Why Now Is a Good Time to Become an EPA
If you have been mulling over the idea of taking up a new career in 2022, then this may just be the blog for you. The world of apprenticeships has had an overhaul in recent years. With the added incentives for businesses to take them on, now is a great time to become an End-Point Assessor (EPA).
What Does An EPA Do?
The role of an EPA is to carry out assessments at the end of an Apprentice’s training. This is to ensure that they can demonstrate occupational competence and have the relevant skills, knowledge and behaviours. An Independent End Point Assessor is usually brought in at the gateway stage of an apprenticeship. This is when both the employer and training provider agree the apprentice is ready to move onto the end-point assessment process.
As an End-Point Assessor, it is important that you are completely independent from the apprentice. You will be required to visit their workplace in order to carry out the assessment. Alternatively, the assessments can be done remotely. Methods of assessment that are used can include an observation; a professional discussion; or any other method as outlined by the apprenticeship standard.
General Information
You may be wondering who an End-Point Assessor works for. The answer is an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). They are approved providers who are responsible for carrying out end-point assessments. EPAOs also recruit, train and support End Point Assessors so they can go out and carry out the EPAs on their own.
There are both full-time and part-time roles available for EPAs. So, it is worth having a browse through any open job opportunities and thinking about which would fit best around your lifestyle. Associate roles are also great if you just want a bit of extra income each month without the full-time responsibilities that come with becoming an EPA.
Becoming Qualified
Unfortunately, before you can start researching jobs you do need to complete an Assessor qualification. Now which one you need to take depends on the EPAO itself; but as a rule of thumb, the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) is what you need. Whilst there is no specific qualification for EPAs, you do need a valid Assessor qualification and experience working within your area of expertise.
It may be worth gaining an IQA qualification such as the IQA Award. Or, perhaps, the Lead IQA course. It is definitely worth having a chat with the EPAO to see which qualifications they prefer you to have though.
Maintaining Your Current Job
If you are working within the industry in which you are hoping to become an EPA in, then you are in the perfect position to make this career move. Not only will you have the latest knowledge about the sector, you know your role inside out. That means you could assess someone doing a similar job quite easily.
If you have any questions about how to become an EPA then please feel free to drop us an email at training@brooksandkirk.co.uk.
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.