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TAQA Qualification

Teaching, Assessing and Quality Assurance

There are many acronyms in the teaching and assessing industry which to be honest can often get a tad confusing. None more so than the TAQA acronym, which often gets mistaken as an abbreviation for an assessing course.  However TAQA actually stands for Teaching, Assessing and Quality Assurance. Therefore it actually represents a suite of qualifications or a trilogy if you prefer a good movie!

I am sure the Level 3 assessing course is also called TAQA I hear you ask? Well you would not be wholly mistaken because the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) is actually one third of the TAQA suite. However by completing CAVA you will not have obtained the full trilogy of qualifications.

At this point you're probably asking what is the point of this trilogy of qualifications? The short answer is that you will be able to set yourself up as a training centre with an awarding body by obtaining teaching, assessing and quality assurance qualifications. 

There are a whole range of benefits to having your own training centre. Including self employment, and the unlimited potential of your new training centre on the global stage. Lets break down the qualifications below to help you get there.

Teaching

The Education and Training pathway is available in the private sector. It therefore avoids the university route and the associated time and financial costs. The pathway starts at Level 3 (The minimum for the TAQA suite) and works its way up to Level 5 (Diploma). The latter once coupled with QTLS is equivalent to a PGCE and can lead to full teacher status.

Anyone can enrol on the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) qualification. The only pre entry requirements are to have a good understanding of the English language and an enthusiasm to stand up and talk to groups of people.


By its conclusion you will be qualified to teach unsupervised in any subject area that you have experience in. The best way of demonstrating experience is to obtain the highest certification yourself in the subject that you want to teach.

The course can be completed over three days in the classroom or the equivalent on a webinar. There is also a pure online package which does not require attendance. There are three written assignments to complete and a practical 15 minute micro lesson.


See the full course information

Assessing

The Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) is a crucial component in the TAQA suite of qualifications. The taught skills include how to observe, give feedback and sign off paperwork. Including both staff members and learners, in and out of the workplace. 

Similar to the AET course it is possible to complete the course over three days in the classroom or over the same time on a webinar if you prefer working at home. The online / distance learning is a  popular package for those who prefer self paced learning as and when they have time.


The qualification is assessed through a written assignment (Unit 1) and a portfolio of evidence (Units 2 & 3). The portfolio of evidence comprises eight practice assessments on a minimum of two staff members / work colleagues in your industry. Four of these assessments can be on learners / students when completing the vocational unit.  
See the full course information

Quality Assurance

Last but not least you will need to obtain the Level 4 Award in Internal Quality Assurance qualification (IQA). Some find this the hardest to obtain. The reason being is that there are pre entry requirements which need to be met before enrolling on the course. Specifically access to x2 assessors who will be used to gather a portfolio of evidence in Unit 2. They must be in a real life assessing role and it cannot be simulated.

Those who do not meet the pre entry requirements should not fear. You may still be able to set up your training centre using a freelance IQA. They are generally self employed individuals who will invoice you for the work that is carried out. 

The Level 4 IQA course can be completed down the line when your centre is more established, with individuals actively assessing within it. At this point you can stand down your freelance IQA, thank them for their time, and celebrate achieving the TAQA trilogy yourself (Hoo-Ray). 

Level 4 IQA can be completed over two webinar days or as a self paced online / distance learning course. Both packages are popular and as with the other two qualifications in the suite it may come down to your own specific learning style as to which option you choose. There is a written assignment to complete (Unit 1) and a portfolio of evidence to gather (as previously mentioned) for Unit 2.


See the full course information

Summary

In summary TAQA is not an abbreviation for an assessing course. Instead it is an acronym of a suite of qualifications related to teaching and assessing. It’s good to remember the below points:
  • Taqa stands for Teaching, Assessing and Quality Assurance
  • Specifically Level 3 AET, Level 3 CAVA and the Level 4 IQA
  • By gaining all three qualifications you can class yourself as a TAQA graduate 
  • TAQA is often what awarding bodies are looking for in newly established training centres 
  • Freelance individuals can be utilized in the absence of possessing the qualifications yourself
  • The courses can be completed both online and within the classroom
One top tip is to take one course at a time and break down the suite of qualifications in such a way. Good luck with the journey and please get in touch with Train Aid if you need any help.

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