Assessor and IQA – What Is The Difference?
Assessors and Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) are both involved in a student’s learning journey. Part of both roles is to make sure that assessments and activities are to a set standard. It is not uncommon to confuse the terms Assessor and IQA, as these roles work together. This enforces the misconception of them being the same, but they are very different.
Assessor
An assessor supports and assesses a learner who is working towards a vocational qualification either in a college, workplace or training centre. It’s the assessors job to make sure that the learner meets all the occupational standards and procedures to gain their qualification. Part of being an assessor means you will also provide them with goals and record their achievements. It is your role to make sure that the learner is at a level required to pass.
Assessors can assess NVQs, Awards or Apprenticeships. However, you can’t assess in any vocation; you must be occupationally competent in that area.
What roles and responsibilities do assessors have? In addition to planning assessments, you will have additional tasks. These may vary depending on the sector and organisation you’re with.
This may include:
- Planning and doing training and workshops
- Observing candidates in their workplace
- Examining a candidate’s portfolio
- Providing feedback to the candidate
- Keeping records of progress
You also need to motivate your learners so they can achieve the best they can too. As an assessor you are the learners main point of contact, so it’s a good idea to maintain a positive relationship with them.
You must hold the Level 3 CAVA qualification to become a fully qualified assessor.
Internal Quality Assurers (IQA)
What about IQAs?
The IQAs are the ones who are responsible for making sure operations run smoothly. This involves everything from the learning and studying the apprentice undertakes, all the way through to their final exam and ensuring certificates are claimed correctly. An IQA helps with the standardisation process and ensures that everything is carried out in a fair and consistent way.
The role of an IQA often falls with a supervisor or manager within a training centre. IQAs used to be called ‘verifiers’ or ‘internal verifiers’. So if you hear those words being used they are really just other ways of saying the same thing!
Why does the IQA role exist?
The IQA role is vital to ensuring organisations follow the best practices when it comes to assessment practices. If assessments and delivery of qualifications are not done fairly then it leads to employees that are not fit for their jobs, or lack specific training and skills. Not to mention a ruined reputation.
So what are their responsibilities?
Some of the day to day activities will vary. But here are some things that an IQA will be responsible for.
- Checking that assessors are fully qualified
- Planning and preparing activities for the monitoring of assessments
- Ensuring standardisation of practices
- Observing assessor and trainer
- Sampling assessment records
You may want to think of it like a hierarchy. Starting with the learners, then the assessors are above them and then on top of the assessors are the IQAs. As they are different roles, the qualifications for both of them will be different. What are the different qualifications?
Assessor and IQA Qualifications
What qualifications do you need an Assessor and IQA?
As you may know the assessor course that most people complete is the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement or CAVA.
IQAs need a more advanced qualification, such as the Level 4 IQA Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Process and Practice. If you want to become a Lead IQA then you would need the Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Lead IQA). You won’t be able to become a Centre Lead or Quality Manager with just the Level 4 Award.
A lot of the time, organisations will ask that their IQA holds an assessor qualification as well. Having both Assessor and IQA qualification makes you look more employable on your CV.
How We Can Help You
If you’re thinking about a career in assessing or progressing into an IQA position, we can help you with that! We offer the Assessor qualification as well as the IQA qualification. Both of them are all online and will help you progress in your career.
We hope this has helped you in understanding the difference between the two. If you have any questions or queries you can always phone our team on 01205 805 155.