Choose online assessor courses, an IQA qualification or EQA training that matches your role. Our Assessment & Verification Courses cover Level 3 CAVA, workplace and vocational assessor awards, Level 4 internal quality assurance and external quality assurance.
Study with tutor support and build a portfolio that reflects your work. Knowledge-only awards introduce the principles; practical assessor, IQA and EQA qualifications also require authentic evidence. Compare the routes below and check your access to learners, assessors or centres before enrolling.
A knowledge-based starting point for understanding assessment principles, methods, planning, decisions, quality assurance and good practice.
For practitioners who assess occupational competence in a real workplace using appropriate assessment methods and evidence.
For practitioners who assess vocational skills, knowledge and understanding in learning or training environments outside direct workplace competence assessment.
For practitioners who internally quality assure assessment decisions and practice using planning, sampling, monitoring and feedback.
For experienced practitioners who lead internal quality assurance activity and coordinate the work of others.
A knowledge-based introduction to the principles and responsibilities of external quality assurance.
For practitioners who undertake external quality assurance activity and evaluate centre assessment and quality systems.
For eligible learners who have completed the relevant IQA units and need the leadership unit to complete the full leading IQA certificate.
The complete assessor route for practitioners who assess both occupational competence in the workplace and vocational skills, knowledge and understanding.
Your route depends on your role, where you work and the evidence you can provide. Compare the three pathways before you enrol.
For internal quality assurance, review the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice. If your goal includes leading IQA activity, compare the full Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice.
The Lead IQA top-up route has separate entry requirements. Check your existing qualification and the required evidence with HHF before choosing a full course or a top-up.
Choose the CAVA qualification if you need to assess both workplace competence and vocational skills and knowledge. ACWE covers workplace assessment; AVRA covers assessment in learning or training settings. The Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment Award is knowledge only. Practical assessor courses require occupational competence and access to real learners.
An IQA qualification develops the skills to monitor assessment within a centre. Choose the Level 4 IQA Award for sampling, checking decisions and supporting assessors. The Leading IQA Certificate adds responsibility for coordinating quality assurance and other staff. A Lead IQA top-up is available for eligible holders of the relevant units. These routes need authentic IQA activity.
EQA courses focus on checking assessment and quality assurance across approved centres, usually on behalf of an awarding organisation. The Understanding EQA Award covers the principles without a practical unit. The full EQA Award also requires real external quality assurance evidence. Confirm suitable centre access and supervision before choosing the practical qualification.
Written assignments alone do not meet the practical unit requirements. Your course may require assessment plans, decisions, feedback and records from real work. IQA and EQA routes may also need sampling, observation and checks of assessment standards. Your assessor explains the evidence needed for your route.
These courses suit people who assess skills and learning. They also support staff who check assessment standards or want to move into quality assurance roles.
Read the learning materials and course guides online. Plan your study around work and other commitments.
Show what you know through written tasks. Explain how fair assessment and quality checks work.
Keep real work evidence in a portfolio. This may include plans, records, feedback and samples of assessment work.
Your assessor may watch you at work in person or remotely. Your course sets out which tasks must be observed.
Read your assessor’s feedback as you progress. Use it to improve your work and fill any gaps in your evidence.
Your assessment decisions are checked before your certificate is issued. These checks may be carried out within HHF and by the awarding body.
Choosing your first assessor qualification? Read our CAVA vs AVRA vs ACWE comparison to match the qualification to the assessments you carry out.
For internal quality assurance, compare the practical Level 4 IQA Award online, the full Level 4 Leading IQA Certificate and the Lead IQA Top-Up. The top-up requires verified prior IQA units; all practical routes require suitable evidence from real work.
TAQA means Training, Assessment and Quality Assurance. It describes a suite of qualifications rather than one course. The CAVA qualification is the Level 3 Certificate covering both practical assessment contexts. Searches for an NVQ assessor course or the older A1 assessor award often lead to this route; check the exact qualification your employer requires.
For quality assurance qualifications in education and training, choose the Level 4 IQA Award to sample assessment, check decisions and support assessors. The full Leading IQA Certificate also covers coordinating quality assurance and other staff. If you already hold the relevant IQA units, compare the Lead IQA top-up; HHF must check your prior units and access to genuine lead activity. Internal verification checks assessment within a centre; external quality assurance reviews centres from outside the organisation.
Assessor courses teach you to plan assessments, judge evidence and give feedback. IQA courses help you check assessment within a centre. EQA courses cover checks across approved centres.
Before you enrol, check that the course fits your role. Make sure you can access the work evidence it needs. You can check regulated course details on the official Ofqual Register.
New to assessment? Read how to become an assessor, our NVQ assessor qualification guide and the CAVA course requirements.
Planning an IQA route? Explore how to become an internal quality assurer. Check whether you can become an IQA without being an assessor and compare the IQA Award and Certificate.
Yes. Study the theory, submit tasks and send your portfolio online. Practical courses also need real evidence from assessment or quality assurance work.
Choose the route that matches your work. The understanding award covers theory. ACWE covers workplace skills. AVRA covers vocational skills and knowledge. CAVA combines both practical routes with the theory unit.
Yes, for practical assessor courses. HHF normally requires access to at least two real learners. You must use real assessment work where required; simulated tasks cannot replace it.
CAVA is the full Level 3 Certificate. It covers theory, workplace competence, and vocational skills and knowledge. Each individual award covers a smaller part of this work.
IQA means internal quality assurance. Learn to check assessors’ decisions and samples of their work. Help the team apply the same standards and improve assessment.
The practical IQA Award covers checks of assessment work. The Leading IQA Certificate also covers planning, sharing out and checking the work of a quality assurance team.
EQA means external quality assurance. It covers checks of assessment and quality systems across approved centres. The understanding award covers theory. The practical award also needs access to real EQA work.
You may complete written tasks, discussions, observation and a portfolio of real work. There are no graded exams. You pass when your evidence meets all the course requirements.
