Assessment
Fair & consistent assessment
How assessment works at EarnLearn

Assessment in an EarnLearn apprenticeship is built around real work, clear standards, and consistent evidence. Apprentices demonstrate competence through everyday tasks in the workplace, while assessors use approved tools and guidance to confirm skills are being applied safely, consistently, and to the required national standard.

Assessment is not a one-off test. It is an ongoing process that supports learning, tracks progress, and ensures apprentices are developing the capability needed to complete their qualification.

How assessment works

EarnLearn uses a collection-of-evidence approach to assessment. This means apprentices build evidence over time through real workplace tasks rather than artificial assessment activities. Evidence is gathered as work is completed and reviewed against the relevant unit standards.

Assessors evaluate this evidence to determine whether the apprentice can perform required tasks consistently and safely in real-world conditions.

Assessment overview

Assessment is mapped directly to the work apprentices are already doing on the job. Training and assessment requirements are clearly defined, so apprentices, employers, and assessors understand what evidence is needed and when.

Evidence may include workplace tasks, written or online responses, workplace documentation, and confirmation from supervisors or verifiers. All assessment decisions are recorded using EarnLearn-approved systems to ensure transparency and consistency.

How competence is confirmed

Competence is confirmed when there is enough evidence to show the apprentice meets the standard on a consistent basis, not just once. Assessors review the full range of evidence and may ask follow-up questions or seek clarification to confirm understanding and application.

Decisions are based on national standards and moderation requirements, giving confidence that assessment outcomes are fair, consistent, and comparable across workplaces.

Ongoing assessment requirements

Assessment continues throughout the apprenticeship as skills develop and new standards are introduced. Evidence is reviewed regularly to track progress and identify any gaps early.

All assessment activity follows EarnLearn’s quality assurance and moderation processes. This ensures assessment decisions remain robust, compliant, and aligned with national expectations as the apprentice progresses toward completion.

Fair,
consistent assessment
practices

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity and appeals

We’re committed to fair, transparent assessment practices. The sections below explain how concerns are handled, what rights learners and assessors have, and how to access the right support at the right time.

Academic Integrity

When a learner presents assessment evidence that is not their own, gathered from another learner’s work, or from any other sources, we call this ‘academic misconduct.’  EarnLearn takes academic misconduct seriously and assessors have a key role in upholding the academic integrity of our assessment process. 

EarnLearn’s Academic Integrity Policy provides learners, assessors, verifiers, and employers with a process to deal with concerns relating to academic misconduct. 

Assessors are expected to contact our Quality Assurance team immediately if academic misconduct is suspected. EarnLearn follows a fair and transparent investigation process. 

The right to appeal 

Learners can formally appeal an assessment decision if they believe it’s unfair. Assessors must use a totally transparent assessment process which provides a trail of evidence to support their decisions. 

How appeals work: 

  • The learner must appeal to us in writing within 30 days of receiving the assessment result.  
  • Our Quality Assurance team oversees a formal review of the appeal.  
  • We’ll inform the learner and assessor of the result of the appeal within 15 days of receiving it.

To appeal an assessment decision, learners need to complete the following steps: 

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TRADES that need assessors

EarnLearn Trades

Explore our programmes by trade and pathway type. Select a programme to see what it covers and the next steps.

Electrical

Assess electrical apprentices completing EarnLearn programmes across installation, testing, fault-finding, and regulatory compliance. Electrical assessors review workplace evidence, confirm competence against national standards, and support consistent, fair assessment decisions.

What you’ll assess:

Electrical work carried out in real workplace environments, supported by learner evidence, workplace verification, and EarnLearn assessment resources.

What we provide:

EarnLearn-approved assessment materials, clear assessment guidance, moderation and quality assurance support, and ongoing communication to ensure assessment decisions remain consistent and compliant.

Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying

Assess apprentices completing EarnLearn Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlaying programmes using evidence gathered from real job tasks. Assessments focus on safe practice, technical competence, and regulatory requirements across PGD scopes.

What you’ll assess:

Workplace tasks and evidence across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying, verified by employers and reviewed against EarnLearn assessment standards.

What we provide:

Trade-specific assessment guides, structured moderation processes, quality assurance oversight, and ongoing support from the EarnLearn team.

Cranes

Assess trainee completing EarnLearn Crane programmes using evidence gathered from real on-site lifting operations. Assessments focus on safe lifting practice, operational competence, and compliance with regulatory and industry standards across crane and lifting scopes.

EarnLearn is only accepting assessor applications for individual workplaces

What you’ll assess:

Workplace lifting tasks and supporting evidence across crane operations, including setup, operation, signalling, and shutdown activities, verified by employers and reviewed against EarnLearn crane assessment standards.

What we provide:

Crane-specific assessment guides, structured moderation and verification processes, quality assurance oversight, and ongoing assessor support from the EarnLearn team.

GET In touch

Contact our Quality Assurance Team

If you have questions about assessment, becoming an assessor, academic integrity, or appeals, please contact:

Questions about assessments or evidence requirements

Enquiries about becoming or supporting an EarnLearn assessor

Concerns relating to academic integrity or assessment appeals

Send an enquiry

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