End-point assessment (EPA)
Our EPA service
Starting with the end goal in mind: Apprentice success
As a market-leading end-point assessment organisation (EPAO), we deliver a unique proposition that combines innovation and customer service into each stage of the end-point assessment (EPA) process. We put provider and apprentice success at the heart of what we do to ensure the best possible outcomes and impact.
Our flexible EPA solutions come with sector expertise, guidance materials and proactive support to guide you through a seamless EPA journey.
Leading the way from the first days of EPA
Benefit from:
- Guaranteed access to your chosen Gateway progression date where you give eight weeks notice.
- No fees for changing your EPA start date before Gateway and no unexpected fees
- Personalised feedback on your Gateway audit if you're unsuccessful
- Feedback and results on each assessment component within five working days
- Expert guidance from sector specialists
- High quality resources to give your apprentice the best chance of success
- 24/7 access to our online epaPRO platform
- A dedicated Relationship Manager to support you at all stages of EPA
Important announcement for all NCFE and Active IQ EPA customers
Since NCFE acquired Active IQ in December 2022, we’ve been working to combine the strengths of both organisations to offer an improved experience for the benefit of all customers and learners. In recent months, we’ve been reviewing the NCFE and Active IQ end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs), to ensure we can continue to offer the best service to our valued customers.
After careful consideration, we’ve decided to integrate our EPAOs into one single EPAO regulated through NCFE. It’s important to note that we are not proposing any changes within the awarding / qualifications space – we’ll continue to operate as two separate awarding organisations.
Read moreUpgrade your EPAO service
Receive an award-winning EPA service which provides complete EPAs in as little as 4 weeks (for some standards), feedback and results within 5 working days, and a dedicated Relationship Manager to support you at all stages.
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Our EPA standards
We successfully deliver EPA across a range of subject areas, with focus on the sectors where we have deep experience and insight.
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Our Healthcare EPA standards
Discover our EPA standards in healthcare and how we can support you and your apprentices.
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How to ensure your EPAO delivers value for your apprentice
Choosing the right end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) can be challenging. Download your free guide to ensure your EPAO delivers value for your apprentice.
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FAQs
An apprenticeship standard is essentially the job role in which the apprentice will be training for. The knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out within the standard are tailored specifically to ensure the apprentice will succeed within that job role. Find out more about apprenticeship standards by reading our blog.
End-point assessment, commonly referred to as EPA, is the assessment an apprentice undertakes to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to be competent in their role. The method of assessment can vary depending on the apprenticeship standard.
NCFE is an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO), which means we provide an end-point assessment service and support to training providers and employers. If you’re an apprentice and you’re interested in taking your end-point assessment with NCFE, speak to your employer or training provider.
Gateway is the period of time when it is collectively agreed that an apprentice has achieved all the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs), that they’ll need in preparation for their end-point assessment (EPA). You can find more information about Gateway by clicking here.