Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) Common Course Questions

Who is the awarding body? Highfield Qualifications

How many course credits? 15 Credits.

Is it an accredited course? Yes, it is an Ofqual Regulated Qualification (RQF), fully accredited course.

Is it recognised outside of the UK? It is a U.K based qualification, however U.K qualifications are highly sought-after internationally.

Does the qualification expire? No, the qualification is yours for life and does not need to be renewed once achieved.

How many guided learning hours? 90 Guided Learning Hours (GLC), Total qualification Time (150 hours).

How long does the average learner take to complete the qualification? Most learners take 1-3 months to complete the course. There are no official deadlines with our courses and you can take as long as required to complete the qualification.

How long does the certificate take to process after I have completed the course? The certificate takes up to 10 working days to process and will be emailed to the booker of the course, following the I.V process.

Will I receive a hard-copy of my certificate? No, all certificates are electronic (pdf). Certificates can be downloaded and printed once received. The certificate will be emailed to the booker of the course.

What are the three course units? To complete the qualification, there is one written assignment followed by a portfolio of practical evidence.

Unit 1- Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment-Theoretical Assignment
Unit 2- Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment
Unit 3- Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge and Understanding

How long is the Unit 1 theoretical assignment for the online course? The suggested word count is 3,000 words- however there is no official word count-you can write as much information as required. The assignment can be written in the first or third person. Most candidates pass the assignment on the first or second submission. Each candidate is provided with the e-textbook when joining the course to support them with the assignment.

What is the Unit 1 work pack on the classroom or webinar course? The classroom and webinar course involves a work pack which investigates: The roles and responsibilities of an assessor, assessment methods, the assessment process and how to make assessment decisions. You will receive tutor support and this unit is signed off as complete after the 2-day course.
 
How many references or sources of information do I need to include within the assignments? You only need to reference the Ann Gravells’ Level 3 CAVA textbook (principles and practices of assessment) which you will receive when joining the course. You can include other sources of information such as websites, journals and other text books if required.

What support will I have available? Support is available over the phone, the office hours are Monday-Friday (9.00am-5.00pm). Office contact number: 01737 237590 and course enquiries info@train-aid.co.uk. Our dedicated marking team assessments@train-aid.co.uk work to 5 working days to review and turn around assessment marking. You can submit as many assessment attempts as required in order to meet the pass criteria- there are no additional resubmission fees on our courses. The Train Aid YouTube Channel contains the latest support videos to assist you with your qualification.   

How long do the assessments take to review my assessment paperwork? The assessments team take up to 5 working days to review your assessment paper work. You can contact the office to discuss your assessment paper work at any point.

What are the entry requirements? Candidates must be 19 years old to begin the course. Basic I.T skills are an advantage when completing the assignment and portfolio. You are also required to have access to two people such as learners, colleagues, ex-colleagues or family members to conduct your assessments on. The two candidates need to have some understanding, knowledge or experience of the subject you are assessing.
         
Can I get funding for this course? – No we do not arrange for funding, however we do offer flexible monthly payment plans to support our learners on our courses.

What happens after I have passed the Unit 1 Assignment? Once Unit 1 has passed, each candidate will proceed onto Units 2 and 3, this will involve planning and delivering 4 Vocational & 4 Workplace assessments on two candidates. 

What are the three course options? The CAVA course has three options to suit your learning style and work pattern. Regardless of the format you will achieve the same full qualification and the format will not show on your certificate.

1) Online/Self-Paced £354 inc vat
2) Classroom (2 Days) £574 inc vat
3) Webinar (2 Days) £474 inc vat

Can I submit my own paper work and templates? If your organisation already has its own assessment templates or paper work you can choose to use these systems. Once you progress onto Units 2 and 3, you will be sent the Train Aid templates for you to plan your 8 assessments.

What career opportunities are available after the Level 3 CAVA course? There are many career opportunities once you have achieved the Level 3 CAVA course such as an in-house or freelance assessor. If you are looking to become a freelance assessor, we advise that you contact your nominated awarding body.     

Can I set up my own training company with this qualification? Yes, this qualification can assist you with setting up your own training company.  We also recommend that you gain a teaching qualification and join an awarding body within your chosen area.  

Can I just focus on the vocational or workplace strand of the qualification? To become a qualified assessor, you can focus on just the vocational or workplace strand of the qualification rather than the entire CAVA qualification. The Award in Work Environment or Vocationally Related Achievement requires the candidate to complete the unit 1 assignment followed by 4 x assessments, the final one needs to be observed by a qualified assessor. 

Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (Online-£330 inc vat) (Classroom £474 inc vat)

Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement (Online-£330 inc vat) (Classroom £474 inc vat)

What are the progression areas after the Level 3 CAVA qualification? After completing the CAVA qualification, you could consider the IQA course. This qualification is where you will monitor two qualified assessors, teachers or trainers. Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processed and Practice.

Do I need to be observed by a qualified Assessor? To complete the CAVA qualification, you need to be observed by a qualified assessor- this is usually your eighth and final assessment. You will need to email a copy of the assessor’s certificate to info@train-aid.co.uk when you register onto the course.

What if I do not know a qualified assessor? You can arrange for a Train Aid team member to observe a recording or live zoom observation of your final assessment. This observation costs £30 inc vat, you will need to contact the head office to arrange this.

What will need to be observed? A typical CAVA observation includes you the candidate assessor: 1) Briefing the learner about the assessment (what you are going to be observing) 2) Observing the learner performing the assessment 3) Asking questions to the learner on the assessment process 4) Debriefing the learner after the assessment and providing them with constructive feedback.