What is EPA?

EPA stands for End Point Assessment, and is an independent assessment of your apprenticeship work. In short, your training provider cannot "mark their own work", so instead, as mandated for funded apprenticeships, each apprentice must have an Independent Assessment of their work.


This EPA is effectively a chance for you to demonstrate how you have attained the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours set out for your apprenticeship program, and to show you are now capable of the work you have been trained in. 


Think of it like a driving test, now that you've completed your training and had lots of practice actually driving the car, you now need an independent observer to assess your actual capabilities to ensure you are able to drive on the road by yourself. 


At the end of that assessment, they'll assign you a grade you based on what capabilities you demonstrated. In a car this is simply pass or fail, in apprenticeships, this can include; Fail, Pass, Merit, or Distinction.


How do I get to EPA?

Your EPA (End Point Assessment) won't take place until you have been approved through Gateway. Many delegates often ask what do they do for EPA if they haven't finished yet, and the simple answer is, EPA won't take place until you are finished, regardless as to what initial EPA dates you were given at the start of the program. 


Your EPAO (EPA Organisation) cannot start the EPA process with you until they have full confirmation from your training provider that you are ready to be independently assessed. So you will only be put forward for EPA, once you, your employer, and your trainer have agreed to do so.


What are the EPA Assessment Methods?

EPA can be undertaken in many different ways, and you can be assessed in various ways. The method that they do to perform these assessments are called Assessment Methods. For our programs, they are as follows:


Level / Program

Assessment Methods

Possible Grades

More Information

L3 Improvement Technician

  • Multiple Choice Examination
  • Project Report, Presentation & Questioning
  • Professional Discussion
  • Fail
  • Pass
  • Merit
  • Distinction

L3 End Point Assessment Summary : Capella Associates Resources (freshdesk.com)

L4 Improvement Practitioner

  • Multiple Choice Examination
  • Project Report, Presentation & Questioning
  • Professional Discussion
  • Fail
  • Pass
  • Merit
  • Distinction

L4 End Point Assessment Summary : Capella Associates Resources (freshdesk.com)

L4 Quality Practitioner

  • Work-based Project
  • Professional Discussion
  • Fail
  • Pass
  • Distinction

L4 Quality Practitioner End Point Assessment Summary : Capella Associates Resources (freshdesk.com)

L5 Improvement Specialist

  • Multiple Choice Examination
  • Professional Discussion
  • Fail
  • Pass
  • Merit
  • Distinction

L5 End Point Assessment Summary : Capella Associates Resources (freshdesk.com)

L6 Improvement Leader

  • Professional Discussion
  • Dissertation – presentation and questioning
  • Fail
  • Pass
  • Merit
  • Distinction

L6 End Point Assessment Summary : Capella Associates Resources (freshdesk.com)


What do these Assessment Methods look like?

Here is an excellent and brief video from the Institute of Apprenticeships to give you some guidance on what to expect. This also goes through some more assessment methods that do not form part of the above programs.



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