5 Reasons You Should Take an Assessor Qualification
With everything going on at the moment, a change in career may be exactly what you are looking for. If you are passionate about learning, an Assessor qualification could be the next step for you to take. The main role of an Assessor is to observe learners in their workplace, providing support and guidance throughout their apprenticeship. You will be responsible for collecting evidence and assessing their abilities before signing off on their qualification.
Many people choose to become an Assessor as they want to help others achieve their full potential. Here are some other reasons to take an Assessor qualification:
1. Professional development
Continued professional development is important in order to improve the skills and knowledge that you have. The varied role of an Assessor will mean that no two days will be the same. Whether you are recording achievements, running through evidence or marking work, you will soon develop a wide range of skills. You will be regularly communicating with your learners, and time management is also important when running your own diary.
That isn’t to say once you become an Assessor you are stuck with that career choice. Many of the skills that you will acquire are transferable to other roles, either within the education sector, or even management roles.
2. Flexible working hours
One of the main attractions of becoming an Assessor is the flexibility that the role provides, and how it can make more time for you. Whether you are returning to employment after having a child, or you simply desire that work-life balance that a full-time role can’t provide, becoming an Assessor may be the best choice for you.
If you have read through our day in the life of a childcare Assessor blog, you will soon see that becoming a freelance Assessor can give you so much more freedom. You can visit learners anywhere, at any time, fitting them in around your schedule. The role is very varied. You may find yourself on the road visiting learners a couple of days a week and then spending the rest of the week writing up the assessments.
3. A new role with new challenges
Sometimes a change is as good as a break. If you have got to the stage where your full-time office job is no longer satisfying then maybe becoming an Assessor is something you should consider. One of the great things about being an Assessor is that you can still stay in the sector that you know, understand and have experience in. However, you will probably find it is a much less stressful job.
4. Progression at work
If you are wanting to stay within the organisation you currently work for, but are working towards a promotion, an Assessor qualification can help. These days, employers are focused on developing the skill set of their staff so that they can bring more of their services in-house. By adding an Assessor qualification to your CV, this will definitely help to impress your boss!
5. Meeting new people
As well as flexibility being one of the main reasons people choose to become Assessors, you will also meet people from all walks of life. You will build strong relationships with your learners, and watching them as they progress through their course is a very rewarding process.
It isn’t just learners who you will be interacting with on a regular basis though, you will find your path will also cross with other Assessors. This is a fantastic way to network and build up your reputation within the industry.
How to become a qualified Assessor
After reading through this blog, if you are swayed towards becoming an Assessor you may be wondering what the next steps are. In order to become an Assessor, you need both an Assessor qualification and occupational competence. The best qualification you can take is the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) as this will allow you to assess learners both within their workplace and in learning environments.
If you would like any further help with starting your journey as an Assessor, the team at Brooks and Kirk are always on hand to help answer any questions you may have. Give us a call on 01205 805 155 or email us – training@brooksandkirk.co.uk
Steve is a Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
He provides Educational Consultancy to the 19+ sector as well as being an Assessor, IQA, EPA and Digital Marketing Professional. When not doing any of these he finds time, every now and then, to write blogs and articles.