Information for employers looking for an independent end-point assessment organisation and potential applicants to the register of apprentice assessment organisations.

Important information about the changes to external quality assurance

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) published the response to its consultation on external quality assurance (EQA) on 4 August 2020.

The consultation proposed a simplified and improved system for EQA of apprenticeship end-point assessment, with all EQA delivered by Ofqual, or the Office for Students for integrated degree apprenticeships, under a common EQA framework set by the Institute.

Having taken into account all the responses, and listened to feedback, the Institute have strengthened the proposal and will proceed with the changes.

ESFA, Ofqual and the Institute have written to end-point assessment organisations to outline what this means for them and next steps. For full details read our newsletter Important information about the changes to EQA (PDF, 94.7KB, 2 pages).

Register of end-point assessment organisations

Register of end-point assessment organisations (November 2020) (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 87KB) lists organisations that have been assessed as being suitable to conduct independent end-point assessment of apprentices and be in receipt of public funds. You can use the List of standards (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 59.3KB) to see which organisations deliver a particular standard.

Introduction to end-point-assessment organisations

As well as containing information on programme training and assessment, all apprenticeship standards must contain an end-point assessment. An independent organisation must be involved in the end-point assessment of each apprentice so that all apprentices following the same standard are assessed consistently.

Only organisations on the register of end-point assessment organisations are eligible to conduct independent end-point assessment of apprentices. Although a number of different people and organisations may be involved in an apprentice’s end-point assessment, only the independent organisation needs to apply to and be listed on the register.

For more information read Register of end-point assessment organisations - introduction.

You can help the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) build better services for potential and existing EPAOs by joining our research panel. If you’re considering an application to the register, we would like to hear which standards you’re considering applying for. We are trialling a new application process and need to test it with new applicants.

Using the register of end-point assessment organisations

Employers will use the register to select an organisation to undertake end-point assessment for them.

Selecting an organisation

Employers can choose any organisation listed on the register against the apprenticeship standard being taken by their apprentice.

Unless the assessment plans states otherwise employers cannot select their apprentices’ training organisation to be the end-point assessment organisation.

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Selecting an organisation that is not listed on the register

If employers want to use an organisation that is not on the register, that organisation will need to apply and be listed against the apprenticeship standard before you can consider them for conducting independent end-point assessment of your apprentices.

Selecting an organisation when none are listed on the register against an apprenticeship standard

Employers will not be able to select an end-point assessment organisation for their apprentice until at least one organisation is listed on the register for that apprenticeship standard.We operate a monthly application process for organisations interested in delivering end-point assessment and add to the register regularly.

Requesting further information about an organisation on the register

To help choose an end-point assessment organisation you can ask an organisation on the register for more information about the service they offer.

How to apply to the register of end-point assessment organisations

Ofqual external quality assured standards

A number of standards will be quality assured by Ofqual from November 2020.

EPAOs wishing to apply to assess these Ofqual quality assured standards (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 11.2KB) will need to be recognised by Ofqual before we can approve your application.

The remaining standards will transition to Ofqual in 2 main phases:

  • By end of July 2021 all standards for which the Institute is the EQA provider will move to Ofqual.
  • By end of July 2022 all standards where EQA is currently delivered by other external bodies will move to Ofqual.

From 16 November 2020 organisations applying to the register of EPAOs to assess standards in the first phase of transition will also need to seek recognition by Ofqual and have this in place before their application to the register can be approved.

This applies to organisations not currently on the register and those that have not yet applied.

Details of the current EQA provider for each standard can be found on the Institute website.

Find an assessment opportunity

We have built a service for potential and existing end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) to understand the business opportunities for apprenticeship assessment.

Users will be able to:

  • browse lists of approved standards, standards in development and proposed standards
  • search for standards of particular interest to them
  • filter search results by region, sector or level

To apply you will need to complete the online application in the apprenticeship assessment service. You will need to:

  • respond to all the questions and make a series of declarations
  • submit your latest financial statements
  • submit accompanying documentation where the question asks for this

What you need to know before applying to be an apprentice end-point assessment organisation

Conditions for being on the register of end-point assessment organisations

We are particularly encouraging applications for standards where there are currently no EPAOs or low numbers of EPAOs relative to learner numbers.

We will therefore prioritise the review of applications for standards in this category. Whilst we welcome applications to the register for all standards, the review of applications for standards with greater EPAO numbers will take longer.

Help and support

We have been working closely with the Education and Training Foundation, and before applying to the register, you may want to consider the information and resources available to prospective end-point assessment organisations through Future Apprenticeships to support the end-point assessment process.

If you need further assistance, you can:

  • search for help in the apprenticeship service at any time
  • call us on 08000 150 600 (option 1 then option 2)
  • email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

Published 5 April 2018
Last updated 2 November 2020 + show all updates

  1. Updated the list of approved apprenticeship standards and the list of registered apprenticeship training providers.

  2. Updated the list of standards being assessed by Ofqual from November 2020. Added more detail about the transition arrangements for Ofqual taking on the assessment of standards between now and July 2022.

  3. Updated the register of EPAOs and approved standards for October 2020

  4. Updated to include details of standards that need to be quality assured by Ofqual from November 2020.

  5. Updated the registers for end-point assessment organisations and apprenticeship standards.

  6. Updated to prioritise applications where there are currently no EPAOs or low numbers of EPAOs relative to learner numbers.

  7. Response from The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on its consultation on external quality assurance

  8. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (July 2020) and the list of standards.

  9. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (June 2020) and the list of standards.

  10. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (June 2020) and the list of standards.

  11. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (May 2020) and the list of standards.

  12. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (May 2020) and the list of standards.

  13. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (April 2020) and the list of standards.

  14. Updated information relating to application processing times.

  15. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (March 2020) and the list of standards.

  16. Update to the Conditions for being on the register of end-point assessment organisations.

  17. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (February 2020) and the list of standards.

  18. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (January 2020) and the list of standards.

  19. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (December 2019) and the list of standards.

  20. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (November 2019) and the list of standards.

  21. Update to include Find an assessment opportunity

  22. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (October 2019) and the list of standards.

  23. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (September 2019) and the list of standards.

  24. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (July 2019) and the list of standards.

  25. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (July 2019) and the list of standards.

  26. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (June 2019) and the list of standards.

  27. We have updated the latest Register and standards lists.

  28. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations (April 2019) and the list of standards.

  29. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance and the list of apprentice standards (March 2019).

  30. We have updated the Register of end-point assessment organisations (February 2019) and list of standards.

  31. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations and the list of standards.

  32. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance and the list of apprentice standards (February 2019).

  33. We have updated the list of apprentice standards.

  34. We have updated the list of standards and the Register of end-point assessment organisations.

  35. We've updated the list of apprentice standards and the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance.

  36. We have updated the register of end-point assessment organisations, the list of standards and the list of apprentice standards.

  37. Updated the register list of standards and register of end-point assessment organisations.

  38. We've updated the Register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance and the list of apprentice standards.

  39. Updated the register list of standards and register of end-point assessment organisations

  40. Updated the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance; the list of apprentice standards; the register list of standards and register of end-point assessment organisations

  41. Updated the register list of standards and register of end-point assessment organisations

  42. Updated the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance and the list of apprentice standards

  43. Updated the register list of standards and register of end-point assessment organisations

  44. Updated the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance and the list of apprentice standards

  45. Updated the register list of standards and register of end-point assessment organisations

  46. Updated the register list of standards and register of end-point assessment organisations

  47. Published updated version of register of end-point assessment organisations (July 2018), list of standards and the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance.

  48. Published updated version of register of end-point assessment organisations (June 2018), list of standards and the register of end-point assessment organisations: pre-application guidance.

  49. Updated register of end-point assessment organisations and updated list of standards we are inviting applications for.

  50. First published.

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