A National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) assessor evaluates people who are completing the NVQ, which is a work-based qualification awarded in the United Kingdom (UK). The NVQ is a qualification awarded on a variety of levels, and it certifies and validates proficiency in a job or work-related activity. There are more than 1,300 job areas that can be assessed for an NVQ. Some of these include the hospitality industry, healthcare, fitness, education, horticulture and construction. An NVQ assessor works with the person who is trying to get an NVQ to ensure that he or she is able to get to achieve the necessary goals.
An NVQ assessor has working hours that are generally pretty flexible, and he or she often can, and does, work from home. One of the job duties, however, also requires the assessor to visit the candidates in their place of business and tutor or assess them in their NVQ study. Students are often trained, supported and helped with their NVQ courses by an NVQ assessor. Students might study at work, in college or in an internship.
In addition, an NVQ assessor must make course plans and provide the course content and assist with the development of the course. Candidates can also help customize the courses or NVQ requirements to their own specializations. The assessor must create portfolios for the candidates and make sure that the notes and documentation are maintained in each record. Students are evaluated based on the portfolio as well as other work-related assignments.
An NVQ assessor also provides useful feedback to the candidates so that, if necessary, the students can improve or make changes based on that feedback. He or she helps candidates recognize skills that they already have as well as informs them of then need to continue to work on certain skills. He or she also helps the candidates demonstrate their skills and then evaluates their competency based on the demonstration.
In order to become an NVQ assessor, a person must receive an assessor qualification, known as either A1 or A2. In addition, the assessor must have experience in the area he or she will be assessing. For example, someone who is an NVQ assessor in the management field must have previously worked in management in some capacity.
NVQs have become more common as specialized skills and training become more important in the UK. More and more employers have required NVQs as conditions for employment. The benefits of having an NVQ include higher pay and more opportunities for promotion. They usually take one to two years to complete, although there generally isn't a time limit.