After speaking to many people recently about how versatile the assessing qualification is and the fact that, if a qualification in your area of expertise exists, then it is likely that assessors will be needed. I decided to put together this short article to demonstrate that assessing can be for you.
Many options exist for assessors, they can either assess work based qualifications such as NVQ’s in the learners work place, or assess vocational qualifications, which usually relate to a specific job role but the learner isn’t required to demonstrate their competence in a real work place, it is based on giving the learner the knowledge and skills to acquire a job. Generally, work based qualifications take longer to achieve than vocational qualifications.
So what do I need to become an assessor?
Firstly, you need to be competent in the area you wish to assess. This is usually via a qualification that you have achieved. For example, if you wish to assess Childcare, you will need to be qualified in Childcare. Ideally you should be qualified above the level you wish to assess, but this is not a definite requirement, most organisations require you to have the same level or equivalent.
Secondly, you will need one of the assessing qualifications. The full Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement will cover you to assess any type of qualification but you can also complete the below:
Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment – Unit 1
Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment- Unit 1 and Unit 2
Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement- Unit 1 and Unit 3
Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement- Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3
Unit 1 – Understanding principles and practices of assessment. The knowledge and theory of assessment. This unit can be completed on its own if you just required the knowledge, or with the units below. Some awarding organisations only require you to have this unit certificate to be able to assess the qualifications.
Unit 2- Assess occupational skills in the work environment. This unit will qualify you to assess people in any work environment that you are competent in. This qualification will enable you to assess standards of work and qualifications that are delivered and assessed in occupational environments. You will need this unit if you intend on working with apprentices and NVQ’s.
Unit 3- Assess vocational skills, knowledge and understanding. This unit will qualify you to assess accredited vocational courses. If you plan on assessing qualifications delivered in classroom environments you will need this unit. This is the most popular unit to have if you want to work as an assessor.
What type of work can I get as an assessor?
You will need to work for a training provider to work as an assessor. They will provide the learners for you, and you will be expected to assess and support them to achieve their qualification in the timeline stipulated by the training provider.
You can either work as a full time assessor where you will be given a caseload of learners and targets to arrange to see your learners on a regular basis, either in their workplace if completing NVQ’s or on short courses to assess their qualifications.
or
you can work as a freelance assessor, where the training provider will arrange for you to assess certain courses with generally a group of learners on short courses such as vocational qualifications. There are opportunities to work with NVQ learners as a freelance assessor, but you might only start assessing one aspect of the qualification rather than all of the qualifications which may make up an apprenticeship.
Working as an assessor can be extremely rewarding with job satisfaction as you will see your learners progress and achieve their qualifications. It can be financially rewarding if you work hard and support your learners to achieve, and overall, it can be a very flexible job, especially when working as a freelance assessor. Many people go into assessing to fit around their family commitments and it is very popular for women to go into assessing after maternity leave.
As you can see, overall, Assessing – It is for you!
To find out more about becoming as Assessor with Footstep Training click here
