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IMI Qualifications

The route to success in the motor industry

As the leading awarding body for the retail motor industry, the IMI offers an unrivalled range of motor industry qualifications that demonstrate skills and competence, the foundation of a successful career.

This is a guide to the qualifications that the IMI offers. On these pages you will find details of the types and levels of qualifications and the disciplines and progression routes available.
 

Levels of qualification explained

  • Level 1 – vocational qualifications are Pre-Apprenticeship programmes for students from 14 years old, in school or further education. These qualifications teach basic knowledge and routine tasks.

  • Level 2 – suitable for those who have a Level 1 qualification, or are likely to achieve GCSE grades D-F in English, mathematics and a science based subject. These qualifications cover routine tasks and require previous knowledge or work experience.

  • Level 3 – suitable for those who have achieved a Level 2 qualification, or are likely to achieve GCSE grades A-C in English, mathematics and a science based subject. These supervisor level qualifications cover non-routine, more complex tasks and require previous knowledge or work experience.

  • Level 4 and above – management and master technician level qualifications, for those who have already achieved a Level 3 qualification. These enable progression to higher education, management and Level 5 qualifications and give a good grounding in the skills required to run a business.

Technical Certificates (VRQs)

These are nationally recognised, vocationally related qualifications (VRQs) which provide the essential knowledge to do a job.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

These are nationally recognised qualifications that demonstrate the holder's competence to do a job to a national standard. An NVQ is a practically based qualification which assesses skills.

IMI National Qualifications (VRQs)

Launched in 2004, these are nationally recognised, vocationally related qualifications (VRQs), which offer the widest range of technical knowledge to become a technician, or to progress to higher education.

The IMI National contains the Technical Certificate content, with a wider breadth of knowledge in applied science, mathematics, electronics and Information & Communication Technology (ICT).

Key Skills

These qualifications cover the skills used in jobs and industry and include: Communication (writing and speaking); Application of Number (using numbers in measurement, calculation & pricing); and Information & Communication Technology (ICT). KeySkills are a part of Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships

A qualification that demonstrates competence to do a job to a national standard, with the required technical and KeySkills knowledge.