IQA Qualifications
Here you will find all you need to know about the Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Qualifications, including the difference between the qualifications, how to choose the right qualification, and whether the older V1 qualifications are still valid.
There are three IQA qualifications aimed at anyone involved (or wanting to get involved) in an internal quality assurance role:
1. Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Theory only)
2. Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (For Practitioners)
3. Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (For ‘Lead’ IQAs)
UNITS OF COMPETENCE
The qualifications are built from 3 Units of Competence and you will need to prove competence in each appropriate Unit to get qualified:
L3 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes & Practice (1 unit):
Unit 1 – Understanding Principles & Practice of Internally Assuring the Quality of Assessment
L4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes & Practice (2 units):
Unit 1 – Understanding Principles & Practice of Internally Assuring the Quality of Assessment
Unit 2 – Internally Assure the Quality of Assessment
L4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes & Practice (3 units):
Unit 1 – Understanding Principles & Practice
Unit 2 – Internally Assure the Quality of Assessment
Unit 3 – Plan, Allocate & Monitor Work in Own Area of Responsibility
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT IQA QUALIFICATION?
Your choice of IQA qualification depends on whether you need a ‘theory-only’ introduction to internal quality assurance, whether you wish to practise as an IQA, or whether you lead a team of IQAs:
- The single-unit Award is aimed at those wanting to gain an understanding of internal quality assurance rather than practise as an IQA – it is a ‘theory-only’ introduction to internal quality assurance
- The 2-unit Award is for those practising, or wanting to practise, as an Internal Quality Assurer
- The 3-unit Certificate is aimed at those who lead a team of Internal Quality Assurers.
Learn more about ATDirect’s Level 4 IQA Courses
You can study online or attend a scheduled course or we offer in-house training (for groups only)
WHAT OTHER QUALITIES/SKILLS DO I NEED TO BE AN IQA?
The IQA qualifications cover the skills, knowledge and understanding you need to undertake internal quality assurance. To operate as an IQA, you will need to combine your qualification with your work experience, a knowledge of the National Occupational Standards in the subject area you wish to assess and the appropriate Awarding Organisation’s guidance.
In summary, you will need 5 key things:
- An IQA qualification – for practitioners, this will be the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
- A thorough knowledge of the National Occupational Standards or qualification subject area you are quality assuring.
- To be occupationally knowledgeable in the area you are quality assuring.
- To be familiar with the Awarding Organisation’s guidance regarding Quality Assurance of the qualifications relevant to you.
- To be familiar with your Centre’s policies and procedures, especially regarding assessments and the Quality Assurance of Assessments, and staff Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
In addition, you will need good communication skills and the ability to handle report writing and some administration.
HOW DO I GAIN AN IQA QUALIFICATION?
To gain an IQA qualification, you need to undertake a course of study with an Approved Training Provider. ATDirect are a market-leading provider, approved by NCFE, and have 12 years’ specialist experience in delivering the IQA qualifications.
For more on ATDirect IQA courses including in-house and online courses, course duration, and costs please visit here.
Visit here for a full Course Price List.
To book, call us on 0800 246 5574 or email us.
Jack Edwards
Swift Childcare
Pete Crossley
National Youth Agency
WHAT ARE THE V1, D34 & TAQA QUALIFICATIONS?
Here’s a bit of history to the IQA qualifications:
In 2010, the qualifications set out above replaced older D34 and V1 Internal Verifier qualifications. The new qualifications are known as the TAQA (Training, Assessment and Quality Assurance) qualifications, and include qualifications for Assessor and External Verifiers as well as Internal Quality Assurers (previously know as Internal Verifiers).
One of the key differences is that the new qualifications contain a much stronger knowledge base than previously and this is evidenced by the mandatory knowledge unit in each of the qualifications. The new qualifications also include one for quality assurance staff who manage the work of teams of assessors (a ‘lead IQA’ role) and this includes a unit imported from the Management Standards (MSC units of assessment).
There is no mandatory requirement to requalify to the new TAQA units, however, if you achieved your IQA qualifications as either the D34 or V1 units prior to 2010, and have not been regularly verifying since then, you may find that prospective employers will require you to have evidenced Continuous Professional Development (CPD) or undertaken refresher training to maintain your knowledge in the field of Quality Assurance and the new frameworks.
