End point assessing roles vary, depending on the end point assessment organisation (EPAO) you work for and what standard you are assessing. It can be a really great, rewarding role. As an experienced professional in almost any industry, you can become an end point assessor, for the area in which you have worked. Teachers can make great end point assessors too as can professionals from many industries, as well as tutors, apprenticeship tutors and NVQ assessors.
Most EPAs can be conducted from the comfort of your own home, which means it's a great role to work around a family, or as a second role to supplement your income. It's nice to get out too sometimes when face-to-face assessments are needed, and go and meet people from different companies, backgrounds and job roles.
As and end point assessor, you can work on a contract or freelance, and many EPAOs (like us) work with freelance associate end point assessors. End point assessors can accept work as and when it suits (within reason, obviously keeping the customer happy), so when an end point assessment is needed, this can be allocated to the most appropriate end point assessor who has availability on that day.
The end point assessor role can include checking work uploaded in advance of the EPA, preparing questions, checking results of tests, invigilating tests, online Q&A, interview or professional discussion delivery, calculating grading, attending standardisation training sessions and keeping up to date with industry changes (CPD) and much more. They are given information, training and guidance on how to assess from the EPAO, as well in any relevant professional training.
End point assessors need to be highly professional, friendly and have an excellent knowledge of the standard and assessment plan they are assessing. They also need to have great Wi-Fi and IT systems when working from home, so that communication isn't lost when conducting assessments, as well as skills such as accuracy and consistency of marking.
As an end point assessor, you won't give any feedback during the assessment, that saves any embarrassment, or awkward conversations. You will make your recommendation of a grade, write feedback for the apprentice and then this will be checked by the IQA before it is released.
End point assessors need to make sure it's nice and quiet during assessments, as it's not great for apprentices to hear the assessors' doorbell, phone, other people or animals, for example during their assessment, when they are trying to concentrate.
As a freelance, associate end point assessor, you can pick and choose when you want to work, as long as you can meet your deadlines in getting reports and marking uploaded. You can even write reports outside office hours and work flexibly.
End point assessors need to have strong communication skills, in order to make sure apprentices' feel relaxed, as nerves can be an issue for some apprentices.
They have suitable industry experience for the standard in which they want to assess, as well as professional assessing qualifications such as CAVA (Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement) and many standards also require IQA (Internal Quality Assurance Qualifications). There is also a specific qualification aimed at supporting understanding and knowledge of end point assessment (Level 3 Award in Undertaking End Point Assessment). which is a valuable asset your CV when applying for roles.
Whatever route you go down to become an end point assessor, the rewards can be great. Its normally well paid, enjoyable work, where you feel you are really making a difference and supporting the integrity of apprenticeships and the standards of work completed by apprentices before they are qualified. It's a great feeling to support an apprentice at EPA and see pass and distinction grades awarded.
We are an EPAO, so we know how great it is to be an end point assessor! We offer training for assessors, EPA assessors and IQAs. Our service levels are outstanding, and we have great feedback from clients and those we have trained.
Email us for more information about our end point assessor, assessing or IQA courses, or message us with any questions about what it is like to end point assess. You can even apply for an NUS Professional Student Discount Card (Totum) once enrolled on one of our cousres. Totum claim that most people save around £500 per year with it. That covers most of the costs of some courses, and more than others!
IQA £575, Lead IQA £775, CAVA £795, EPA course £299 *as of 3.11.22 - please ask for a quote to confirm. There are a range of payment options, including instalments. We make courses simple and time effective. We don't aim to be the cheapest, but we are competitive and offer great service, as well as making the course personalised, and time efficient for you whenever we can.
Info@a2atraining.co.uk 0121 294 5153
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