Experienced but Unqualified...
Then read on to find out how CASL can help you... CSCS has encouraged the higher level NVQ assessment centres to develop a priority route to qualification for highly experienced construction practitioners. As a result, CASL Management Development now offers the experienced but unqualified (EBU) route to NVQ achievement.
There are two conditions for success:
- The candidate must be sufficiently experienced to be able to meet the standards in the relevant NVQ
- The candidate’s employer must commit to supporting the candidate in providing time and resources for timely completion of the process
The EBU route can be summarised as follows:
| No | Item | Comments | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory meeting • Candidate • Employer • Assessor |
• Employer support secured • Candidate registered on the NVQ • Candidate and employer inducted by assessor • Candidate’s experience confirmed • Critical evidence identified • Assessment plan agreed |
2-4 hours |
| 2 | Evidence collection | • Candidate builds portfolio of evidence, referenced to the NVQ standards • Assessor provides guidance and support by phone and email |
6-12 weeks |
| 3 | Assessment meeting • Candidate • Employer • Assessor |
• Candidate’s portfolio evidence is assessed • Underpinning knowledge is assessed through questions and answers • Any gaps in evidence are identified • Plan to fill the gaps is agreed |
2-4 hours |
| 4 | Updating | • Candidate supplies any missing evidence to assessor • Assessor confirms satisfaction |
0-4 weeks |
| 5 | Final sign-off | • Assessor approves documentation for NVQ certification |
The minimum time that the regulators allow from NVQ registration to certification is ten weeks. The table above suggests that diligent candidates, well supported by their employers, should not need to take any longer than this to gain their NVQs. A trainee CSCS card can be obtained once the candidate is registered on the NVQ and has passed the relevant CSCS Health & Safety Test. The successful completion of the NVQ and the CSCS card application will achieve the final CSCS Card.
