National Vocational Qualifications, or NVQ’s, are the most popular and widely recognised occupational qualifications in the construction industry. For many contractors and construction related firms the NVQ is a minimum requirement for their workforce and it is also recognised by the CSCS scheme, so it is now more important than ever that construction site staff hold an NVQ level qualification of some kind.
Competence and training is a highly regarded part of the construction industry and with more and more site workers training for an NVQ the job opportunities for qualified NVQ assessors are on the rise.
What Qualifications do I Need to start my Assessor Training?
If you wish to pursue a career as a Construction NVQ Assessor you will need to have a sufficient level of practical and/or working experience in the construction industry, especially in the areas you are wishing to assess. (e.g. roofing, scaffolding, plastering, plant operation etc.)
It is also advantageous to possess your own qualifications, whether that be an NVQ, B-TEC, HND/HNC or a Degree.
What Qualification will I be Training Toward and How Long Will it Take?
Successful completion of the NVQ Assessor Training will lead to a Level 3 Certificate in Assessing and an A1 Assessor Qualification.
The length and structure of NVQ Assessor Training courses vary but a typical classroom based course working toward an A1 qualification could be completed in as little as 5 days.
There are additional training courses and higher Assessor qualifications available such as the Level 4 certificate, the V1 and the D32/D33.
What Does the Assessor Course Structure Cover?
The NVQ Construction Assessor training covers the general protocol for an Assessor.
The course will cover areas such as; planning and preparing for the assessment process, detailing the candidate observation process, giving and receiving feedback, conducting an assessment on site, the recording of observations and the candidates development, collation and compilation of these observations and records, and finally how to assess the compiled candidate observations in order to provide a detailed assessment and a high level of feedback.
What Kind of Work will I be undertaking as a Qualified Assessor?
Working as a Construction NVQ Assessor will essentially involve you supporting and assessing site staff who are working towards an NVQ, thus ensuring they attain the occupational standards required to achieve their desired NVQ.
As a Construction NVQ Assessor you will be responsible for planning and carrying out NVQ training, observing and assessing NVQ candidates, providing candidates with feedback and advice regarding their practical work and their portfolio of evidence, attending meetings with other assessors and liaising with the candidates employer or site manager, keeping documented evidence of the candidates progress and finally signing off the NVQ as complete when all the occupational standards have been attained.
It is likely that you will be assessing several NVQ trainees at any given time so you made need to travel to different sites in order to undertake your observations. A full UK driving licence and your own transport may be useful or fundamental to your job role.
Where will I be Working?
A training centre or college can employ NVQ Assessors; additionally large construction firms may employ their own NVQ Assessor if they have a large number of staff undertaking NVQ’s.
With further training you could become a Senior Assessor, responsible for overseeing other Assessors and ensuring the NVQ training offered by local training centres, construction firms or colleges is up to the national occupational standard.
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