The Level 3 Operating Department Practice Award within Health Care, which is a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), has been available since 1991. It is open to all personnel who wish to practise as the equivalent of assistants to the anaesthetist and/or surgeon or who wish to work in the recovery area. It has replaced the City and Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) 752 qualification but in no way disadvantages those who already hold the latter qualification or ENB theatre certificates. The NVQ involves competence based training because the greater emphasis is placed on the practical skills of the student. As the standards are demanding this means that holders of the NVQ are well able to complete and perform all the tasks necessary to be effective in their jobs and, in addition, have the necessary background knowledge and understanding to produce a safe practitioner. Since the introduction of the ODP/NVQ, theatre managers and their staff have been able to observe its progress, some with interest and, regrettably, some with cynicism.