The revised Vocational Assessors Award came into effect on 1^st September 2002 amalgamating the D32 and D33. It also includes the D36 that is now no longer available.

The Employment National Training Organisation has devised the Learning and Development standards and the Vocational Assessor Award forms part of a suite of qualifications that meets the future requirements of the training and development industry.

The A1 unit is appropriate for those assessors whose role involves assessing candidates against agreed standards of competence using a range of assessment methods. It also includes giving feedback to candidates on a range of assessment decisions and contributing to the internal quality assurance processes. This latter fact effectively means that only those who are involved with an Accredited Centre for competence based standards will have the opportunity to achieve this qualification.

Developing realistic plans for learning and assessment with candidates

• Understanding assessment requirements
• Planning the assessment process with candidates and the other people involved
• Helping candidates to meet the agreed assessment requirements
• Reviewing the candidate’s level of competence and identifying what they need to do to be fully competent
• Supporting candidates with different needs during their assessment
• Using a variety of assessment methods
• Making a record of assessment decisions
• Giving candidates feedback on their performance and reviewing their progress throughout the assessment process
• Using difference types of evidence to give an overall assessment of competence
• Working with other people involved in the assessment process, such as workplace supervisors and other trainers

A1.1 Develop plans with candidate for assessing competence
A1.2 Judge evidence against criteria to make assessment decisions

A1.3 Provide feedback and support to candidates on assessment decisions

A1.4 Contribute to the internal quality assurance process

Candidates can either attend a one-day training programme before carrying out assessment and constructing their portfolio. Or, if no programme is available one to one training will be provided. Ideally, Assessor candidates should have an understanding of the standards they are going to assess and be familiar with their content prior to undertaking training. Customised programmes can be devised for Assessment Centres.

Assessor candidates are required to construct a portfolio of evidence demonstrating their competence against the A1 Vocational Assessor standard. Further requirements include evidence of the assessor candidate having two professional discussions with their assessor, a written assignment and one observed assessment.