Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ)

The Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) is a national credential system that trains, develops, assesses and certifies skills and competencies for the workforce. As a continuing education and training (CET) system, WSQ supports the SkillsFuture movement to:

• Promote recognition of skills and competencies to facilitate progression, mastery and mobility;
• Promote holistic development of the workforce through technical and generic skills and competencies;
• Support economic development by professionalising skills and competencies to drive industry transformation, productivity and innovation efforts; and
• Encourage lifelong learning.

Training programmes developed under the WSQ system are based on skills and competencies validated by employers, unions and professional bodies. This process ensures existing and emerging skills and competencies that are in demand are used to inform training and development under WSQ. With the roll out of the Skills Frameworks* in 2016, the WSQ adopts the skills and competencies covered in the Skills Frameworks. The WSQ programmes are funded and quality-assured by SkillsFuture Singapore, which awards the WSQ certifications.

Key features

• Relevant: A competency-based system, designed to develop job role-specific skills and competencies, as well as generic skills and competencies that are required across job roles.
• Accessible: Does not require academic pre-requisites for entry and recognises prior learning, such as work experience and credentials. Available in bite-sized modules leading to the award of a Statement of Attainment, which an individual may acquire leading up to a full WSQ qualification.
• Progression: Makes available skills and qualification pathways which align to the Skills Framework for the respective sectors.
• Authority: Statements of Attainment and qualifications are quality assured and awarded by SkillsFuture Singapore and/or in partnership with established awarding bodies.

Quality Assurance

WSQ is underpinned by a strong quality assurance framework. From developing competency standards, to accrediting training providers to awarding WSQ qualifications, stringent criteria are applied to ensure best standards and delivery. A structured and efficient system has been established to help build a strong training infrastructure that supports Singapore's workforce development. 

Read more about the Skills Framework.

SkillsFuture Singapore believes in making WSQ practical and flexible to help Singapore's workforce adapt, grow and develop. WSQ does this by offering bite-sized training modules to enable learning at the individual’s own pace. Upon completion of each module, a Statement of Attainment (SOA) will be awarded. Relevant SOAs can be accumulated to achieve full WSQ Qualification.

The different levels of WSQ qualifications are as follows:

From November 2014, electronic certificates (e-Certs) are issued for SOAs and WSQ Qualifications.

For more information, please go to WSQ Electronic Certificates (e-Certs) page.

WSQ develops skills and competencies in two aspects: Technical and Generic. Technical skills and competencies comprise occupation, job-specific skills and competencies that an individual needs to perform various job tasks. Generic skills and competencies refer to employability and transferable skills, and competencies that are applicable across job roles. They help every individual adapt to new job demands and bring relevant skills across different jobs.