on the content of this qualification, view this datasheet (pdf).
The full City & Guilds handbook, providing further details is available to download here
The full Edexcel handbook, providing further details is available to download here .
For further details on the awarding bodies, either City and Guilds or EdExcel, please visit their websites here and here respectively.
Level 3 NVQ in Business and Administration
To compliment the Notice Processing VRQ, which provides a foundation and is therefore ideal for those new to the Notice Processing role, the Level 3 NVQ in Business and Administration enhances those skills already gained through working in the parking sector, by developing and recognising competence in real work situations.
The NVQ comprises a range of units covering generic administration and business functions and other optional units for those with specialist administrative roles within the parking sector.
The Benefits:
- The qualification builds on existing knowledge and confirms understanding of skills already gained
- There are a choice of specialised parking units, making it the ideal way to tailor the qualification to fit a specific role
- It supports learning through the recognition of existing achievements
- There is no examination as NVQs are studied through the development of portfolios and workplace assessments, meaning time away from the work environment is minimal.
For more information on the content of this qualification, view this datasheet (pdf).
The full City & Guilds handbook, providing further details is available to download here
The full Edexcel handbook, providing further details is available to download here .
For further details on the awarding bodies, either City and Guilds or EdExcel, please visit their websites here and here respectively.
Levels 3/4/5 Award and Certificate in Leadership and Management for Parking Operations
Launched in late 2011, the comprehensive qualifications in Leadership and Management for Parking Operations aim to provide the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in a variety of primary management roles, including: parking manager, area manager, parking operations manager, contract manager, contract compliance manager and debt recovery manager. This suite of qualifications have been developed as a result of the BPA working closely with Asset Skills to ensure the Parking Leadership and Management qualifications are valid and fit for purpose in the parking sector.
There are a range of qualifications to choose from:
- Level 3 Certificate in the Management of Parking Operations
- Level 4 Certificate in Parking Leadership and Management
- Level 5 Certificate in Strategic Parking Leadership and Management
- Level 3 Award in the Management of Parking Operations
- Level 4 Award in Parking Leadership and Management
- Level 5 Award in Strategic Parking Leadership and Management
The Benefits:
- This qualification has been introduced at three levels, meaning a variety of entry points for different candidates, and a clear progression path to continue studies if an individual should choose to
- The course is designed to give learners the opportunity to progress at a pace which suits them
- A wide range of assessment methods are used to ensure learners are given the best opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and competencies
- Learners can download free qualification handbooks containing detailed information about each unit
- Learners gain six months free membership with ILM (The Institute of Leadership and Management).
For more information on the content of this qualification, view this datasheet (pdf).
The full City & Guilds handbook, providing further details is available to download here .
For further details on the awarding body, City and Guilds, please visit their website here.