Validation & Moderation Process

What does the accreditation/validation process consist of?

Once an application for accreditation/validation of a course has been made to and accepted by IATQuO, there are three phases to the process.

Phase 1 - Scrutiny of course documentation

Course documentation includes:

- Statement of course objectives and trainees for whom the course is designed,

- Entry requirements for trainees,

- Details of course content, component by component, including objectives, length and method of assessment per component,

- Course timetable,

- Copies of all handouts, handbooks, assignment instructions, proforma and tests which trainees will receive during the course,

- Full details of teaching practice arrangements, to include location(s), type(s) of learner, likely age range of learners, likely levels of learner, expected numbers,

- Assessment criteria for completion of the whole course, for assignments and for observed teaching practice,

- Sample records of achievement of trainees,

- Staff CV’s.

Phase 2  - Visit to Training Centre by IATQuO validator

The visit comprises:

- Initial discussion with tutors re course documentation and conduct of course,

- Inspection of premises,

- Attending a limited number of Teaching Practice sessions,

- Sampling trainees’ assessed work, e.g. tests and assignments, and Teaching Practice portfolios,

- Obtaining feedback on the course from trainees in groups of approximately four,

- Discussing work submitted for an assignment (usually the materials assignment) with each trainee individually,

- Final round up discussion with tutors.

Phase 3  - Final report by IATQuO validator

The written report will contain the validator’s findings and recommendations and suggestions, all of which will normally have been discussed in the final round up session, together with IATQuO’s decision regarding accreditation/validation of the course.

The decision will normally be one of the following:

When does the accreditation/validation process take place?

Phase 1 generally takes place once a course is set up and running and may be carried out by correspondence (including email) or may be carried out at the beginning of the visit to the centre, immediately before Phase 2. In these circumstances it is advisable to give a new course time to settle down and to carry out the initial validation during the third or fourth course.

Phase 1 may also be started before a course has been delivered and would normally take place by correspondence in these circumstances.

Phase 2 is best carried out during the final week of a course when trainees are still present.

The written report, Phase 3, is sent within two weeks of the completion of the visit.

How long does the accreditation/validation process take?

This will vary, depending on whether Phase 1 is started before any courses get under way or whether it is combined with Phase 2.

If Phase 1 is started before any course gets under way, this phase could take between one and four weeks, depending on how many modifications or additional materials are required. At a time agreed by the course provider, the validator's visit will take place and the report submitted within two weeks following the visit. The whole process could last as little as two and a half months, but the determining factor would be the gap between submission of the documentation for scrutiny and the timing of the first course.

If Phases 1 and 2 are combined, the visit will normally last three or four working days, depending on the size of the group of trainees. For groups of more than eight trainees, four days should be planned, so as to leave enough time for full discussion at the round up. With the report submitted within two weeks of the validator’s visit, it may be possible to obtain full validation within less than two months. But if there are a number of recommendations to implement first, the process may take up to four months.

What does subsequent moderation consist of?

This is very similar to the initial accreditation/validation process. The main difference is that Phases 1 and 2 are combined. Scrutiny of course documentation takes place at the beginning of the visit. It is not as thorough as the initial scrutiny, and the moderator is primarily concerned with any changes that have been made or new material that may have been introduced. The moderator will also wish to consult the records of achievement for trainees completing courses that have taken place between the validation visit and the moderation, or since the previous moderation.

The written report, Phase 3, will normally be sent within two weeks of the visit. Accreditation/validation will not be affected unless, in the opinion of the moderator, standards have been slipping. In this case, recommendations will have to be implemented within a specified time frame if accreditation/validation of the course is not to lapse.

Phase 1 - Scrutiny of course documentation

Course documentation includes:

- Statement of course objectives and trainees for whom the course is designed,

- Entry requirements for trainees,

- Details of course content, component by component, including objectives, length and method of assessment per component,

- Copies of all course materials and worksheets, assignment instructions, proforma and any tests which trainees will receive during the course,

- Assessment criteria for completion of the whole course.

- Staff CV’s.

 This scrutiny will normally be conducted via email.

Phase 2  - Contact with Training Provider by IATQuO validator

This contact will be primarily via email but may comprise a visit to the training organisation’s main office by the validator.

The contacts entail:

- Initial discussion with tutors re course documentation and conduct of course,

- Sampling trainees’ assessed work, e.g. tests and assignments.

- Discussing trainees’ work submitted with each tutor individually,

- Final round up discussion.

Phase 3  - Final report by IATQuO validator

The written report will contain the validator’s findings and recommendations and suggestions, all of which will normally have already been discussed, together with IATQuO’s decision regarding accreditation/validation of the course.

The decision will normally be one of the following:

a)   Accreditation/validation of the course, or

b)   Provisional validation/accreditation until certain agreed recommendations or modifications are implemented. In these cases a time frame of two to four months is stipulated.

What does subsequent moderation consist of?

This is very similar to the initial accreditation/validation process and will take place a few months after the initial validation/accreditation process. It is not as thorough as the initial scrutiny, and the moderator is primarily concerned with any changes that have been made or new material that may have been introduced. The moderator will also wish to consult samples of work completed by recent trainees.

The written report, Phase 3, will normally be sent within two weeks of the moderation. Accreditation/validation will not be affected unless, in the opinion of the moderator, standards have been slipping. In this case, recommendations will have to be implemented within a specified time frame if accreditation/validation of the course is not to lapse.

Partial Accreditation/Validation