Qualifications describe the knowledge and skills an individual needs to exercise a profession, to start further education or to participate in society. In the Flemish Qualification Framework, qualifications are classified at 8 levels, from primary education to higher education. This improves the transparency and interchangeability of qualifications in education and the labour market.
The Flemish Qualifications Framework makes an explicit distinction between professional qualifications and educational qualifications. A professional qualification describes the knowledge and skills an individual needs to exercise a profession. An educational qualification gives an overview of the knowledge and skills an individual needs to start further studies, to participate in society or to exercise a specific profession. The Government of Flanders recognises the professional and educational qualifications.