NQF

NQF most commonly refers to a National Qualifications Framework, a national-level scheme for organizing learning achievements. An NQF provides a structured ladder of levels, with each level describing the expected knowledge, skills, and competencies associated with that stage of learning. Qualifications are placed into levels and may carry credit values, enabling accumulation and transfer across institutions and programs.

The framework supports recognition of prior learning, progression pathways, and workforce planning. It helps learners, employers, and educators compare qualifications across providers and sectors, and it is typically aligned with international references such as regional qualifications frameworks or credit-transfer systems. By defining common descriptors and level expectations, an NQF facilitates lifelong learning and portable credentials across education and training environments.

A number of countries maintain their own NQFs. For example, New Zealand operates the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), which covers school certificates through to higher education qualifications. South Africa administers its National Qualifications Framework through the South African Qualifications Authority, integrating diverse qualifications into a single coherent system.

The acronym NQF is also used in other contexts. In the United States, NQF stands for the National Quality Forum, a nonprofit organization that develops and endorses standardized healthcare quality measures and performance reporting, aimed at improving patient care and safety.