National Technical Qualification System (NTQS) in Korea
CONTENTS
0.
Introduction
1.
History of National Technical Qualification Testing
2.
Legal Foundations
3.
Operation System of National Technical Qualification Testing
4.
Scheme of HRD Service of Korea (Related to Qualification Test)
5.
Qualification Testing System (Qualification Levels)
6.
Qualification Testing Method and Implementation
a.
Testing Method
b.
Testing Implementation Method and Criteria for Passing the Examination
c.
Testing Criteria by Levels
d.
Qualification Trades
7.
Qualification Standards
8.
Question Bank System of HRD Service of Korea
9.
Detailed Procedure for Question Making
10.
Detailed Procedure for Written Test
11.
Detailed Procedure for Practical Test
12.
Reforms of NTQS
APPENDIX
Korean Skill Competition System
(A) Local Skills Competition
(B) National Skills Competition
(C) Participation in World Skills Competition
1. INTRODUCTION
The National Technical Qualification System (NTQS), where the government recognizes each individual citizen's technological capabilities, are divided into two categories, namely: Qualification System and License System. License is permission for those with certain degree of capabilities to work on specific jobs. National Technical Qualification is to enhance the qualified persons' capabilities and social status by officially assessing and recognizing individuals' capabilities of techniques/skills or degree of mastery and letting them use it for taking jobs.
It can be used as criteria for businesses to select employees. It can be used as criteria in allowing licenses to qualified individuals to begin their jobs. By making it compulsory that employers who run businesses in installation of fire-extinguishing equipments should employ those who have qualifications as fire-extinguishing equipments technician, the possibility that businesses directly related to people's lives and properties go unreliable can be avoided and the competitiveness of businesses can be improved. It accelerates development of vocational capabilities of citizens and contributes the promotion of social status of workers.
History of National Technical Qualification Testing
The history of NTQS in Korea is summarized in the table that follows:
Historical Development of NTQS in Korea
Date
Development
Dec. 1973
Enactment of National Technical Qualification Act
Oct. 1974
Enactment of implemental decrees and regulations
Dec. 1976
Establishment of Korea Technical Qualification Testing Agency (KTQTA)
Jan. 1977
Implementation of Qualification Testing conforming to the Act concerned
Mar. 1982
Integration of qualification testing based on other acts into NTQA
Mar. 1984
Transferring the control of clerical management to Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Oct. 1991
Amendment of overall system by creating, integrating and abolishing testing trades
Mar. 1997
Abolishment of classification among engineering, technical skills and service areas
Jan. 1998
Changing the name into Korea Manpower Agency
May 1998
Readjusting the system by amending classes of certificates apart from creation, integration and abolishment of testing trades
Feb. 1999
Abolishment of refresher training for certificate holders
Jan. 2001
Changing the name into HRD Service of Korea
2. LEGAL FOUNDATIONS
National Technical Qualification Law defines the purpose of technical qualification system, principles of acquiring technical qualifications, structure of technical qualifications, standards of testing, issuing the qualification certificates, preferential treatments of the qualified and various penal regulations. It was revised 5 times since first made on Dec. 31, 1973.
Enforcement Decree of National Technical Qualification Law defines the fields of technical qualifications, the kinds of qualifications for each grade and the qualifications for applications for the technical qualifications, etc. It was revised 26 times since first made on Oct. 16, 1974.
Implementing Regulation of National Technical Qualification Law and its Enforcement Decree defines the testing subjects of technical qualification and the procedure of testing, etc. It was revised 21 times since first made on Dec. 31, 1974
OPERATION SYSTEM OF NATIONAL TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION TESTING 3. Three major divisions are in-charge of the operation system of national Technical Qualification Testing (NTQS). They are: Ministry of Labour; HRD-Korea; and 16 other competent ministries, .
The overall management of the qualification system is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labor. It is concerned with the setting up implementation plan for qualification testing and management of relevant laws and regulations. The HRD-Service of Korea conducts National Technical Qualification Test. Specifically, it is concerned with: question making and management; conducting the qualification testing; and follow up management for registered certificate holders. The sixteen other competent ministries in each area are involved in the utilization of certificate holders. They check utilization according to the relevant enterprise acts and impose administrative discipline and follow-up service including cancellation of certificate.
Operation System of National Technical Qualification Testing
4. SCHEME OF HRD SERVICE OF KOREA (RELATED TO QUALIFICATION TEST
The development of qualification tests is lodged in both the Testing Management and Question Making departments while the regional and local offices execute it, .
The Testing Management Department performs the following functions:
Handle the legal or systematical things of NTQS
Deal in budget related to NQT
Plan the annual schedule of NQT
Transport test papers and other stuffs for performing test
Mark test papers
Register the certificate holders
Regulate regional headquarters and local office in relation to test schedule, test place etc.
On the other hand, the Testing Management Department functions to:
Examine the establishment, abolishment and unification of qualification trades
Draft the test subjects and standards
Ask external experts to make questions and screen them
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