Find out more about occupational progression

What is occupational progression?

The occupational progression pages support people to explore potential career options. The maps show options to move into a different job requiring similar knowledge and skills to their existing role.

A progression link indicates transferable or similar knowledge and skills. This means that individuals could possibly progress from one occupation into the other. Further learning or training might be needed to make this move. Individuals can then find out more about the technical education products by clicking on the occupation card.

Potential progression options could take place:

• between occupations in the same route
• between occupations in different routes
• be displayed across different levels
• at the same level

How to find occupational progression pages

Firstly, find the occupation you are interested in on the maps.

Option 1: Use the search facility via the Search menu in the header or on the landing page.  Once you have found the occupation in the search results, clicking on the button ‘view occupational progression’ will display the progression page.

Option 2: Click on a route of interest from the landing page. Clicking on the two grey chevrons on the occupation card will display the progression page.

What do the occupational progression pages show?

A progression map shows IfATE approved technical occupations that could have some transferable or similar knowledge and skills.

Progression links have been identified using a range of information which includes:

• comparing the knowledge and skills statements across all approved occupational standards
• analysis of ILR (Individualised Learner Record) data to explore real life learner movement trends
• employer insights

Once you have clicked on an occupation progression link, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow.

The other occupations on the progression map show the strongest progression links into or from the focused occupation. The progression direction is indicated by the arrows.

Occupations on the progression map are organised in columns according to their technical level.

There are three levels: Technical, Higher Technical and Professional.

The progression maps also show links between occupations which are at the same or similar level. In this example, both of these occupations are at level 4. This shows where individuals could progress to a similarly skilled occupation. This could be useful for people who want a change in career at a similar level. 

Cross route progression

The progression maps also show cross route progression so that people can see how they can change career across routes.

In this example, the focused occupation, Software developer, is in the digital route. Aerospace software development engineer is in the engineering and manufacturing route.

A key is available at the bottom of each page explaining which route an occupation is in.

How do I find the learning options available to support progression?

Clicking on the occupation title in the occupation card, will open a pop-up window.

This window includes information such as:

• a summary of the occupation
• average median salary
• technical education products that relate to the occupation

In this example of Software development technician, there is a level 3 apprenticeship and a T Level.

Get started

1. Click on a route from the home page to discover IfATE’s 15 occupational maps. 
2. Use the search to discover technical occupations. You can search by name, standard code, technical education product, job title or keywords.
3. Explore our green theme maps to discover the range of green occupations.
4. Head to our glossary to learn more about our terms and definitions.  
5. Set up an account so you can start to favourite occupations and build your own maps.