Educational Institutions

National Occupational Standards (NOS) are statements of the standards of performance individuals must achieve when carrying out functions in the workplace, together with specifications of the underpinning knowledge and understanding.

NOS are National because they apply to and can be used in every part of Zambia where the functions are carried out. NOS are Occupational because they describe the performance required of an individual when carrying out the functions in the workplace, i.e. in their occupation as a plumber, police officer, production engineer, etc. NOS are Standards because they are statements of effective performance for the things individuals do and the outcomes they achieve which have been agreed by a representative sample of employers and key stakeholders; and are approved by ZAQA.

NOS are developed to help employers in all sectors to quantify the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to perform at all levels of the respective sector. Each set of NOS provides a statement of effective performance, which can then be measured. NOS shall provide Zambia a wide, demand-led, evidence-based benchmark of competent performance that underpins vocational learning and development, apprenticeships and qualifications across all sectors and occupations in Zambia. They encompass the employability of skills for self-management and organisation of work, thinking through and solving problems, working with others, communicating effectively and understanding the business. 

NOS shall be used by Quality Assurance, Awarding and Professional Bodies as benchmarks to develop qualifications in various sectors. They shall also be used by organisations to support human resource management and organisational development processes. In some sectors, demonstration of competence against NOS shall be required in order to run a business or practice a craft or profession.