EPA – Frequently Asked Questions

The employer is responsible for selecting the EPAO. A training provider can make a recommendation, but the final decision is for the employer to make.

To be able to assess a standard, we must first gain approval from the Institute for Apprentices & Technical Education (IFATE). It is possible that we are currently going through the approval process or can seek approval if the standard is within our scope of delivery. Please contact us for information on any standards that are not listed on our website.

To register your apprentices for End-Point Assessment with South West Councils, please email us at epa@swcouncils.gov.uk and one of our specialist EPA Advisors will guide you through the process.

Once all assessment activities have been passed and verified, the employer, apprentice and training provider will be notified of the outcome. As the EPAO, we claim the certificate which is sent to the employer following successful completion of an End-Point Assessment period. Certificates may take up to 4 weeks to arrive following completion.

The Training Provider pays the EPAO on behalf of the employer. The levy covers EPA costs and may also cover resits although this is subject to restrictions. The arrangement is the same for non-levy paying employers although the funding source is different as the employer pays 10% and 90% is government funded.

The EPA period varies based on the assessment plan for each standard, but usually a maximum of 3 months is allowed. When South West Councils receive gateway documentation for an apprentice, we will work with the employer and apprentice to ensure all assessment activities are completed within the specified period for that standard.