Trade to Assessor

If you're already checking work, signing off apprentices, or making sure jobs are done right — you're halfway there. The Trade to Assessor Programme gives you the skills and the qualification to make it official.

Choose your route

There are two routes. Pick the one that matches where you'll be assessing.

• Centre-based — £485 + VAT. For assessing in a workshop, classroom or other training environment. Leads to the Highfield Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (RQF).
• Centre-based and Workplace — £785 + VAT. The full CAVA. Covers assessing in a training environment and assessing occupational competence on site. Leads to the Highfield Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (RQF).

Please note: the Centre-based and Workplace route requires access to candidates you can assess in a real work environment. Simulations are not permitted for this part of the qualification, so you'll need that access in place before you start.

What you'll learn

• How to carry out fair, consistent assessments of skills, knowledge and behaviours.
• The responsibilities of an assessor, and how to record decisions properly.
• How to plan assessment, judge whether evidence is sufficient, authentic and current, give feedback and follow standardisation procedures.

Who it's for

• Tradespeople who are already checking work, signing off apprentices, or supervising trainees.
• Centre-based route: those assessing in a workshop, classroom or other training environment.
• Centre-based and Workplace route: those who also need to assess occupational competence in a learner's own work environment.

How it runs

• Evidence-based — you'll build a portfolio showing what you can do in practice.
• Each practical unit requires at least two assessments of each of two learners — four assessments in total per unit.
• Performance evidence is assessed by live observation, examining products of work, questioning or professional discussion.

Qualification details

Centre-based

• Qualification: Highfield Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (RQF) — QAN 600/3872/X
• Units: Understanding the principles and practices of assessment (D/601/5313) · Assess vocational skills, knowledge and understanding (F/601/5319)
• Credit value: 9 credits · 54 guided learning hours · 90 hours total qualification time

Centre-based and Workplace (full CAVA)

• Qualification: Highfield Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (RQF) — QAN 600/3871/8
• Units: Understanding the principles and practices of assessment (D/601/5313) · Assess occupational competence in the work environment (H/601/5314) · Assess vocational skills, knowledge and understanding (F/601/5319)
• Credit value: 15 credits · 84 guided learning hours · 150 hours total qualification time

Both routes

• Assessment: Portfolio of evidence, internally assessed and quality assured by the centre
• Entry requirements: Minimum age 19. There are no other prerequisites, though a Level 2 qualification is advisable.
• Regulation: Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA Regulation · suitable for learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland