End Point Assessment

End Point assessment (EPA) tests the knowledge, skills and behaviours that an apprentice has gained during their training.

The EPA demonstrates occupational competence of an apprentice in their role. It takes place at the end of the practical period when the apprentice has completed their training and any mandatory qualifications required in the standard. The EPA must be passed for an apprentice to achieve their apprenticeship. 

Assessment Plan

Each occuptional standard has a unique end point assessment plan which is published on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s website (IfATE). The EPA plan appears on the appropriate apprenticeship standard webpage on the IfATE website. 

The EPA is normally undertaken by an independent Apprenticeship Assessor, appointed by the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) for the apprenticeship. The University is the EPA Organisation for the integrated degree apprenticeships it delivers. For non-integrated apprenticeships a separate EPAO is appointed to conduct the assessment. For some apprenticeships, passing the EPA and completing the apprenticeship will also lead to professional recognition by a regulatory body. 

Gateway

Gateway takes place before an EPA can start. The employer and training provider will review their apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to see if they have met the minimum requirements of the apprenticeship, set out in the standard, and are ready to take the assessment.

Minimum requirements

To meet the minimum requirements set out in the occupational standard and start the EPA (gateway), an apprentice needs to:

  • display occupational competency

  • have evidence they have achieved an ESFA approved Level 2 in both English and maths

  • complete mandatory training

  • take any qualifications set out in the standard

  • meet the minimum duration for their apprenticeship training

Re-sits and retakes

Apprentices who fail one or more assessment methods will be offered the opportunity to take a resit or a retake, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

A resit involves the apprentice sitting one or more failed assessment components again, without the need to undertake further training. A retake involves the employer and training provider producing an action plan which states the nature and extent of the re-training required, and includes the estimated time to prepare the apprentice for the retake. The requirements for re-sits and re-takes are detailed in the individual EPA plan for each apprenticeship standard on the IfATE website.