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Online · Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards) Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
Quality assure the assessors. Lead the team that does it.
You already sample assessors and answer to the EQA. The L4CLIQAAPP is what awarding organisations ask for before you lead on quality. Three units covering the principles, quality assuring your own team and planning and monitoring the people you manage.
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Since 2012
Specialists in training teachers, trainers, assessors and IQAs
5000+ learners
Teachers, Trainers, Assessors and IQAs trained so far
45+ years
Combined training experience
Approved Centre
Recognised by multiple Ofqual-Approved Awarding Organisations
Since May 2012, nearly 30 people qualify with us every month - You could be next!
The part that stalls people
Doing the quality assurance is not the same as leading on it.
Awarding organisations will not name you as a centre’s lead internal quality assurer without a recognised lead IQA qualification, however long you have run sampling and standardisation. It is the box on the centre approval form.
5 main reasons people choose us
Full course access from the day you enrol
No 8-week countdown clocks. No panic – a full year to work at the pace your life allows.
Money-Back Guarantee – No Questions Asked
Enrol, log in, start Unit 1. If it is not for you, tell us within 14 days. Swift refund – only the PayPal charges are deducted.
Regulated and recognised
Issued by Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards), on the RQF. Regulated by Ofqual, CCEA and Qualifications Wales and recognised across the FE and skills sector. No small print.
Check the L4CLIQAAPP on the Ofqual Register (GOV.UK)Marking turnaround
Assessment Submissions marked within 24 to 72 hours – Most providers take 14 to 21 days. You’ll get feedback while the work is still fresh in your head.
Start any day of the year. No cohort dates. No waiting lists.
Pay and enrol – You don't have to wait for days. We invite you to the online course within 10-15 minutes on a weekday (9 am to 5 pm). Exceptions: Weekends and public holidays
Other reasons they love us for
#1 – See yourself here
Is L4CLIQAAPP right for you?
A lead IQA works on two levels: quality assuring the assessors and leading the IQAs who quality assure them. You may already do both without the qualification behind it. You may be stepping up to lead the team. Or your centre may need a qualified lead IQA before its next EQA visit.
1: You Already Lead On Quality
Build on the sampling you do with assessors and the steer you give other IQAs and add the qualification centres and awarding organisations ask for by name.
2: Built Around Your Own Team
Plan and carry out real monitoring activities with your own assessors, hold a standardisation meeting with your IQAs and produce a work plan for the area you are responsible for.
3: Honest Advice Before Enrolling
Not leading a team yet? We will point you to the L4AUIQAAPP or the practical L4AIQAAPP instead of selling you the full certificate.
Trusted by professionals working in the following industries
#2 – Enjoy the learning
Small lessons. Useful, lasting skills.
Imagine a spare 15 minutes becoming a step forward. Your course combines different ways to learn, practise and make sense of teaching.
1: 5-15 Minute Bite-Sized, Achievable Learning
Manageable lessons fit around shifts, school runs and the gap between your everyday commitments.
2: Your Professional Toolkit
Print handouts and keep assessment plans, observation records, feedback forms and candidate record sheets for your portfolio and future practice.
3: Theory Brought To Life
Narrators, mentors and multi-character dialogues work through real assessment decisions, from construction and healthcare to beauty, fitness and hospitality.
4: Watch, Read, Listen – Designed For VARK Learners
Professional video and audio, filmed assessment practice, written notes, PDFs, activities and interactive quizzes work together in every unit, so you learn the way that suits you.
VisualSketch notes, diagrams and infographics.
AuditoryNarrated lessons and recorded dialogues.
Read-WriteWritten notes, PDFs and handouts.
KinaestheticActivities, quizzes and your recorded assessments.
Want to see the course from the inside?
Fifteen minutes on a video meeting. We will walk you through the three units, the evidence you need to gather and the tutor process.
#3 – Feel at home online
Your next lesson. Always within reach.
Open your course and know where to go. A clear contents panel, visible progress and simple access help you focus on learning.
1: No Passwords To Remember
Simple access and one-click navigation through lessons, resources and assessments.
2: Your Progress, Always Visible
See what you have completed and what is next, without keeping a separate checklist.
3: Learning In Your Pocket
Desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. Your progress syncs and the mobile app brings learning with you.
#4 – You have people beside you
“What if I get stuck?”
Ask us. A real person who assesses and quality assures for a living will help you take the next step.
1: Replies Within 24 Hours
Email questions answered within 24 hours, so you can keep moving.
2: Real Human Support
Email and telephone support, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, throughout your course.
3: Live Help When Needed
Webinars, group Q&A sessions and drop-in calls give you space to talk things through.
4: Practising Assessors
Qualified assessors and IQAs working in FE and industry, with 45+ years of combined teaching, assessing and quality assurance experience.
14-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
No Questions Asked
If you enrol, start Unit 1, read the material, watch the videos, look at the assessments and decide within the first 14 days it isn't right for you – inform us and we'll issue a refund.
No exit interview, no awkward conversation, no excuses from our end, nobody to argue with.
The only risk of enrolling is staying exactly where you are.
Or call us on 01908 736 777 and ask us to explain it in plain terms
#5 – Build confidence, step by step
You're allowed to learn.
Haven't written an assignment for years? You do not need to arrive knowing everything. Clear guidance, practical resources and useful feedback help you develop.
1: Prepare – Know What Is Expected
Work through all three units and use the included templates to build your IQA plan, sampling plan, observation records and team work plan.
2: Practise – On Your Own Team
Sample the work of two assessors across four monitoring activities, then be observed live and remotely once quality assuring and once leading a standardisation meeting.
3: Improve Theory – Two Free Resubmissions
If a theory assessment does not yet meet the criteria, two further attempts are included at no extra cost.
4: Improve Practice – Resubmissions Included
Any practical element can be resubmitted once, at no extra cost, if it does not yet meet the criteria.
#6 – Make room for real life
Your life doesn't stop. Your learning can fit.
1: Study Around Real Life
Keep your shifts, family commitments and existing training responsibilities. Learn online at a pace that works within your course access period.
2: Extensions When Life Happens
Illness, bereavement, work pressure or a new baby can change your plans. Paid extensions are available if you need more than a year, so you can protect the progress you have made.
365
days of course access
Start with one lesson. Build a rhythm that works for you.
#7 – A clear investment
Everything you need.
£900 including 20% VAT
Covers Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards) registration, all three units, marking, both live remote observations, resubmissions and your certificate. No interest, no fees.
Employers — we invoice you. Pay by Bank Transfer. Request an Invoice
Refund less PayPal’s processing charge
1: What’s included in your £900?
✓365 days access to our LMS (Learning Management System)
✓Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards) registration
✓Videos, audio guides, professional templates and printable resources
✓Two theory resubmissions per assessment
✓One free resubmission of any practical assessment
✓Two live remote observations – your IQA practice and your standardisation meeting, with no travel costs
✓£240 deducted if you have completed the L4AUIQAAPP or £600 deducted if you have completed the L4AIQAAPP with us
✓Ongoing email, telephone and live support by the tutor
✓Digital Certificate – The lead IQA qualification, quality assurance and leadership
✓No surprise charges at checkout!
2: Employer Funding
We can invoice your employer directly, enrol your people together and report progress. There is no minimum booking number. Visit our Corporate page
3: Certificates Issued Fast
You should receive your certificate within 2-3 weeks of successfully completing all course requirements.
Employers: qualifying a whole team?
Send us your finance contact and we will invoice directly, enrol your people in one batch and report progress back to you. Multiple-booking discounts apply: 5% for 3 to 4 bookings, 10% for 5 or more. There is no minimum number of seats. Visit our Corporate page
Refund less PayPal’s processing charge
#8 – Experience you can trust
Training Teachers, Assessors and IQAs. Since 2012.
More than 5,000 learners have trusted us with their teaching, assessing and IQA qualifications. This is our specialism.
1: Qualified, Practising Trainers
45+ years of combined experience, with qualifications across teaching, assessing and internal quality assurance, including QTLS, DET/DTLLS, CELTA and assessor/IQA awards.
2: Founder-Led And Accountable
Independent and founder-led. You can escalate concerns personally to the directors and speak to people responsible for your experience.
3: Direct Claims Status
Allows us to claim and procure your certificates within 2-3 weeks of course completion. No more waiting for months.
We have also worked with TQUK | AIM Awards | City & Guilds | Edexcel (Pearson) in the past.
4: Support Beyond Completion
Keep in touch as you take your next steps. Completing the qualification does not mean the conversation ends.
5: References When You Need Them
After successful completion, employer references are available on request to support your next application.
#9 – People who started here
Thousands started where you are.
What learners say after completing the L4CLIQAAPP and our other IQA courses: forms and templates that give clear structure, and support throughout.
100% genuine. Feedback supplied from our Google or Facebook Reviews, LMS, Emails, etc.
No learner names, ratings or career outcomes have been invented.
#10 – Look beyond the certificate
Imagine where this could lead.
Hold a whole assessment team to a standard that stands up to external scrutiny.
1: Your experience
You quality assure assessors and manage the people who do it.
2: L4CLIQAAPP
Learn to plan IQA, evaluate assessment quality and lead your team.
3: Lead
Sign off sampling plans, standardisation and assessor development in your own name.
4: Keep progressing
Move into centre quality management or add the L3AET and L5DiT.
5: Progression Costs You Less
Complete the L4CLIQAAPP with us and progress to eligible further qualifications, including the L3AET, the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training and the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching, at a reduced rate. We will help you choose a route that matches your experience and entry requirements.
Before you pay – read this bit
Which IQA qualification do you need?
This Certificate is for people who quality assure assessors and lead the IQAs who do the same. If you sample assessors but do not lead a team, the L4AIQAAPP is the qualification to enrol on. If you only need the theory, the L4AUIQAAPP costs a good deal less.
1: You Must Be Leading Already
The third unit is assessed on the team you are responsible for. You need to currently lead or manage assessors or IQAs to evidence it, so this is not the qualification to buy in advance of the role.
2: Ask Us First
Fifteen minutes on the phone will settle it. If the L4AIQAAPP or the knowledge Award is what you actually need, we will say so before you enrol on this one.
What you will study
Three mandatory units, 17 credits, 170 hours total qualification time. Qualification number 600/3913/9.
Unit 1: Understanding the principles and practices of internally assuring the quality of assessment
6 creditsT/601/5320 · knowledge unitLearning outcomesHide the learning outcomes
Unit 1: Understanding the principles and practices of internally assuring the quality of assessment
6 creditsUnit 2: Internally assure the quality of assessment
6 creditsA/601/5321 · practical unitLearning outcomesHide the learning outcomes
Unit 2: Internally assure the quality of assessment
6 creditsUnit 3: Plan, allocate and monitor work in own area of responsibility
5 creditsH/600/9674 · leadership unitLearning outcomesHide the learning outcomes
Unit 3: Plan, allocate and monitor work in own area of responsibility
5 creditsEntry requirements
You are aged 19 or over
You currently lead or manage assessors or internal quality assurers
You have access to two assessors and their candidates whose work you can sample, plus other IQAs you oversee
Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards) recommends, but does not require, experience of or prior qualifications in assessment and internal quality assurance
You can join live video calls for your observed IQA activity and your standardisation meeting
You arrange permission from your assessors, candidates and employer for the evidence you submit
You have a basic to intermediate command of the English language – you will be writing responses to scenario-based assessments
You have a basic working knowledge of how to use a computer (clicking items, downloading and uploading documents, etc.)
You are self-motivated and can study independently with some tutor support
In-house and class based
Would you rather have this taught in a room?
This page describes the online course. We also deliver it class based at your own site for groups of six or more, with the taught part face to face and the rest finished online. Class based delivery is only available as a corporate booking.
Before you ask on the call
Questions people actually ask
Pick a topic to open its answers
Who should do this course?
It is the lead IQA qualification, for people who quality assure assessors and manage the people who do it. It suits:
- Lead IQAs and quality managers accountable for sampling and standardisation
- IQAs stepping up to manage other quality assurers
- Heads of centre and centre managers responsible for the quality function
- Training providers preparing for an EQA visit
- Employers qualifying an internal quality function in one batch - see our Corporate page
Who enrols on this course?
Three groups make up most of our intake.
✓Lead IQAs and quality managers
Accountable for sampling, standardisation and the assessors who carry it out.
✓IQAs stepping up to lead
Quality assuring already and now managing the people who do it.
✓Heads of centre and employers
Responsible for the quality function and for what the EQA finds or qualifying that team in one batch.
Who is this course 'NOT' for?
- You do not currently lead or manage assessors or IQAs
- You quality assure but have no team to plan work for – the L4AIQAAPP is your qualification
- You only need the theory – the knowledge Award costs a good deal less
- You are aged under 19
- You do not have a basic to intermediate command of the English language
- You struggle to motivate yourself or find it difficult to study without constant support
What will I be able to do by the end?
On successful completion of the course, you will:
- Understand the functions, principles and regulations of internal quality assurance and the roles of everyone involved
- Plan monitoring activities and make the arrangements to carry them out
- Evaluate assessor expertise, assessment planning, methods and decisions and compare decisions for consistency
- Provide assessors with feedback, advice, support and professional development
- Apply standardisation procedures across assessment practice and outcomes
- Record, store and report IQA information and maintain its confidentiality
- Produce a work plan for your own area of responsibility and agree SMART objectives with team members
- Monitor progress and quality of work and give your team feedback
Is the L4CLIQAAPP recognised?
Yes. It is Ofqual-regulated and accepted by employers across the UK. British qualifications are well regarded internationally and Ofqual-regulated qualifications are accepted by many employers and organisations outside the UK. Recognition overseas is decided by each country or employer, so check with them if you plan to work abroad. Check it on the Ofqual Register (GOV.UK)
Do I need an assessor qualification first?
Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards) recommends experience of or prior qualifications in, assessment and internal quality assurance, but does not require them. In practice almost everyone who takes this holds an assessor qualification already, because the units assume you know how assessment works from the inside.
Do I have to be managing a team already?
Yes. Unit 3 is assessed on the area of responsibility you actually lead – a work plan, agreed responsibilities and objectives with your team members and monitoring their progress. You need to currently lead or manage assessors or IQAs to evidence it. If you are not there yet, the L4AIQAAPP covers the quality assurance work without the leadership unit.
What do I need access to?
Two assessors and their candidates whose work you can sample, plus other IQAs you oversee for the standardisation meeting in Unit 3.
Do you support learners with dyslexia or other needs?
Yes. Tell us what helps you and we will make reasonable adjustments. See our Accessibility and Reasonable Adjustments Policy.
How do the assessments work?
Unit 1 by scenario-based written questions with short answers. Units 2 and 3 on your real quality assurance and leadership practice, evidenced through your sampling records, work plan and two live remote observations. Your tutor marks submissions within 24 to 72 hours. Two further attempts per theory assessment are included and any practical element can be resubmitted once, at no extra cost.
What do I actually have to submit?
Three things:
- Unit 1: scenario-based written questions with short answers
- Unit 2: sampling of two assessors across four monitoring activities, with one live remote observation of your IQA practice
- Unit 3: a work plan for your own team and a standardisation meeting with your IQAs that you plan and conduct, observed live and remotely
How do the observations work?
Both are live and remote, on a video call with your tutor – one of your internal quality assurance practice, one of your standardisation meeting. Nobody travels and no visitor comes on site. You arrange consent from your assessors, candidates and employer for the evidence you submit.
How fast is my work marked?
Within 24 to 72 hours, often the next day. Weekends and public holidays are not counted. Most providers take 2 to 3 weeks.
Can I fail?
Each assessment is a Pass or a Refer. A Refer comes with clear pointers to put it right, and you get three attempts at each theory assessment and two at each practical one.
How soon can I start?
Today. On weekdays (9 am to 5 pm) your course invitation arrives within 10 to 15 minutes; book at the weekend or on a public holiday and it arrives by the next working day. Receive your invite, fill your application form, upload your photo ID and begin.
Can I start at a later date after making the payment?
Yes, by all means. We allow you to start within 30 days of receiving the invite. Beyond that, a re-invite fee of £60 including VAT applies.
How long does it actually take?
It is a 170-hour qualification. Most learners finish in three to five months, depending on when they can carry out monitoring activities and hold their standardisation meeting. You have 365 days and there is no penalty for using them.
Can I study on my phone?
Yes. Desktop, laptop, tablet or phone, and your progress syncs. For writing and uploading assessments, a laptop or computer is easiest.
What support will I get?
A named tutor from start to finish. Email or phone us Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and we reply to emails within 24 hours. Live calls are there when you need them.
What if I need more than 365 days?
Most learners finish well inside the year. If life gets in the way, extend 30 days at a time for an Extension fee of £125 + VAT.
What are the benefits of online learning?
- Powerful visual cues and experiential exercises that make learning better & faster
- Always available – a course that is as close as a computer with an internet connection
- Control the learning environment – you set your own pace and schedule
- Allows flexibility – with no set class times, you decide when to complete your assessments and learning
- A cheaper course than traditional college courses – with no hotel/housing, meal plans or travel expenses to worry about
- No interruptions in your job/career if you are currently busy working/teaching
- No need to take a leave of absence in order to go back to college
- No need to go to the classroom course over a number of days
- No need to worry about the teacher's absences or the effects of other learners (good or bad)
- A controlled positive social atmosphere – no bullying or leg pulling
- Saves you time, energy and money as well!!!
Exactly what's included in the package
As a learner, you will get…
✓Full access to the online course via our LMS – video lessons, reading materials, infographics and scenario-based activities across all three units
✓A dedicated Course Tutor for content guidance, to mark your work and to answer administrative queries
✓Two live remote observations – your IQA practice and your standardisation meeting – included in the fee with no travel costs
✓Written feedback on your submissions within 24 to 72 hours
✓IQA plans, sampling plans, monitoring records, standardisation agendas and team work plan templates
✓Two further attempts per theory assessment and one free resubmission of any practical element
✓Registration with Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards) and your digital certificate on completion
✓Email, telephone and live support, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm
✓365 days of course access from the day you enrol
Exactly, what do I 'NOT' get in the package?
As a learner, you will NOT get…
✗A team to lead – you must already manage assessors or IQAs
✗Assessors or candidates to sample – you must have access to them yourself
✗Permission to record or submit your team's work – you arrange consent yourself
✗A classroom-based or face-to-face learning experience – this course is delivered entirely online
✗A tutor visiting your centre – both observations are carried out live and remotely
✗Guaranteed availability of your tutor without a pre-booked appointment
✗Unlimited submission attempts – theory assessments are limited to 3 attempts and each practical element to 2
✗An open-ended course registration – you have 365 days to complete, with extensions available subject to a fee
✗A printed certificate as standard – your certificate is issued digitally
Are there any hidden charges?
None. £900 including VAT covers registration, all three units, marking, both live remote observations, resubmissions and your certificate.
How do I pay?
Securely through PayPal at checkout, by card or PayPal account: in full, in 3 or in 30 days. Employers can request an invoice and pay by Bank Transfer.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes, through PayPal. You can pay in full, split the cost into three interest-free payments of £300.00, £300.00, £300.00 or pay in 30 days at no extra cost. Employers are invoiced and pay by Bank Transfer.
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes: 5% off for 3 to 4 learners and 10% off for 5 or more. Train a Team
I have already done one of your Level 4 IQA qualifications. Do I get credit?
Yes. Upgrade within 12 months of completing it and the full fee you paid is deducted – £240 for L4AUIQAAPP, £600 for the practical L4AIQAAPP. The units you have already achieved carry across, so you only complete what is outstanding.
What if I start and decide it's not for me?
You're fully protected by our 14-day no-quibble money-back guarantee. If you enrol, start Unit 1, read the material, watch the videos, look at the assessments and decide within the first 14 days it isn't right for you – email us and we'll issue a full refund. No exit interview, no awkward conversation, no excuses from our end, nobody to argue with. The only risk of enrolling is staying exactly where you are.
What does the certificate say?
Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards) Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice. There is no mention of the mode of study on the certificate, so class-based and online learners receive the same certificate.
What comes after this Certificate?
Learners typically progress to:
- Level 3 Award in Education and Training (L3AET)
- Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training
- Level 5 Diploma in Teaching
- Centre quality management and external quality assurance roles
Who issues my certificate?
Y Awards (previously YMCA Awards), an Ofqual-approved awarding organisation. We claim it for you directly, so there is no long wait.
Can I get a printed certificate?
Your digital certificate is free. If you would like a printed or duplicate copy, it is £45 + VAT.
Your next step
Tell us what you want to do.
Take the Course Quiz and it will tell you which qualification fits in about 57 seconds. If you would rather talk it through, Book a Call – we will point you at the right qualification or tell you honestly if we cannot help.
Or call us on 01908 736 777
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee – No Questions Asked
Refund less PayPal’s processing charge