How Do I Become an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA)?

At Brooks and Kirk, we offer more than just Assessor courses. We also offer Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) courses. The IQA course is a step up from the Assessor courses. So if you’re looking to take your Assessor career to the next level, you may wish to become an Internal Quality Assurer.

What is the role of an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA)?

First things first – what does an IQA (Internal Quality Assurer) actually do? Well, all training providers must have an Internal Quality Assurer on their team. This can also be referred to as an Internal Verifier. Quality assurance ensures that the training provider is running at the best they can be. Much like how quality assurance would take place in any other environment; it ensures all products and services are being delivered at a high standard, equal to one another.

Each centre’s IQA is responsible for quality-checking decisions made by the centre’s Assessors. This is to ensure these decisions and the Assessors’ practices, are maintaining the centre’s standards. Some of the tasks that an IQA will undertake include:

• Making sure all Assessors are appropriately trained, qualified, and carrying out their roles efficiently;
• Monitoring the centre’s assessment practice and procedures by carrying out sampling activities;
• Making sure that the centre’s equality and diversity policy is implemented;
• Conducting a minimum of two standardisation meetings per year.

If quality assurance isn’t happening, then there are risks to the accuracy, consistency, and fairness of training and assessment practice. Therefore, this can cause a significant disadvantage to learners. To reflect the importance of this role, an IQA earns more than the average Assessor

How do I become an Internal Quality Assurer/Internal Verifier?

To become an Internal Quality Assurer, you need to be a qualified Assessor and IQA. Therefore, you need to undertake an Assessor qualification followed by an IQA training such as the Level 4 IQA qualification. This requirement is set by awarding bodies.

Currently, 3 IQA qualifications are available; however, only 2 qualify you to become a fully qualified IQA practitioner.

Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice

First of all, starting with the most basic of all the IQA Qualifications; this course does not actually qualify you to internally quality assure. But, it does provide you with the knowledge behind IQA.

This makes this award a great form of CPD (Continuing Professional Development), especially for Managers.

By completing this qualification, you will know the context and principles of internal quality assurance. You’ll also know how to plan the internal quality assurance of assessment, and techniques for monitoring, maintaining and improving IQA. Remember: you won’t be qualified to put any of this into real-life practice. For that, you will need one of the two following qualifications.

Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice

This is the equivalent to the old Internal Verifiers qualification. Hence where the name Internal Verifer originated from. It qualifies you to make quality assurance of assessments and assessment decisions.

By completing this qualification, you will know and be able to manage information relevant to the internal quality assurance of assessment. You will also be able to internally evaluate, maintain and improve the quality of assessment.

But, it doesn’t qualify you to be the Lead IQA of your training provider. If that’s a role you’re interested in, then you will need the…

Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice

The most highly regarded Level 4 IQA qualification; is the Lead IQA. This is the ideal qualification for you if you wish to be the Lead IQA of your training provider. It provides you with all the skills necessary to not only quality assure qualifications; but also lead and manage the whole quality assurance process.

By completing this qualification, you will know and be able to quality assure qualifications and manage the internal quality assurance processes for a training centre. With the Lead IQA, you’ll also be able to manage other IQAs and EQA visits. If the prospect of developing and writing internal quality assurance policies and procedures interests you, this qualification covers that too.

In the long run, this is the course we would recommend the most. So if becoming a Lead IQA is the path you want to go down, take a look at our Level 4 Certificate in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice page.

Become an Internal Quality Assurer Today

If you’re new to further education and/or need both the assessor and IQA qualification, we offer a Quality Manager course bundle. With this bundle, you can save money when enrolling on both courses at once. Get in touch on 01205 805 155 or email us at training@brooksandkirk.ac.uk if you’d like to enquire.