Notes

In England and Wales, the highest level of qualification is derived from responses to both the qualifications question and the professional qualification question. For Scotland and Northern Ireland, it is based on the qualifications question. As the levels are derived from different questions they are not (or are only approximately) equivalent. England, Wales and Scotland: Level 1: 1+ 'O' level passes, 1+ CSE/GCSE any grades, NVQ level 1, Foundation GNVQ Level 2: 5+ 'O' level passes, 5+ CSEs (grade 1). 5+ GCSEs (grades A-C), School Certificate, 1+'A' levels/ AS levels, NVQ level 2, Intermediate GNVQ Level 3: 2+ 'A' levels, 4+ AS levels, Higher School certificate, NVQ level 3, Advanced GNVQ Level 4/5: First degree, Higher degree, NVQ levels 4 and 5, HNC, HND, Qualified Teacher status, Qualified Medical Doctor, Qualified Dentist, Qualified Nurse, Midwife, Health Visitor
Northern Ireland Level 1: GCSE (grades D-G), CSE (grades 2-5), 1-4 CSEs (grade 1), 1-4 GCSEs (grades A-C), 1-4 'O' level passes, NVQ level 1, GNVQ Foundation or equivalents Level 2: 5+ CSEs (grade 1), 5+ GCSEs (grades A-C), 5+ 'O' level passes, Senior Certificate, 1 'A' level, 1-3 AS levels, Advanced Senior Certificate, NVQ level 2, GNVQ Intermediate or equivalents Level 3: 2+ 'A' levels, 4+ AS levels, NVQ level 3, GNVQ Advanced or equivalents Level 4: First degree, NVQ level 4, HNC, HND or equivalents Level 5: Higher degree, NVQ level 5 or equivalents

 hlqpuk (highest qualification) qualevel = when hlqpuk = "10" or "30" then "1" when hlqpuk = "11" or "31" then "2" when hlqpuk = "12" or "32" then "3" when hlqpuk = "13" or "33" then "4" when hlqpuk IN ("14","34", "35" ) then "5" when hlqpuk = "15" then "6" else "X"