About End-Point Assessment

WHAT IS END-POINT ASSESSMENT?

This new Apprenticeship assessment occurs at the end of a minimum period of training as an apprentice – typically 12 months. The employer, the training provider and the EPA organization will decide whether the apprentice is ready to be tested.

• The assessment is ‘synoptic’, which means it takes an overview of the apprentices’ competence
• It consists of a number of different types of external assessment, typically:
  Multiple-choice tests
  Professional discussions
  Observation of the apprenticeship at work
  Trade tests, e.g. in hospitality, learners will cook specific dishes
  Written project work
• Employers who have developed the apprenticeship standard will determine how to test for occupational competence within their industry
• Each different type of apprenticeship, defined by occupation, will have a specific set of assessments which have to be passed to achieve a certificate
• An ‘assessment plan’ is published for each one which contains all the details of the testing required to achieve a certificate
• Some assessments are graded; e.g. pass, merit and distinction

HOW DOES EPA FIT INTO THE NEW APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS?

• The employer and training provider will choose a Registered Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation to work with (see below)
• For all apprenticeships, a set period of training will need to be finished before the assessment begins –
  a minimum of 12 months or longer
• Training providers and/or employers will need to ensure that their learners are ready to be assessed
• The assessment process starts after this ‘gateway’ process has been initiated

WHO CAN OFFER EPA?

• All activity is managed by an impartial organization known as a Registered Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation (RAAO)
• RAAOs will have been approved by the Education and Skills Funding Agency before they can offer the service
• This activity will always be separate from the training input
• Independent end-point assessment is key to ensuring that no-one involved in the management or training of apprentices is able to decide who is competent.

HOW IS IT MANAGED?

• An RAAO will provide a variety of sample assessments and ‘diagnostic’ materials that can be used by employers and training providers throughout the training input to ensure that learners know what to expect at the assessment stage
• All additional requirements will have to be completed before the final assessment starts, eg achievement of any qualifications that are in the standard or Functional Skills in English, maths and IT
• An end-point assessor will be allocated to each learner to manage the process and schedule the various assessments according to the assessment plan requirements. This may have to be achieved in a certain order and within a defined timeframe
• If a learner fails an assessment, a resit can be arranged but in some cases, learners may need more training input before the further assessment takes place
• RAAOs will be responsible for claiming the overarching apprenticeship certificate from the relevant apprenticeship certification organization (currently the Education and Skills Funding Agency)

WHAT IS EPA PRO?

EPA Pro is Innovate Awarding’s specially designed for the new Apprenticeship standards to make the administration of the new assessment process as simple as possible. This tool will guide the provider from apprentice registration to assessment booking and scheduling, results and certification, whilst providing access to materials that support the process.

Watch a demo of how to use the system below:

The costs 

To view our price list please click here

Prices are indicative and we will talk to potential customers about their needs. Prices include all component assessments identified by the plan for the apprenticeship, access to our assessment IT system (including free early registration), and access to free support materials and resources.

For more details about our prices, or to talk further about our proposition, please contact us at info@skillsepa.co.uk.

• Re-sits
  Innovate Awarding [IAO] offers one free re-sit per multiple-choice test, where included within a standard.
  Component assessment re-sits will be charged per assessment available in a separate document.
• External quality assurance
  IAO is subject to external quality assurance for each standard.
  There is no additional charge payable for this requirement.
• Payment 
  IAO will invoice for payment in full for each learner following the gateway process. Payment terms 30 days.