OCR Nationals

Structure for OCR Nationals Level 3 qualifications

OCR Level 3 Nationals are most suited to 16-19 year olds who have chosen to stay in education but who want to go into a particular vocation.

If they see their skills and interests as suited to one of the seven industry sectors covered, an OCR Level 3 National provides the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to work in their chosen area. If they then decide to continue onto higher education, OCR Level 3 Nationals have been approved into the UCAS tariff.

Level 3: Diagram of Certification

The OCR Level 3 Nationals contain three types of qualifications, each one building on the previous.

  • To achieve the Certificate you have to achieve four mandatory units (units 1, 2, 3, and 4) and complete two optional units.
  • To achieve the Diploma you have to achieve four mandatory units (units 1, 2, 3, and 4) and complete eight optional units.
  • To achieve the Extended Diploma you have to complete 18 units consisting of the four mandatory units and 14 optional units.

Level 3 diagram of certification

Level 3 table of equivalences

OCR Level 3 Nationals Number of units Number of mandatory units Guided Learning Hours Qualifications of same size and level
Certificate 6 4 360 1 A level
Diploma 12 4 720 2 A levels
Extended Diploma 18 4 1080 3 A levels