What Was the D32/D33 Assessor Qualification? (Now Replaced)

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If you’ve landed here searching for the D32/D33 qualification, here’s the straightforward answer: both qualifications were replaced in 2002 and no longer exist. The qualification you need today is the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement, also known as the CAVA.

However, if you hold a D32/D33 from years ago, you may be wondering whether it’s still valid — and what, if anything, you need to do. This guide answers those questions clearly, traces the full history of how assessor qualifications have evolved, and explains where things stand today.

What Were the D32/D33 Qualifications?

The D32/D33 were the original assessor qualifications in the UK. They were the very first formal credentials that qualified someone to assess learners against vocational standards. For their time, they were the benchmark for professional assessment practice.

D32 — Assessing Candidate Performance The D32 covered assessment planning, judging performance and knowledge, making assessment decisions, and giving constructive feedback. Assessors had to demonstrate skills across several assessment methods including natural performance observation, simulation, and questioning.

D33 — Assessing Candidates Using Different Sources of Evidence The D33 was the more comprehensive of the two units. It covered everything within the D32 and more, requiring assessors to demonstrate a broader range of assessment methods including:

  • Assessment of natural performance, simulation, and questioning
  • Candidate and peer reports, projects, and written assessments
  • Assessment of prior achievement and learning

Together, the D32/D33 formed the foundation of vocational assessment qualification in the UK. As assessment practice evolved and the qualifications framework developed, a more modern, unified qualification eventually replaced them.

What Replaced the D32/D33?

D32/D33 were replaced in 2002 by the A1 Award. The A1 is formally the Level 3 Award in Assessing Candidates Using a Range of Methods. The A1 brought the two separate units together into a single, more comprehensive qualification. It covered the skills, techniques, and principles of assessing competency, and went into greater depth on how different assessment methods could be used to judge a learner’s level of competence.

However, the A1 wasn’t the end of the story. In December 2010, authorities replaced the A1 Award with a new suite of four qualifications known as TAQA.

For a full breakdown of the A1 and what happened to it, see our guide to the A1 assessor award.

The Current Qualification: CAVA

Today, the qualification that most directly replaces the D32/D33 — and the one most employers look for — is the CAVA: the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.

The CAVA covers three units:

  1. Unit 1 — Understanding the principles and practices of assessment
  2. Unit 2 — Assessing occupational competence in the work environment
  3. Unit 3 — Assessing vocational skills, knowledge, and understanding

Together, these three units qualify you to assess learners in any setting — workplace, classroom, or training centre. Because of this flexibility, the CAVA is more comprehensive than either the D32/D33 were individually. It’s also the qualification that awarding bodies and employers across the UK now recognise as the standard for qualified assessors.

Alongside the CAVA, three other qualifications sit within the TAQA suite:

  • AVRA — Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (classroom settings only)
  • ACWE — Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (workplace settings only)
  • UPPA — Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment (knowledge only — doesn’t qualify you to assess)

However, for most people, the CAVA is the right choice. Because it covers both workplace and classroom assessment, it gives you the widest range of options and the strongest position when applying for assessor roles. You can verify the CAVA’s current accredited status on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications.

How Assessor Qualifications Have Evolved

Here’s a clear timeline of how the qualification has changed since the beginning:

Pre-2002 — D32 and D33 The original assessor units. The D32 covered performance assessment and the D33 covered a broader range of evidence types. Both were required to become a fully qualified assessor.

2002 — A1 Award introduced The D32 and D33 were replaced by the A1 Award — a single, more unified qualification covering the range of assessment methods needed in vocational education.

2010 — CAVA and TAQA introduced The A1 was replaced by the current suite of TAQA qualifications, with the CAVA as the most comprehensive and widely recognised option. This is still the current standard today.

Is My D32/D33 Still Valid?

person studying d32

This is one of the most common questions we receive — and the answer is nuanced.

The D32 and D33 qualifications themselves no longer exist as active awards. However, if you completed them and have been actively assessing ever since, your practice has almost certainly kept pace with current standards through ongoing CPD. In that case, your historical qualification still reflects genuine competence, and most employers and awarding bodies will recognise that.

However, if you completed the D32 or D33 years ago and haven’t been actively assessing since, your practical knowledge may be out of date. In that case, it’s worth refreshing your skills before returning to assessment work. The UPPA (Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment) is a good way to update your knowledge without re-qualifying from scratch.

If you’re returning to assessing after a long gap, or if you’re unsure whether your historical qualification is sufficient for a role you’re applying for, our team is happy to give you an honest, straightforward answer.

Why Do Some Job Adverts Still Mention D32/D33?

As with the A1 award, some employers still list D32 or D33 in job adverts, even though they replaced the qualifications more than 20 years ago.

This usually happens because the person writing the advert is familiar with the old terminology and hasn’t updated it. In practice, if a job advert asks for D32/D33, they almost certainly mean the CAVA — or are open to any current assessor qualification. So don’t be put off by outdated language. The CAVA covers everything the D32 and D33 once did, and significantly more.

Ready to Get Your Current Assessor Qualification?

At Brooks and Kirk, we’ve been delivering assessor qualifications since before the CAVA existed — so we understand the full history of how the qualification has evolved and what it takes to qualify today.

Our CAVA course is fully online, nationally accredited, and includes access to learners at no extra cost. Because we’re a not-for-profit organisation, every penny of your course fee goes directly into delivering high-quality training and support.

Find out more about the CAVA qualification here.

If you have questions about which qualification is right for you — or whether your existing qualification is still sufficient — our team is happy to help. Email us at training@brooksandkirk.ac.uk or call 01205 805 155.