The Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement, usually shortened to CAVA, is the qualification for becoming a vocational assessor. It qualifies you to assess candidates in the workplace and in other settings such as training centres, which makes it the standard route for anyone who wants to assess NVQs.
It is aimed at experienced tradespeople and professionals who want to assess others in their occupation: plasterers, carpenters, supervisors, plant specialists and anyone else with solid occupational competence. Assessing is a natural next step for experienced workers, it pays well, and demand for construction assessors in particular continues to grow.
This qualification is awarded by ProQual and regulated by Ofqual (qualification number 600/2020/9). It covers the principles and practices of assessment, assessing occupational competence in the work environment, and assessing vocational skills, knowledge and understanding in other settings.
Assessment is by portfolio: you evidence real assessments of real candidates, observed and supported by your own assessor remotely. There are no exams. If you only need to assess in the workplace, the shorter Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment may be enough; your skill scan confirms the right one.
Assessors often pair CAVA with the Level 3 Certificate in Teaching and Training, and can progress to quality assurance with the Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance qualification. You can also browse the full range of qualifications.
