Assessor

What is TAQA?

When it comes to Assessor qualifications, there are a lot of them! From A1, D32/33 to CAVA. But have you heard someone refer to it as the Assessors Award or the TAQA? You would mainly see this when you’re looking through jobs, as some (or all) employers call it the TAQA qualification. If you’ve heard and seen it used and have no idea what it even is, then we’re your industry helpers. When it comes to assessing we know tonnes. So let’s answer some of your questions.

What is TAQA

TAQA is an umbrella term for a host of qualifications. This is an acronym which stands for Training, Assessment and Quality Assurance. TAQA is not a course in itself though. This isn’t a qualification, it is just a suite of different qualifications.

If you see a job advert asking for the TAQA, you need to figure out which one of these qualifications you need. So keep that in mind!

So you know what the acronym stands for, but what is actually within the letters?

T- Training

Within T you have the Education and Training qualifications. Now training qualifications are for people who want to start to teach or train adults in their area of expertise. Within the Education and Training qualifications, you have 3.

Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET)

The AET was previously known as the PTLLS qualification. This enables you to teach in your subject industry, for example, you can teach in colleges. The qualification can be considered to be a foot in the door, as you don’t necessarily need to be in a teaching role.

Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET)

However, the CET. This one does require you to already be in a further education role. Previously known as the CTLLS qualification. The specification requires you to be observed delivering real-life teaching to your learners.

The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET)

Previously known as the DTLLS qualification, it provides you with a wide range of skills and knowledge and will qualify you to apply for the Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status (QTLS). This is the most advanced qualification available.

A- Assessment

This A in TAQA stands for assessment, this is where you have all your Assessor related qualifications. These are CAVA, ACWE, AVRA and UPPA. Don’t worry, we know that’s a lot of random letters! But we’re going to go through what each one means. So why all the different qualifications? Well, to answer your question it’s because they all hold a different purpose. There are 3 units and they all have a different combination of them. The three units are:

Unit 1: Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment
Unit 2: Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment
And, Unit 3: Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding

Taking all three units together is the only way you can be a fully qualified Assessor in your area of occupational competence. We’re going to take you through each qualification now.

UPPA- Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (Unit 1 only)

This unit is theory only. It doesn’t qualify you to practice as an assessor. However, it’s a really great piece of CPD, to refresh your knowledge if you’re already a qualified Assessor. Or if you hold any previous qualifications such as the A1 Assessor qualification or the D23/33. The UPPA brings you up to speed and teaches you about the roles and responsibilities of an Assessor.

AVRA- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (Units 1 and 3 only)

This qualification is one which you can be qualified to assess in one particular setting. It allows you to Assess in a Learning environment, such as a classroom, workshop or virtual learning setting. However, it doesn’t qualify you to assess in the workplace. This is a great one to have if you’re assessing in a college environment.

ACWE- Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (Units 1 and 2 only)

However, if you only want to assess people in their work environment, then this is great for you. But this is the only thing you can assess in, you can’t assess in the learning environment.

CAVA – Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

If assessing in the learning and workplace environment sounds like something you want to do, or you need to assess in both, then the CAVA qualification is for you. Comprised of all 3 units, this fully qualifies you to become an Assessor. Being extremely sought after in the TAQA suite, this qualifies you to become an NVQ Assessor, End-Point Assessor (EPA) and On-Programm Assessor. This is what most employers are referring to when they ask for the TAQA qualification.

QA- Quality Assurance

Under this section of the TAQA suite, we have the Internal Quality Assurance qualifications. In this section, we have three different qualifications and we’ll get to that in just a moment. But why are they Level 4? With the IQA qualifications being a Level 4, they represent a higher level of learning than the Level 3 Assessor course. This is because being in an IQA role is a step up from being an Assessor.

Similar to the Assessor qualifications the three IQA qualifications are made up of a combination of three Units. Those Units are:

Unit 1: Understanding the Principles and Practices of Internally Assuring the Quality of Assessment
Unit 2: Internally Assure the Quality of Assessment
Unit 3: Plan, Allocate and Monitor Work in Own Area of Responsibility

Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Unit 1 only)

Like the UPPA course, this is a theory-based qualification and does not qualify you to become an IQA. It’s another good piece of CPD for you to complete if you’re already in the industry. It can also be really good for managers.

Level 4 Award in The Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1 and 2 only)

This course qualifies you to become an Internal Quality Assurer, this is the closest qualification to the old Internal Verifier. As an IQA you will be quality-assuring assessments and assessment decisions. However, it doesn’t fully qualify you to manage the entire quality assurance process.

Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

Now if you want to manage the entire IQA process this is the qualification for you. Comprised of all three units, it qualifies you to quality assure the assessments and the decisions, but also manage the internal quality procedures and staff. It also allows you to coordinate with External Quality Assurers (EQAs).

If any of these courses take your fancy, then you can pop on over to our friends at Brooks and Kirk, who specialise in TAQA training and are industry specialists! We highly recommend them!

Fortnightly Assessor Jobs, Blog Posts and Exclusive Content straight to your inbox.

What is TAQA

TAQA is an umbrella term for a host of qualifications. This is an acronym which stands for Training, Assessment and Quality Assurance. TAQA is not a course in itself though.

So you know what the acronym stands for, but what is actually within the letters?

T- Training

Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET)

Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET)

The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET)

A- Assessment

Unit 1: Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment
Unit 2: Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment
And, Unit 3: Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding

Taking all three units together is the only way you can be a fully qualified Assessor in your area of occupational competence. We’re going to take you through each qualification now.

UPPA- Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (Unit 1 only)

AVRA- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (Units 1 and 3 only)

ACWE- Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (Units 1 and 2 only)

However, if you only want to assess people in their work environment, then this is great for you. But this is the only thing you can assess in, you can’t assess in the learning environment.

CAVA – Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

If assessing in the learning and workplace environment sounds like something you want to do, or you need to assess in both, then the CAVA qualification is for you. Comprised of all 3 units, this fully qualifies you to become an Assessor. Being extremely sought after in the TAQA suite, this qualifies you to become an NVQ Assessor, End-Point Assessor (EPA) and On-Programme Assessor. This is what most employers are referring to when they ask for the TAQA qualification.

QA- Quality Assurance

Similar to the Assessor qualifications the three IQA qualifications are made up of a combination of three Units. Those Units are:

Unit 1: Understanding the Principles and Practices of Internally Assuring the Quality of Assessment
Unit 2: Internally Assure the Quality of Assessment
Unit 3: Plan, Allocate and Monitor Work in Own Area of Responsibility

Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Unit 1 only)

Level 4 Award in The Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1 and 2 only)

Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

If any of these courses take your fancy, then you can pop on over to our friends at Brooks and Kirk, who specialise in TAQA training and are industry specialists! We highly recommend them!

Fortnightly Assessor Jobs, Blog Posts and Exclusive Content straight to your inbox.

Building Services End-Point Assessor

The employer is a Training Sector organisation in Leamington Spa who specialise in developing qualifications for the Construction and Civil Engineering sectors. They develop a range of industry qualifications including Apprenticeships, which are developed and assessed by sector specialists with real industry knowledge. They currently have a fantastic opportunity an experienced Building Services Engineer or […]

Childcare Assessor (Trainee or Qualified)

KM have an exciting opportunity for a Childcare Assessor to deliver full Apprenticeships in Childcare! This opportunity is open to both Trainee and Qualified candidates. Trainee applicants – this is a great opportunity for a Room Leader (or above) to transition to a new and rewarding career within the training industry! Qualified Assessors – applications […]

Skills Tutor

Educated Appointments are delighted to be supporting a fast-growing premier provider of accountancy training and apprenticeships. Due to increased demand for apprenticeship training programmes they are looking out for new Tutor to join our team. This role sits within the Impact Skills Team and ultimately reports to the Programme Delivery Director. This role includes travel […]

Business and Education End-Point Assessor

The role of an Apprenticeship End-Point Assessor is to provide independent, fair, reliable, and consistent assessment services to Training Qualifications UK customers working with Apprenticeship Standards. End-Point Assessors are required to use assessment experience with robust and relevant industry knowledge to form judgements and grading decisions upon the completion of a variety of assessment activities, […]

HR Support/Partner End-Point Assessment Assessor

The role of HR Support/Partner End-Point Assessment Assessor as an Apprenticeship End-Point Assessor is to provide independent, fair, reliable and consistent assessment services to Training Qualifications UK customers working with Apprenticeship Standards. End-Point Assessors are required to use assessment experience with robust and relevant industry knowledge to form judgements and grading decisions upon the completion of a variety of assessment activities, which test the apprentices’ occupational competency. This role requires someone who is flexible in their approach to all tasks, with the independence to travel as and when the business requires. Also has exceptional assessment abilities coupled with the ability to act with integrity and impartiality. The successful post holder will not only be responsible for delivering an agreed caseload of End-Point Assessments but will also take a lead role in the training and standardisation of freelance associate End-Point Assessors, undertake internal quality assurance based tasks, and support with the delivery of training and support to external customers. The sectors that fall within this role to be assessed are:

Job

£28k to £40k per annum

Permanent

25/02/2022

Manchester

TRAINING QUALIFICATIONS UK

JOB DESCRIPTION

This role requires someone who is flexible in their approach to all tasks, with the independence to travel as and when the business requires. Also has exceptional assessment abilities coupled with the ability to act with integrity and impartiality. The successful post holder will not only be responsible for delivering an agreed caseload of End-Point Assessments but will also take a lead role in the training and standardisation of freelance associate End-Point Assessors, undertake internal quality assurance based tasks, and support with the delivery of training and support to external customers. The sectors that fall within this role to be assessed are:

Manage assigned caseload to ensure all stages of the End-Point Assessment journey are completed timely and to the expected standard
Deliver outstanding End-Point Assessment services to assigned Apprentices and Employers
Undertake End-Point Assessment activities with integrity and impartiality to offer a fair, reliable, unbiased and consistent assessment experience for all Apprentices and Employers
Produce accurate, appropriate and well informed assessment feedback/written reports to validate assessment decisions using the correct and as required regulatory paperwork and appropriate systems
Maintain an excellent working knowledge of Apprenticeship Standards and Assessment Plans relevant to the sector areas as listed above
Engage with internal quality assurance processes, undertaking the role as internal quality assurer as required
Actively participate in, and as required lead moderation, standardisation and development activities and meetings as required
As necessary support the development and delivery of training of freelance associate End-Point Assessors, and other external customers to aid a successful End-Point Assessment experience for all Apprentices
Be responsible for maintaining your own on-going CPD relevant to assessment and internal quality assurance practices, the wider Apprenticeship landscape and the industry for which you assess
Contribute where required to the review and growth of new assessment material and learning resources
Develop and maintain an understanding of Training Qualifications UK internal policies and processes and adhere to them at all times
Adhere to the highest possible quality standards relating to assessment practice and report any suspected or actualised breach of confidentiality or malpractice/maladministration to Training Qualifications UK
Proactively recognise and deal with any developmental actions to manage risk accordingly
Adhere to high levels of confidentiality in relation to Apprentices, Approved Centres and Employers whom Training Qualifications UK work with
Provide advice and responses to questions and queries relating to specified Apprenticeship Standards and sector
Requirement to travel. Has access to own transport with an ability/willingness to travel as the business needs

In addition to the key bullet points listed above, other responsibilities you hold are;

As necessary assist with complaints and/or assessment discrepancy using expert knowledge to draw conclusions about the case, acting as an authoritative voice in cases where consensus cannot be reached
Liaise with other departments to facilitate a smooth customer experience and journey
Be aware of the conflict of interest and report associated risks
Engage with any Training Qualifications UK communications such as; internal updates, newsletters, policy updates or Centre information
Support the screening and/or interview of potential End-Point Assessors/IQAs to verify expertise and qualification attainment meets industry requirement(s)
Assist with investigations into potential malpractice where sector expertise is required in order to draw sound conclusions about the case

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Holds a minimum of 5 years’ experience working within HR and familiarity of the role covered by the Apprenticeship Standard
Holds a recognised industry qualification at a minimum of CIPD L5 or equivalent
Evidence of technical and management expertise to ensure ability to assess all areas of the Standard
Have current knowledge of the regulatory framework and other regulatory and legislative requirements such as safeguarding, Prevent, equality, diversity and inclusion and health and safety
Hold a relevant Assessor qualification (D32/33, A1, TAQA equivalent) or EPA qualification with robust knowledge of assessment practice and techniques, including proficiency in remote assessment tools
Hold a relevant Internal Quality Assurer Qualification (D34, V1)
Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications held (or equivalent)
Experienced in assessing work-based learning
Sound IT and digital literacy skills with proven experience of working with various Microsoft packages
Experience of producing clear, accurate and concise written reports, including remarks/enquiries about results
Experience in organising and processing internal quality assurance practices; sampling of evidence; making judgements and providing constructive developmental feedback
Ability to provide clear and accurate IQA actions and follow up on these for a timely resolution
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with substantive experience of providing supportive, concise feedback
Outstanding organisational and time management skills
Evidence up to date sector knowledge and evidence of relevant CPD
Be prepared to work in a regulated environment and be comfortable working to set standard operating procedures
Ability to work in a flexible manner, adapt to different environments and solve problems independently

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Holds a minimum of 5 years’ experience working within an L&D profession and familiarity of the role covered by the Apprenticeship Standard
Has a breadth of experience of HR Generalist practices (for example, not isolated to recruitment only experience)
Experience of End-Point Assessment delivery
Experience in engaging with External Quality Assurance activities
An Ability to recognise change and improvement requirements and offer a solution driven approach
Be confident and ambitious with a “can do, will do” attitude
Be able to develop rapid and long-lasting rapport with team members, customers and stakeholders
Be well motivated, enthusiastic, and able to work on your own initiative as well as a part of a wider team
Be able to keep an eye on the bigger picture and appreciate where your role fits into the business.
Be passionate about education and the opportunities that it brings.
Always present a positive and professional image of Training Qualifications UK
Have a willingness to learn
Be courteous
Be willing to put the team first

To apply for this position check out the original post here. If not feel free to share this with a friend or fellow colleague.

APPLY NOW

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Job

£28k to £40k per annum

Permanent

25/02/2022

Manchester

TRAINING QUALIFICATIONS UK

JOB DESCRIPTION

Manage assigned caseload to ensure all stages of the End-Point Assessment journey are completed timely and to the expected standard
Deliver outstanding End-Point Assessment services to assigned Apprentices and Employers
Undertake End-Point Assessment activities with integrity and impartiality to offer a fair, reliable, unbiased and consistent assessment experience for all Apprentices and Employers
Produce accurate, appropriate and well informed assessment feedback/written reports to validate assessment decisions using the correct and as required regulatory paperwork and appropriate systems
Maintain an excellent working knowledge of Apprenticeship Standards and Assessment Plans relevant to the sector areas as listed above
Engage with internal quality assurance processes, undertaking the role as internal quality assurer as required
Actively participate in, and as required lead moderation, standardisation and development activities and meetings as required
As necessary support the development and delivery of training of freelance associate End-Point Assessors, and other external customers to aid a successful End-Point Assessment experience for all Apprentices
Be responsible for maintaining your own on-going CPD relevant to assessment and internal quality assurance practices, the wider Apprenticeship landscape and the industry for which you assess
Contribute where required to the review and growth of new assessment material and learning resources
Develop and maintain an understanding of Training Qualifications UK internal policies and processes and adhere to them at all times
Adhere to the highest possible quality standards relating to assessment practice and report any suspected or actualised breach of confidentiality or malpractice/maladministration to Training Qualifications UK
Proactively recognise and deal with any developmental actions to manage risk accordingly
Adhere to high levels of confidentiality in relation to Apprentices, Approved Centres and Employers whom Training Qualifications UK work with
Provide advice and responses to questions and queries relating to specified Apprenticeship Standards and sector
Requirement to travel. Has access to own transport with an ability/willingness to travel as the business needs

In addition to the key bullet points listed above, other responsibilities you hold are;

As necessary assist with complaints and/or assessment discrepancy using expert knowledge to draw conclusions about the case, acting as an authoritative voice in cases where consensus cannot be reached
Liaise with other departments to facilitate a smooth customer experience and journey
Be aware of the conflict of interest and report associated risks
Engage with any Training Qualifications UK communications such as; internal updates, newsletters, policy updates or Centre information
Support the screening and/or interview of potential End-Point Assessors/IQAs to verify expertise and qualification attainment meets industry requirement(s)
Assist with investigations into potential malpractice where sector expertise is required in order to draw sound conclusions about the case

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Holds a minimum of 5 years’ experience working within HR and familiarity of the role covered by the Apprenticeship Standard
Holds a recognised industry qualification at a minimum of CIPD L5 or equivalent
Evidence of technical and management expertise to ensure ability to assess all areas of the Standard
Have current knowledge of the regulatory framework and other regulatory and legislative requirements such as safeguarding, Prevent, equality, diversity and inclusion and health and safety
Hold a relevant Assessor qualification (D32/33, A1, TAQA equivalent) or EPA qualification with robust knowledge of assessment practice and techniques, including proficiency in remote assessment tools
Hold a relevant Internal Quality Assurer Qualification (D34, V1)
Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications held (or equivalent)
Experienced in assessing work-based learning
Sound IT and digital literacy skills with proven experience of working with various Microsoft packages
Experience of producing clear, accurate and concise written reports, including remarks/enquiries about results
Experience in organising and processing internal quality assurance practices; sampling of evidence; making judgements and providing constructive developmental feedback
Ability to provide clear and accurate IQA actions and follow up on these for a timely resolution
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with substantive experience of providing supportive, concise feedback
Outstanding organisational and time management skills
Evidence up to date sector knowledge and evidence of relevant CPD
Be prepared to work in a regulated environment and be comfortable working to set standard operating procedures
Ability to work in a flexible manner, adapt to different environments and solve problems independently

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Holds a minimum of 5 years’ experience working within an L&D profession and familiarity of the role covered by the Apprenticeship Standard
Has a breadth of experience of HR Generalist practices (for example, not isolated to recruitment only experience)
Experience of End-Point Assessment delivery
Experience in engaging with External Quality Assurance activities
An Ability to recognise change and improvement requirements and offer a solution driven approach
Be confident and ambitious with a “can do, will do” attitude
Be able to develop rapid and long-lasting rapport with team members, customers and stakeholders
Be well motivated, enthusiastic, and able to work on your own initiative as well as a part of a wider team
Be able to keep an eye on the bigger picture and appreciate where your role fits into the business.
Be passionate about education and the opportunities that it brings.
Always present a positive and professional image of Training Qualifications UK
Have a willingness to learn
Be courteous
Be willing to put the team first

To apply for this position check out the original post here. If not feel free to share this with a friend or fellow colleague.

APPLY NOW

Fortnightly Industry Jobs, Blog Posts and Exclusive Content straight to your inbox.

Building Services End-Point Assessor

Childcare Assessor (Trainee or Qualified)

Skills Tutor

Business and Education End-Point Assessor

How to Become an NVQ Assessor in Health and Social Care

As an experienced Health and Social Care worker, you are accustomed to improving the lives of other people. Now you wish to carry this on by becoming an NVQ Assessor and assess the next generation of Health and Social Care learners. After combing through countless Health and Social Care Assessor job postings and paired with our own industry knowledge. We bring you a comprehensive guide on ‘How to Become an NVQ Assessor in Health and Social Care’.

UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

Let’s first clarify what exactly an NVQ Assessor is. Specifically in Health and Social Care. This way, you will have a clear and realistic understanding of the job.

NVQ or National Vocational Qualification, is by definition, a “work-based qualification that recognises the skills and knowledge a person needs to do a job.” (SVT). This is what you must assess.

Typically, a Health and Social Care learner will be working towards a Level 2, 3, 4 or 5 qualification, delivered through a course or apprenticeship. As an Assessor you will provide support and guidance whilst assessing their abilities to complete this. Therefore, it is required that you are occupationally competent or qualified to an equal level or higher than what your learner is trying to achieve.

We have comprised a shortlist of the standard duties you will carry out over the course of your new career;

Observe and assess learners in their workplace / learning environment (face-to-face or online via video conference software)
Examine candidate portfolios of evidence
Offer advice and feedback if standards are not met
Keep up-to-date records of the learner’s progress; in accordance with the requirements stipulated by the NVQ Awarding Body
Participate in meetings with fellow Assessors
Build a working relationship with the training staff and candidates line managers
Question learners about how they would deal with non-standard situations in the working environment
Sign off the NVQ when all the requirements have been met

If you are unfamiliar with some of what was mentioned above, do not worry. This will all be covered in your Assessor qualification training.

THE EASIEST METHOD TO BECOME AN NVQ ASSESSOR.

Our current recommendation is the ‘Level 3 Certificate In Assessing Vocational Achievement’ (or CAVA). Upon completion of the course, you become qualified to assess others in your area of occupational competence within the workplace and learning environments.

Comprised of three units, the course has a Guided Learning Hours set at 54. If you can spare an hour a day, in a little over a month and a half you would have completed it.

Unit 1: ‘Understanding Principles and Practices of Assessment’
Unit 2: ‘Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment’
Unit 3: ‘Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding’

However, we want to inform you about a trap we see people fall into time and time again. As a part of the course curriculum, you must assess learners in their workplace. Do not presume the training company you choose to do your course with will provide the learners. It is not their responsibility to find the learners, but sadly yours.

If the last statement left you with some trust issues, do not worry. There are some amazing Independent Training Providers who do provide learners as a part of the course. You just have to look. One of which is Brooks and Kirk, who you can find out more about HERE.

We have provided all the information we could. From this point on the ball is in your court. If you need further guidance, you can email us at; hello@workflowaiagents.co.uk, or reach out to us through our social channels.

Weekly Assessor Jobs, Blog Posts and Exclusive Content straight to your inbox.

How to Become an NVQ Assessor in Health and Social Care

UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

Let’s first clarify what exactly an NVQ Assessor is. Specifically in Health and Social Care. This way, you will have a clear and realistic understanding of the job.

We have comprised a shortlist of the standard duties you will carry out over the course of your new career;

Observe and assess learners in their workplace / learning environment (face-to-face or online via video conference software)
Examine candidate portfolios of evidence
Offer advice and feedback if standards are not met
Keep up-to-date records of the learner’s progress; in accordance with the requirements stipulated by the NVQ Awarding Body
Participate in meetings with fellow Assessors
Build a working relationship with the training staff and candidates line managers
Question learners about how they would deal with non-standard situations in the working environment
Sign off the NVQ when all the requirements have been met

If you are unfamiliar with some of what was mentioned above, do not worry. This will all be covered in your Assessor qualification training.

THE EASIEST METHOD TO BECOME AN NVQ ASSESSOR.

Comprised of three units, the course has a Guided Learning Hours set at 54. If you can spare an hour a day, in a little over a month and a half you would have completed it.

Unit 1: ‘Understanding Principles and Practices of Assessment’
Unit 2: ‘Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment’
Unit 3: ‘Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding’

Weekly Assessor Jobs, Blog Posts and Exclusive Content straight to your inbox.

IQA Award and Lead IQA – What’s the difference?

The world of education and training is full of acronyms and abbreviations that can be confusing to navigate. Two such terms are IQA Award and Lead IQA qualification. While these two terms may sound similar, they actually refer to two distinct roles within the quality assurance process. IQA AWARD The IQA Award, or Internal Quality […]

Becoming a Hospitality Assessor

By Katherine Little Published 27th Feb 2023 | Blog The hospitality industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with a wide range of roles and opportunities. If you’re passionate about this field and enjoy helping others, becoming a hospitality assessor could be the perfect career choice for you. In this article, we’ll […]

Your Ultimate Guide to Quality Assurance: IQA & EQA

By Katherine Little Published 9th Feb 2023 | Blog Discover the Difference Between Internal and External Quality Assurance! Quality Assurance is all about making sure that products and services are the best they can be, avoiding problems, and improving them continuously. But did you know that there are two different methods of Quality Assurance – […]

Roles and Responsibilities of an Assessor

By Katherine Little Published 3rd Feb 2023 | Blog An assessor is a professional who is responsible for evaluating the skills, knowledge, and abilities of individuals in a particular field. The role of an assessor is vital in ensuring that the right training and development opportunities are provided to individuals and that their skills are […]

3 Amazing Reasons to Become an Assessor

In the UK people have between 4 to 8 hours per free day of free time (ONS, 2017). Even as a busy parent, a lot of assessor courses are flexible enough to fit into the hectic schedule! One hour a day, or 5 hours a week is all it takes to make progress towards becoming an Assessor. Let’s look at 3 amazing reasons becoming an assessor is the right step for you.

FORGET RUSH HOUR, WORK FROM HOME.

Most NVQ Assessor jobs posted online are stating 100% home-based work. This does come with the caveat of traveling to learners upon restrictions easing. However, do not let this put you off. Most companies are highlighting 50% or below of your hours will be spent traveling to learners, with some saying you will not have to travel at all!

To put that into perspective, 18.75 hours is half of an average working week or the equivalent of two- and a-bit working days. The rest of the week is at home. No commute to work (which if you think about the savings, it can be pretty tempting). Reduced daily stress and you get to be closer to your loved ones. There can be a lot benefits to be gained, especially if travel is not required.

INCREASED PAY? DON’T MIND IF I DO!

It always feels great the day you receive your pay packet. Especially the part where you end up looking at a holiday abroad (or maybe that’s just me?). Sadly, the feeling does not last. A day or two later and your bank account it is looking pretty empty. The direct debit for the bills and rent just went out. Urgh. And just when you think it’s over, you have to go out and do the monthly shop.

Goodbye holiday abroad, see you again next month.

(Source: Totaljobs)

Now apologies in advance, but this is going to get a little maths heavy. If you want the short and sweet version, the average salary of an assessor is £32,500 per annum. For a more detailed breakdown you can carry on reading or just skip to the next section.

(Information Source: Totaljobs)

Depending on many factors, namely; location, industry, employer and experience, the average salary can either go up or down. If you live-in North-West London, the average is £42,500. Understandably, due London being the capital of the UK it comes at a cost to live there. It has been reported that there is a “20% higher costs to achieve a decent standard of living in London, compared to the rest of the UK” (June, 2021). This of course is reflected by the £4,000 London Weighting, which would be factored into your salary if based in the inner and outer London area. Whereas Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Nottingham all fall in line with the £32,500 per annum figure.

Regardless of the money offered for a job, you must consider if it’s worth it for you. Do you have the experience? Is becoming an Assessor a pay-rise, you are willing to work towards. I would hope yes.

MORE APPRENTICESHIPS, MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES!

Young people aged 16-24 were amongst the hardest hit in the employment sector this year. To combat this Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that “£126m for more traineeships” would be allocated from the 2021 British Budget. This was with the aim to create “40,000 more traineeships”, including apprenticeships (BBC, June 2021). But how does this translate into more jobs I hear you ask? Here is quick list of the upcoming acronyms you need to know:

IEPA (Independent End-Point Assessor)
EPA (End-Point Assessment)
EPAO (End-Point Assessment Organisation)

Becoming an Assessor can open a few different career doors. One of these is an End-Point Assessor or IEPA. As stipulated by the British Government, all apprenticeships require an EPA. For those who are not aware, an EPA must be presided over by an IEPA or End-Point. Therefore, as long as you are qualified/experienced in the specific field that you wish to assess, with the appropriate qualification (learn more here), you could work as an IEPA.

Even if the Government only reaches one fourth of their goal, that still equates to 10,000 traineeships and therefore 10,000 End-Point Assessor jobs. With an average yearly salary of £26,000 or £200 per day freelancing, becoming an IEPA looks to be a bullish employment sector. It even affords you the benefit of assessing learners remotely from home or at their place of work. Now I feel it is important that I mention why I have separated IEPA from the general Assessor. Technically they are both Assessors. The same qualification allows you to become an IEPA and Assessor. So why are they in their own separate sections? An IEPA is slightly more specialised than a general Assessor.

Those are our ‘3 Amazing Reasons to Become an Assessor!’. Regardless if you’re looking for the next step in your career or simply cutting out your commute to spend more time with your family. The time to become an Assessor is now. If you want more clarification on the relevant qualifications you need to assess, click here. Otherwise, if the sections above have helped, please feel free to share to friends and/or colleagues:

FORGET RUSH HOUR, WORK FROM HOME.

INCREASED PAY? DON’T MIND IF I DO!

Bye, bye, holiday abroad, see you again next month.

(Source: Totaljobs)

(Information Source: Totaljobs)

MORE APPRENTICESHIPS, MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES!

IEPA (Independent End-Point Assessor)
EPA (End-Point Assessment)
EPAO (End-Point Assessment Organisation)

Even if the Government only reaches one fourth of their goal, that still equates to 10,000 traineeships and therefore 10,000 End-Point Assessor jobs. With an average yearly salary of £26,000 or £200 per day freelancing, becoming an IEPA looks to be a bullish employment sector. It even affords you the benefit of assessing learners remotely from home or at their place of work. Now I feel it is important that I mention why I have separated IEPA from the general Assessor. Technically they are both Assessors. The same qualification allows you to become an IEPA and Assessor. So why are they in their own separate sections? An IEPA is slightly more specialised than a general Assessor.

Assessor

What is TAQA

T- Training

A- Assessment

UPPA- Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (Unit 1 only)

AVRA- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (Units 1 and 3 only)

ACWE- Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (Units 1 and 2 only)

CAVA – Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

QA- Quality Assurance

Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Unit 1 only)

Level 4 Award in The Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1 and 2 only)

Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

NEWSLETTER

What is TAQA

T- Training

A- Assessment

UPPA- Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (Unit 1 only)

AVRA- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (Units 1 and 3 only)

ACWE- Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (Units 1 and 2 only)

CAVA – Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

QA- Quality Assurance

Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Unit 1 only)

Level 4 Award in The Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1 and 2 only)

Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Units 1, 2 and 3!)

NEWSLETTER

JOB DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

NEWSLETTER

JOB DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

NEWSLETTER

UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

THE EASIEST METHOD TO BECOME AN NVQ ASSESSOR.

NEWSLETTER

UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

THE EASIEST METHOD TO BECOME AN NVQ ASSESSOR.

NEWSLETTER

FORGET RUSH HOUR, WORK FROM HOME.

INCREASED PAY? DON’T MIND IF I DO!

MORE APPRENTICESHIPS, MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES!

FORGET RUSH HOUR, WORK FROM HOME.

INCREASED PAY? DON’T MIND IF I DO!

MORE APPRENTICESHIPS, MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES!