Post Leaving Certificate
Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses (
Administration and Delivery
The majority of Post Leaving Certificate courses are certified by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), who monitor the quality of the courses, set learning outcomes and curricula, and determine national award standards. This was previously overseen by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC), until it was subsumed into QQI in 2012. QQI does not, however deliver the award programmes itself - it is up to each individual provider to deliver each programme in a suitable way.[1]
Usually, courses are provided by ETBs (Education and Training Boards), across Ireland. The majority of courses take place in Colleges/Institutes of Further Education, however they are increasingly being taught in private colleges, particularly in the Dublin area. Some providers also provide degrees, using PLC courses as a stepping stone for students within their own institution.
PLC courses are generally found at Levels 5 and 6 of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), meaning learners graduate with a Level 5 Certificate or a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in a given subject area. Most subjects are vocational in nature, though not all (such as 5M2073 European Studies).
Providers sometimes offer courses leading to awards not on the Irish NFQ, but which are nonetheless considered as 'PLC' courses. Examples include the
Course Structure
PLC courses are usually full-time, and run for one or two years. They generally focus on practical work, academic basics, and
Modules (and in turn major awards as a whole) are graded as follows:
Grade | Percentage |
---|---|
Distinction (Gradam) | 80 - 100% |
Merit (Fiúntas) | 65 - 79% |
Pass (Pas) | 50 - 65% |
Unsuccessful (Gan Rath) | 0-50% |
Depending on the grade they receive in each module, learners can receive up to 390 CAO points, which may be used competitively for entry purposes into universities, Institutes of Technology and higher education institutions in Ireland.
Some courses which are offered nationwide include:
- Applied Sciences
- Art and Design
- Business Studies
- Electronics
- Computing
- Beauty Therapy
- Media Studies
- Office Administration
- Legal studies
- Marketing
- ChildcareStudies
- Work as a Special Needs Assistant(SNA) and supporting learning in schools
- Health care support
- Security Studies
- Dental Nursing (see Dental Nurse)
See also
- Leaving Certificate
- Education in the Republic of Ireland
- List of universities in the Republic of Ireland
References
- ^ "About FETAC". Archived from the original on 9 January 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010. About FETAC
- ^ "Post-Leaving Cert Courses". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2010. An Irish Community College's description of their courses and accreditations.