Register of end-point assessment organisations
How to find an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) for your apprentice and how to apply to join the EPAO register.
Applies to England
Aligning application processes for DfE’s register of end-point assessment organisations and Ofqual recognition
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) published the response to its consultation on external quality assurance (EQA) on 4 August 2020.
In the consultation, DfE and Ofqual committed to aligning the processes for the DfE register of end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and Ofqual recognition, to be more efficient and reduce the burden on EPAOs.
Since the consultation, DfE and Ofqual have worked together to simplify and reduce duplication between the 2 application processes.
DfE is launching the new process on 28 July 2022.
The new process
If your organisation wants to join the EPAO register or apply to add additional standards to a current register listing and Ofqual is the EQA provider, you must:
- gain Ofqual recognition before their application to the EPAO register will be reviewed.
- enter your end-point assessment (EPA) on Ofqual’s register of regulated qualifications
The EPA’s operational date on the Ofqual register must match the readiness date on your application to the EPAO register.
DfE will then review your application.
This will apply to both:
- new organisations
- Ofqual-regulated organisations that want to expand their scope of recognition to include new standards
Process to offer EPA where Ofqual is the EQA provider
- EPAO applies to Ofqual for recognition or expansion
- Ofqual reviews and approves the application
- EPAO adds its qualification to Ofqual register via the portal
- EPAO submits the application to the EPAO register through the DfE apprenticeship service
- DfE reviews the shorter application to the EPAO register
- DfE checks the EPAO qualification on the Ofqual register
- DfE approves the application and adds the listing to the EPAO register
Ofqual will update DfE on applications and approvals.
The process for higher education institutions and integrated degrees will not change.
What will change
Stage 1 of the application process for the EPAO register will not change.
Stage 2 of the application process for the EPAO register will remain but with fewer questions. This is because DfE will take assurance from Ofqual recognition in areas where there is currently duplication between the 2 application processes.
Questions that remain in stage 2 are operational and provide information that Ofqual does not need – for example, the organisation’s geographical coverage for the standard.
Ofqual’s application process and its criteria for recognition will not change.
EQA transition
Organisations currently on the EPAO register and in the process of applying for Ofqual recognition or expansion as part of the EQA transition programme will not have to reapply to the EPAO register through the new process for those standards in scope for transition.
If organisations want to deliver additional standards outside of the transition, where they’re not currently on the EPAO register, they’ll need to follow the new process.
New organisations that are applying to the EPAO register for standards that are either currently EQAd by Ofqual or in scope through the transition already need to gain Ofqual recognition before they apply to the EPAO register.
If you want to have your qualifications regulated, contact Ofqual.
Important information about the changes to external quality assurance
IfATE published the response to its consultation on external quality assurance (EQA) on 4 August 2020.
The consultation proposed a simplified and improved system for EQA of apprenticeship end-point assessment, with all EQA delivered by Ofqual, or the Office for Students for integrated degree apprenticeships, under a common EQA framework set by IfATE.
Having taken into account all the responses, and listened to feedback, IfATE has strengthened the proposal and is now proceeding with the changes.
Standards will transition to Ofqual in 2 main phases:
- by the end of December 2021, all standards where IfATE is the EQA provider (phase 1)
- by the end of December 2022, all standards where the EQA is currently provided by other external bodies will move to Ofqual (phase 2)
You can find out more about changes to EQA and a timetable of when standards will transfer to Ofqual.
Introduction to EPAOs
As well as containing information about training and assessment, all apprenticeship standards must contain an EPA. An independent organisation must be involved in the EPA of each apprentice so that all apprentices following the same standard are assessed consistently.
Only organisations on the EPAO register are eligible to conduct the independent EPA of apprentices. Although a number of different people and organisations may be involved in an apprentice’s EPA, only the independent organisation needs to apply to and be listed on the EPAO register.
How to find an EPAO
Employers can find an end-point assessment organisation for their apprentice.
Unless the assessment plan states otherwise, employers cannot select their apprentice’s training organisation to be the EPAO.
Training providers, prospective EPAOs and other organisations can use the to see lists of organisations that have been assessed as being suitable to conduct an independent EPA of apprentices and be in receipt of public funds.
The shows which organisations can provide assessment for specific standards.
IfATE has published a list of EQA providers for each apprenticeship standard.
Selecting an organisation that is not listed on the EPAO register
If you want to use an organisation that is not on the EPAO register, that organisation will need to apply and be listed against the apprenticeship standard before you can consider it.
Selecting an organisation when none are listed on the EPAO register against an apprenticeship standard
You will not be able to select an EPAO for your apprentice until at least one organisation is listed on the EPAO register for that apprenticeship standard.
Asking for more information about an organisation on the EPAO register
To help choose an EPAO, you can ask an organisation on the register for more information about the service it offers.
Find out more about the register of end-point assessment organisations.
How to apply to the EPAO register
Before you apply to the EPAO register, you can read:
- What you need to know before applying to be an apprentice end-point assessment organisation
- Conditions for being on the register of end-point assessment organisations
To apply to become an EPAO, complete the online application in the apprenticeship assessment service.
You will need to:
- answer all the questions and make a series of declarations
- send your latest financial statements
- send accompanying documentation, where asked
Applications will be prioritised for standards that have:
- no EPAOs
- low numbers of EPAOs compared to learners
Find an assessment opportunity
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has built a service to help potential and existing EPAOs understand the business opportunities for apprenticeship assessment.
You can:
- browse lists of approved standards, standards in development and proposed standards
- search for standards that you’re interested in
- filter search results by region, sector or level
Help and support
For more support:
- search for help in the apprenticeship service at any time
- call 08000 150 600 (option 1 then option 2)
- email helpdesk@manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk
Opening hours are 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.