Is TAQA a Recognised Qualification?
We’ve been in the training industry for a long time now – over 25 years in fact. We specialise in the TAQA suite of courses, and we love doing what we do. But we’re going to have to be really honest about something and let out our frustrations because it has been bugging us for a long time…
TAQA is NOT a course! You cannot be qualified in TAQA. TAQA is not an accredited qualification.
Of course, it’s perfectly understandable that people who are new to Assessing will be confused by what TAQA is. But our frustrations are with awarding bodies and job adverts that specifically ask for ‘TAQA/A1’.
After all, TAQA isn’t a qualification, and A1 is the old name for the CAVA! So, let’s straighten this out once and for all.
What is TAQA?
TAQA is the title for a suite of qualifications. It is not a qualification itself. You cannot be ‘qualified in TAQA’.
TAQA stands for Training, Assessment, and Quality Assurance. Now, inside of TAQA, is where you will find the Assessor qualifications, along with Quality Assurance qualifications and the Adult Teaching qualifications.
Under ‘T’ for ‘Training’ in we have:
All Education and Training qualifications, qualify you to teach in the Further Education sector. This part of the TAQA suite represents what used to be called the Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (TLLS) qualifications.
Under ‘A’ for ‘Assessment’ we have:
- Level 3 Award in Understanding Principles and Practices of Assessment
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in a Work Environment
- Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
All Assessor qualifications, qualify you to assess in a work environment, a learning environment, or both. Previously known as the A1 and prior to that, the D32/33.
Finally, under ‘QA’ for ‘Quality Assurance’ we have:
- Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
- Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
- Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
All Internal Quality Assurance qualifications, qualifying you to internally quality assure, and lead & manage the quality assurance process. These qualifications used to be known as IV, or the A2.
(We’ve kindly linked all of the above qualifications to their respective pages on our website so you can easily find out which one qualifies you to do what!)
In any event, if you do happen to see any job adverts that specifically ask for ‘TAQA‘ or ‘A1‘ or ‘D32‘ – this means the Level 3 CAVA. We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again; you cannot be qualified in ‘TAQA’. Companies should not be asking for you to be as this is not factually correct.
And of course, if you have any questions about TAQA and its components, please feel free to drop us a comment below or give us a call on 01205 805 155.
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.