Where a Standard does not include any mandated qualifications– or where it specifies a recommendation for a qualification but not a requirement and you choose not to deliver it. There is no requirement for you to become a fully approved Active IQ Centre.

Where a qualification is mandated within a Standard and you intend to deliver it using Active IQ as your chosen Awarding Organisation you will need to apply to become a fully approved Active IQ Centre.

Regardless of the above scenarios, Active IQ will maintain a formal record of your organisation in order to facilitate the necessary data capture requirements for the delivery of EPA.

Where an employer/provider decides to use Active IQ regulated mandated/recommended qualifications within an apprenticeship, there are no costs incurred with becoming a fully approved Active IQ Centre.

The fees associated with EPA vary depending on the Apprenticeship Standard. Active IQ has a 25% / 75% payment structure. The first 25% payment is made no later than 25% into the apprenticeship from point of enrolment of the apprentice with the provider. Therefore for a 12 month apprenticeship, by the end of month 3 – For an 18 month apprenticeship, by the end of month 5 – For a 2 year apprenticeship, by the end of month 6.

The remaining 75% payment is made at the scheduling of End-point Assessment following the Gateway meeting.

A range of assessment methods will be used to determine an apprentice’s skills, knowledge and behavior (SKB). Different Apprenticeship assessment plans specify the assessment method required. These could be a combination of: The Apprentice Showcase, Practical Observation, Professional Discussions, Project Presentation and Knowledge Test. Active IQ’s team of End-point Assessors will make use of technology and flexible testing arrangements to ensure a smooth convenient service, for employers, providers and apprentices.

If you require information on specific assessment methods for assessment plans Active IQ is ESFA approved. Please contact apprenticeships@activeiq.co.uk

Apprentices should be registered with Active IQ at the start of their Apprenticeship. Following the gateway meeting appointment of an EPA will be triggered through our Quartz registration system and customer support team. The assessment of an apprentice will be fully completed and graded within a 12 week period following the gateway.

Please note if an apprentice only becomes known to us after their gateway, we must ensure 10 weeks between gateway and EPA to allow apprentices sufficient time to prepare for their final assessment.

Active IQ provide a range of free supportive toolkits for the employer/provider and apprentice. These toolkits help prepare apprentices for their EPA.

For more information about the specific resources available please contact apprenticeships@activeiq.co.uk

Yes, if an apprentice fails a part of their EPA. Any applied fees will depend on the assessment plan. For information on the specific retake fees associated to an assessment plan, please contact apprenticeships@activeiq.co.uk

This will be determined within individual assessment plans. For information on the specific retake format for an assessment plan, please contact apprenticeships@activeiq.co.uk

The apprenticeship certificate is issued by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Active IQ customer support team will apply for an apprenticeship certificate and also issue an Active IQ certificate of completion to each apprentice. The Active IQ certificate is not an apprenticeship certificate and only confirms that the apprentice has completed their End-point Assessment and the specific grades achieved.

Any mandated/recommended qualifications that are registered through Active IQ as part of an apprenticeship standard will be certified prior to the gateway meeting. Active IQ will send hard copies of any relevant certificates once the apprenticeship has been completed.

Active IQ fully inducts and trains a team of highly qualified, competent End-point Assessors. In some circumstances Active IQ could use End-point Assessors supplied by an employer or provider. For more information regarding using your own team of assessors please contact apprenticeships@activeiq.co.uk

20% off job training equates to 42 days in a 12 month Apprenticeship. In order to maintain compliance an employer/provider must keep a log of any off job training that has been completed by an apprentice. Active IQ has included a training log in the apprentice toolkit which can be used to record and document any off job training.

The Minister of skills has described off job training as not prescriptive and being quite flexible. The delivery and assessment of any functional skills cannot be logged as off job training.

Off job training can be defined as:

• E-learning supporting any mandated/recommended qualifications delivered during an Apprenticeship
• Webinars
• Mentoring/Job shadowing
• Delivery and assessment of mandated/recommended qualifications during an Apprenticeship
• Support given by peers

Training/assessment for Levy payers will be exempt of VAT whereas training/assessment for non-Levy payers will be non-exempt for the employer contribution element of the training, which is 10%. The other 90% is funded by government, even for non-Levy payers, therefore it is only the 10% which is VAT-able.

Active IQ will need to obtain written confirmation of the status. Ie whether all training costs are funded through the government or if there is any employer contribution.