City & Guilds Level 3 TAQA Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA 6317-33)

There are many areas in the skills sector where qualifications are gained by on-the-job assessment. Bricklaying, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Customer Service and apprenticeship programmes are all examples of areas where such assessment takes place. This means there is a need for trained staff to undertake the role of the assessor for these qualifications.

The certificate qualifies those who assess both occupational competence in the work environment and vocational skills, knowledge and understanding in a workshop, classroom or other training environments. This is a transferable qualification to any sector where the assessor can demonstrate occupational competence

• Introduction to the award and the assessment requirements
• How to plan for assessment
• How to assess candidate's performance and knowledge against national standards
• How to record and process assessment decisions
• How to standardise assessment decisions
• Observation of assessment and feedback skills in the workplace
• Building a portfolio of evidence

The programme is flexible and includes a blend of tutorials, independent study, written work, gathering of evidence, observation of practice and portfolio building.

Candidates for this qualification must:

• Have access to an appropriate assessment centre
• Have access to at least 2 candidates to be assessed
• Have access to an assessor/mentor for countersigning
• Have the potential to study at this level (A-level equivalent)
• Have occupational competency in the qualification they are assessing

Qualified practitioners who have at least one years’ experience in an assessor role (after certification) or equivalent assessment/moderation experience to meet quality assurance or auditable purposes can progress to the Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice Award if a potential IQA role has been secured and all entry requirements have been fulfilled.