The Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA)

This is a fast route open through the CITB-ConstructionSkills/City & Guilds awarding body. It is available for workers with a minimum of five years experience and who don’t need any further training.

It involves spending a day having your skills and knowledge assessed at an off-site location, normally your NVQ centre. This can sometimes be done at weekends.

All the skills needed to pass the NVQ are included in one task, which is observed by an approved assessor.

The 4 Steps of EWPA

Step 1: You will be contacted by a member of staff within 3 weeks to arrange your first appointment.

Step 2: An assessor will introduce you to the process and make an initial assessment to ensure you are suitable to qualify through this method. They may also ask you to bring some items of ‘evidence’ with you. Evidence you provide can be in a written form, such as witness statements from customers or supervisors worked with in the past, or it can take the form of photographs of your work, site plans, qualifications or proof of employment.

Step 3: You will undertake a practical assessment of your skills which will be observed by the assessor. This will be followed by professional discussion to assess your knowledge of the subject.

Step 4: If you are successful, you should receive your full CSCS card within 7 working days and your NVQ certificate will also arrive a few weeks later. If you do not pass the assessment all is not lost: the work you have done can still count towards your qualification through OSAT

If you have any questions about any aspect of your qualification route including CITB Grant support, please speak to your local CITB-ConstructionSkills area office.