Assessors course

What Is An Assessor And Why You Should Consider Training To Become One

Assessors are the glue which holds the learner and the end-result together. They evaluate the skills and competencies demonstrated and provided by the learner and directly engage in providing constructive feedback by means of support and remediation to ensure the learner understands what it takes to reach the desired learning outcome. They are responsible for making a decision if a learner is competent or not yet competent in a specific topic or learning objective. They are great decision-makers and judges and are intuitively built and trained to ensure and see to it that learners are learnt and trained adequately.

Assessment is the process of making judgments about an individual’s competence
through matching evidence collected to the appropriate outcomes related to a
specific unit standard, a series of unit standards, or a full qualification that have
been registered by the south African Qualifications Authority

.

Candidates who are deemed not yet competent on a summative assessment
(following training) will normally not be allowed to be re-assessed on more than two
occasions.

When learners have to undergo re-assessment, the following conditions will
apply

• Specific feedback will be given so that candidates can concentrate only on
those areas in which they were assessed as not yet competent

• Re-assessment will take place in the same situation or context and under the
same conditions as the original assessment

• Only the specific outcomes that were not achieved will be re-assessed

Candidates who are repeatedly unsuccessful should be given guidance on other
possible and more suitable learning avenues.

Why Assessor is so important.

Firstly, no matter what you specialized in or what industry you in, each of us have to be able to focus on result-orientated growth. The success of each occupation (and industry) can be defined in many different terms. However, in order to reach the best growth and success in our field, we have to be able to measure performance and gaps, then to address these gaps accordingly to get the result we want. This is what assessor training does for you, it guides you to

Demonstrate understanding of outcomes-based assessment- to know the difference of content based training and outcome based growth (Focusing on best ways to get results).
Prepare for Assessments- Planning and conducting the assessment according to outcomes that are needed and based on special needs of environment and candidate that is going to be assessed.
Conduct Assessments-Executing the assessment (measured testing) in the best method possible for the best outcome and candidate.
Provide feedback on assessments- giving formal reports on findings and results of the testing.
Review Assessments-Reflecting on the results and testing to see if the gap of growth and training was sufficiently tested and improved.

 

With everything going on at the moment, a change in career may be exactly what you are looking for. If you are passionate about learning, an Assessor qualification could be the next step for you to take. The main role of an Assessor is to observer learners in their workplace, providing support and guidance throughout their apprenticeship. You will be responsible for collecting evidence and assessing their abilities before signing off their qualification.

Many people choose to become an Assessor as they want to help others achieve their full potential. Here are some other reasons to take an Assessor qualification:

1. Professional development

Continued professional development is important in order to improve the skills and knowledge that you have. The varied role of an Assessor will mean that no two days will be the same. Whether you are recording achievements, running through evidence or marking work, you will soon develop a wide range of skills. You will be regularly communicating with your learners, and time management is also important when running your own diary.

That isn’t to say once you become an Assessor you are stuck with that career choice. Many of the skills that you will acquire are transferable to other roles, either within the education sector, or even management roles.

2. Flexible working hours

One of the main attractions of becoming an Assessor is the flexibility that the role provides, and how it can make more time for you. Whether you are returning to employment after having a child, or you simply desire that work-life balance that a full-time role can’t provide, becoming an Assessor may be the best choice for you.

If you have a read through our day in the life of a childcare Assessor blog, you will soon see that becoming a freelance Assessor can give you so much more freedom. You can visit learners anywhere, at any time, fitting them in around your schedule. The role is very varied. You may find yourself on the road visiting learners a couple of days a week, and then spending the rest of the week writing up the assessments.

3. A new role with new challenges

Sometimes a change is as good as a break. If you have got to the stage where your full-time office job is no longer satisfying then maybe becoming an Assessor is something you should consider. One of the great things about being an Assessor is that you can still stay in the sector that you know, understand and have experience in. However, you will probably find it is a much less stressful job.

4. Progression at work

If you are wanting to stay within the organisation you currently work for, but are working towards a promotion, an Assessor qualification can help. These days, employers are focused on developing the skill set of their staff so that they can bring more of their services in-house. By adding an Assessor qualification to your CV, this will definitely help to impress your boss!

5. Meeting new people

As well as flexibility being one of the main reasons people choose to become Assessors, you will also meet people from all walks of life. You will build strong relationships with your learners, and watching them as they progress through their course is a very rewarding process.

It isn’t just learners who you will be interacting with on a regular basis though, you will find your path will also cross with other Assessors. This is a fantastic way to network and build up your reputation within the industry.

How to become a qualified Assessor

After reading through this blog, if you are swayed towards becoming an Assessor you may be wondering what the next steps are. In order to become an Assessor, you need both an Assessor qualification and occupational competence. The best qualification you can take is the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) as this will allow you to assess learners both within their workplace and in learning environments.