Guidance

Removal or withdrawal from the apprenticeship provider and assessment register: guidance for end point assessment organisations

Published 1 August 2023

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/removal-from-the-apprenticeship-provider-and-assessment-register/removal-or-withdrawal-from-the-apprenticeship-provider-and-assessment-register-guidance-for-end-point-assessment-organisations

Where end point assessment organisations (EPAOs) are not providing a quality service, DfE may:

  • remove them from the apprenticeship provider and assessment register (APAR)
  • limit their access to the register, including by pausing new arrangements to provide end-point assessment

EPAOs which are removed from the register will not be able to assess apprenticeships.

All EPAOs which are currently on the APAR must follow the conditions of acceptance.

Withdrawing from assessing standards

Where an EPAO withdraws from assessing a particular standard, they must:

  • notify the regulator
  • liaise with learners, potential learners, employers, providers and future EPAOs, including by giving existing learners 6 months’ notice of the change

We expect EPAOs to work with the APAR team and the EPAO which follows them to develop materials, to ensure no disruption to learners.

Reapplying

If DfE takes the decision to remove an EPAO from the APAR, they will not be able to re-apply to the APAR for at least 12 months.

If an EPAO successfully withdraws from assessing a standard, they will not be able to apply to assess that standard for at least 12 months.

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