The Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) is the only assessor qualification that allows you to practice as a fully-qualified assessor. It is equally suitable for assessors in classrooms or professional training.

By the end of this course, you will be ready for a career in evaluating vocational competencies for a range of qualifications, such as apprenticeships, functional skills, teaching certificates, NVQ’s, awards, certificates and diplomas.

Please note: students must be 19 years and over at the start of this course, and have access to assessing students’ work in order to complete the full pathway and become a fully qualified assessor.

• Overview

  Sometimes known as the TAQA (Training, Assessment and Quality Assurance), this is a modern, recognised Level 3 assessing vocational achievement certification that came to replace the previous A1/2 and D32/33 assessor qualification.

  There are 4 pathways available with this qualification. Please see Entry Requirements for specific information relating to pathways 2, 3, and 4.

  Pathway 1: Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (1 unit that provides the underpinning knowledge of being an assessor but doesn’t cover the practical aspects)

  Pathway 2: Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (2 units that cover the underpinning knowledge and assessing practically in a work environment)

  Pathway 3: Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (2 units that provide the underpinning knowledge and assessing practically in a school, college or Training Provider environment)

  Pathway 4: Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (3 units that fully qualify the candidate as an assessor of vocational related qualifications)

• Who is this course for?

  Students must be aged 19 or over at the start of this course.

  This course is relevant for anyone who wishes to become an assessor in vocational training. The right pathway (each described in more detail below) will depend on their access to assessing students’ work.

  Pathway 1 is for anyone working in or is interested in working in a vocational training environment, either a school, college, university of training provider. Tuition Fee: £250.00

  Pathway 2 is for anyone working in or is interested in working in a school, college or university environment that delivers vocational training such as Apprenticeships, Traineeships, NVQ’s etc. Tuition Fee: £500.00

  Pathway 3 is for anyone in a workplace environment that has or supports Apprentices and wishes to be involved in the delivery of their qualification. Tuition Fee: £500.00

  Pathway 4 is for anyone who wishes to be a fully qualified assessor and work in Apprenticeships as an assessor or as a stepping stone to becoming an Internal Quality Assurer. Tuition Fee: £700.00

• Entry Requirements

  All candidates must have access to at least 2 learners or apprentices in a college, university or work environment to undertake pathways two, three or four. To work as a fully qualified assessor the candidate must also be working at Level 2 (GCSE 4 or above) in their maths, English and ICT.

• Assessment Types

  There are a range of assessment methods that will be used throughout this qualification including:

  • Questioning
  • Work products
  • Observation
  • Professional Discussion
  • Reflection

• Units/Modules

  Unit One: Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment

  Unit Two: Assess Occupational Competence in the Work EnvironmentUnit Three: Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding

  Pathway One: Unit 1

  Pathway Two: Units 1 and 3

  Pathway Three: Units 1 and 2

  Pathway Four: All units

• Careers/Progression

  This qualification is the starting point to working as an assessor in a vocational qualification setting. Anyone wishing to deliver Apprenticeships will need to undertake Pathway Four.

  Progressing from assessing, a candidate can undertake their Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes (IQA) Award and undertake quality assurance activities within a vocational learning environment.