Unlock Your Career: A Guide to the Assessor Course in the UK

Are you stuck in a career rut? A specialised assessor course could be the jolt your professional life needs. But, with so much contradictory information out there about assessor training courses it is difficult to find the correct answers to your questions. Brooks and Kirk have been delivering assessor courses for over 25 years so let us guide you through the maze.

In a fast-paced world where skills and competencies determine success, becoming an assessor has emerged as a fulfilling and dynamic career choice. But with 4 different assessor courses available, how do you find the one that’s right for you? In this article, we aim to help you answer that question.

What is an Assessor Course?

Assessor training courses have been around in different forms for many years. Initially, as the D22/D23 and then the A1 assessor Award. Both of these qualifications have long gone. In this article, we will focus on the current assessor courses only.

Definition

An assessor course isn’t just another qualification; it’s a career-changing opportunity. These courses prepare you to evaluate others on their skills, knowledge, and overall competency. Essentially, you become the cornerstone of quality control in education and the workplace. It teaches you the skills you need to be able to assess your learners using holistic assessment.

Scope and Necessity

Don’t underestimate the power of a good assessor. Industries ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to the arts all need competent assessors.

Why Choose an Assessor Course in the UK?

Quality and Standards

The UK educational system is revered worldwide, and for good reason. You’re setting yourself up for long-term career success with stringent quality controls and globally recognized certifications like CAVA. All assessor qualifications in the UK  have to be approved by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, Ofqual. Ofqual is the UK government regulator who ensures all qualifications are fit for purpose. People worldwide respect their work and that is what makes UK qualification so valuable.

Career Growth and Flexibility

Imagine a career that transcends industries. As an assessor, your skills are needed in educational institutions, healthcare settings, and corporate offices alike. Research and testimonials show a steady career trajectory for qualified assessors.

Types of Assessor Courses

Still undecided? No worries! Here’s a quick but detailed guide:

Your Goal	Qualification Needed	Units Covered	What You Can Do	Additional Info
Update Knowledge	Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (UPPA)	Unit 1	Ideal for Managers who don’t need to assess but need to understand the process. Great for CPD.	Theory-based, no practical assessments
Classroom Assessor	Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (AVRA)	Units 1 & 3	Assess in classrooms, workshops, and online	Not for workplace assessment
On-the-Job Assessor	Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (ACWE)	Units 1 & 2	Assess in a work environment	Ideal for in-house company assessors
Do It All	Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)	Units 1, 2 & 3	Assess in all settings	The ‘holy grail’ of Assessor qualifications

Assessor Course Components and Structure

Units

There are three assessor units that make up all the assessor training courses. As you can see from the table above each course consists of one or more of these units.

Unit 1 – Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment

The first unit in the assessor training course focuses on developing a strong theoretical foundation. It covers the fundamental principles and practices of assessment, emphasising the role and responsibilities of an assessor.

Unit 2 – Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

This unit concentrates on the skills you will need to assess learners in their actual work environments doing their usual jobs.

Unit 3 – Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding

The final unit focuses on assessing learners’ vocational skills, knowledge, and understanding within a learning environment.

Occupational Competence

In order to be an assessor you need one other thing, occupational competence in the subject you wish to assess. You can gain occupational competence through your experience in your job. You may also need a relevant qualification in your area. If you want to assess learners in a completely different industry, you need to secure a role in the industry to gain sufficient occupational competence.

Career Paths After an Assessor Course

Potential Industries

By taking any of the assessor training courses post-certification you’re not limited to the education sector. You could work in healthcare, ensuring that medical staff are up to code. Or perhaps the manufacturing sector intrigues you? The world really is your oyster when you have a solid foundation in assessment.

Most of the senior roles in training such as Training Manager, Quality Manager or Head of Centre started out their careers by being assessors. Once you get this qualification under your belt your future career paths are virtually endless

FAQs

Do you have burning questions about the different assessor courses? We’re sure you do! We have detailed answers and more in our comprehensive Assessor’s Guide. It should answer all the questions you may have and of course, you could always ring us on 01205 805 155 if it doesn’t.

Enrol on an Assessor Course

Transform from a job-seeker to a career thriver by becoming an assessor. With versatility, growth, and a plethora of sectors to choose from, there’s no better time to unlock your career potential than now with one of our assessor training courses.