Your Ultimate Guide to Internal Quality Assurance Qualification
Table of contents
Introduction
What is an IQA Qualification?
How to Become an Internal Quality Assurer?
How Many Units Are There In IQA Qualification?
Types of IQA Qualification
Why Become An Internal Quality Assurer?
What Roles Can I Apply For With IQA Qualification?
What Are The Responsibilities Of Internal Quality Assurers?
Who Can Get An IQA Qualification?
What Experience Do I Need To Get An IQA Qualification?
Is IQA Qualification Relevant to D34 and V1 Qualification?
Where Can You Get the IQA Certification?
Introduction
Are you interested in pursuing a career in Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) or looking to enhance your existing knowledge and skills in this field? If so, you’re at the right place. But with so many different IQA qualifications and pathways available, it can be tough to know where to start. That’s why we’ve created this ultimate guide to Internal Quality Assurance Certification.
From the benefits of certification to the different types of qualifications available, we’ll cover it all. Whether you’re a manager, HR professional, or quality assurance personnel, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about IQA qualification. Moreover, you will be equipped with the knowledge you need to succeed in this exciting field. So get ready to take your IQA career to the next level with this comprehensive guide!
What is an IQA Qualification?
An IQA (Internal Quality Assurance) qualification is the recognition that someone has undergone regulatory training in order to provide quality assurance for the assessment processes.
This professional certification demonstrates an individual’s ability to manage the quality of vocational assessment within an organisation. If you have an IQA qualification, it shows that you’re qualified to manage the appraisal of assessment judgements and ensure they are compliant with the relevant regulatory frameworks and organisations. Having this qualification will enable you to carry out audits, monitor and offer feedback to the service provider.
How to Become an Internal Quality Assurer?
Becoming an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) typically requires a combination of education, experience, and certifications. Here are some general steps to becoming an IQA:
Gain relevant experience: To become an IQA, you will need to have experience in the area you will be assessing. For example, if you want to be an IQA in a training organization, you should have experience as a trainer or assessor.
Get qualified: In most cases, you will need to complete a qualification in quality assurance, such as the Level 4 Award in Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice. This will give you the knowledge and skills you need to carry out your duties as an IQA.
Obtain a relevant certificate: After completing a relevant qualification, you can obtain a certificate from a recognized awarding organization to validate your competence in IQA.
Gain practical experience: After gaining a qualification and certificate, you will need to gain practical experience as an IQA. This can be done through work placements or volunteering.
How Many Units Are There In IQA Qualification?
The internal quality assurance qualification is composed of three units presenting three types of employment opportunities. In other words, the IQA qualification has 3 different IQA qualification awards. The structure of IQA qualification is built on 3 following units: theoretical, practical and advanced.
- Unit-1: Being a theoretical knowledge based unit, it’s an integral part of IQA qualification.
- Unit-2: Offers theoretical learning along with training.
- Unit-3: An advanced IQA qualification for individuals having the right skill set of leading the IQA department.
The concept behind the formation of 3 units of IQA qualification is to consider the requirements of an individual undergoing this course. Each unit fulfils certain criteria for professional roles. Refer to the table below for further understanding.
The table below sets out the structure of what each unit entails.
| Structure | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding the principles and practices of internally assuring the quality of assessment | ✔️Yes | ✔️Yes | ✔️Yes |
| Internally assure the quality of assessment | ✔️Yes | ✔️Yes | |
| Plan, allocate and monitor work in own area of responsibility | ✔️Yes |
Types of IQA Qualification
1-Unit Award: Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
If you’re the one interested in gaining insights and basic knowledge of the IQA role, the 1-unit award is for you. Being entirely theoretical, the course offers a complete understanding of the principles and practices of internal quality assurance.
Commonly, this course is opted for by any individual in a managerial position to increase their knowledge towards assessment workflow. However, in order to pursue internal quality assurance as a career, one must obtain the level 4 award in the internal quality assurance of assessment processes and practice, which is a 2-unit award.
2-Unit Award: Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
The 2-unit award is based on a course which is more extensive than the understanding of internal quality assurance. The candidates are provided with theoretical and practical training so they can operate as internal quality assurers in their respective industries. This award will help the holder to practise the operations of the IQA role.
3-Unit Award: Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
The 3-unit award acts as evidence that the individual has the right skill set for leading the IQA department. This course enables the candidate to carry out the standardisation process to ensure the assessment cycle is followed correctly. With a level 4 certificate in the internal quality assurance of assessment processes and practice, an individual can seek a career as lead IQA.
Why Become An Internal Quality Assurer?
Better Career Prospects
Becoming an IQA can be highly valuable for career progression, even without looking at the financial benefits. By taking on a higher qualification and taking the responsibility of leading an assessment team, you can earn recognition industry-wise with value in your knowledge and expertise. This can then give opportunities to manage a larger group of assessors, or even move into management roles.
Leadership Role
In addition to the more tangible benefits, becoming an IQA can be a source of career fulfilment. As an IQA you would be taking the lead when it comes to quality assurance within the assessment process, and this can be rewarding in terms of the success of the whole team. This can provide the opportunity to work in different organisations on a variety of different qualifications, thus allowing you to gain a broad range of experience.
What Roles Can I Apply For With IQA Qualification?
With an Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) qualification, you can apply for a range of roles in several industries. These include Internal Quality Assurer, Internal Verifier, Quality Manager, Training and Development Manager, and Assessment Manager.
You can also work in education, healthcare, engineering, and other sectors that require quality assurance of processes and practices. The specific roles available to you will depend on your experience, qualifications, and the requirements of the organization you are applying to.
Individuals holding an IQA certificate have the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure the service and assessment of products within the organisation is conducted to a consistently high standard. With their hard work and dedication, IQA-qualified individuals play a vital role in the progress and success of the entire organisation. This way, they become a valuable asset for the organisation, as they help them to meet the needs of their customers and the industry at large.
What Are The Responsibilities Of Internal Quality Assurers?
Ensuring Quality of Assessment: Internal quality assurers are responsible for ensuring the quality of assessment, they conduct standardisation meetings which monitor the consistency of assessment and review all assessment evidence.
Reporting: IQAs also report on the progress and performance of all assessors and the progress of service within the organisation.
Assist With Internal Enquiries: They help to investigate decisions made within the organization and check assessments for consistency, using their knowledge and skills to make sure the decisions and assessments are correct and fair.
Providing Evidence To Support Decisions: Internal quality assurers not only check and confirm decisions and assessments, but they also gather evidence to back up their findings and suggest ways to improve. They may also provide specialized advice, create audits, and participate in external reviews to ensure quality standards are met.”
What Experience Do I Need To Get An IQA Qualification?
To get an IQA qualification, you must opt for a training course to learn the necessary skills and knowledge. And for that, you must be:
- Currently practising as internal quality assurers or a professional development qualification for managers, HR or quality assurance personnel.
- Carrying out quality assurance in most learning environments including FE, Adult Continuing Learning, Employers and Third Sector.
- Carrying out quality assurance in all occupational sectors.
Working in accredited learning OR non-accredited learning (where people may assess performance but do not assess for a qualification); the NQF and the RQF. - Having some introduction to training qualifications.
Is IQA Qualification Relevant to D34 and V1 Qualification?
Yes, the IQA qualification is relevant to D34 and V1 qualifications. The IQA qualification was designed to replace the former Internal Verifier Award (D34) or the V1. Now it’s recognized as the current qualification for internal quality assurance in the UK.
The modules that are known as units of this qualification are updated versions of the V1 and D34 course modules. With frequent advancements in the field, the IQA qualification was developed to meet the new regulatory requirements for internal quality assurance.
Although the IQA qualification includes the same content as the V1 and D34 qualifications, it also covers a range of additional areas such as planning and assigning work, monitoring and maintaining the quality of assessment, and managing information.
Where Can You Get the IQA Certification?
Looking to obtain an IQA certification? With the increasing demand for Internal Quality Assurance qualifications in the industry, it’s essential to find a trusted provider to help you enhance your skills and advance your career.
At Hurak Learning, we provide a comprehensive IQA certification course that is tailored to fit your specific career needs. Our IQA courses are designed to work around an individual’s schedule. You can get our self-paced course and complete it at your own convenience. However, as you progress through the course, you will be required to submit the essay assignments and assessments to receive your certificate. These assessments ensure you have gained the required knowledge and training to succeed at the IQA role. Moreover, our IQA courses are intended to support and improve your performance in the workplace, equipping you with the tools and techniques needed to excel as an Assessor.
Are you ready to advance your career with an IQA certification? We are here to help you. At Hurak, you will find a range of IQA qualification courses which include:
- Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
- Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
- Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
Book your course and join the thousands of professionals who have successfully completed our courses and advanced their careers in the industry. Our IQA courses are designed to provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to help you get the IQA qualification.
The specific requirements for maintaining your IQA qualification may vary depending on the awarding body, but generally, you will need to demonstrate ongoing professional development to ensure that your knowledge and skills are up to date. This may involve completing refresher training, attending workshops or conferences, and keeping up to date with changes in industry regulations and standards.
