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.
