Welding Certificates. Certificates must be issued by a recognised third-party organisation (RTPO) and cover the welding processes to used at EPA. They do not need to match the welding positions assessed at EPA.
Gateway Evidence Requirements. The apprentice’s portfolio must evidence that they have welded materials in different positions including the welding positions to be assessed at EPA. Acceptable evidence may include welder qualification certificates, workplace records, supervisor statements, job logs, photographs, or other suitable proof of experience.
A revised version of the apprenticeship standard and assessment plan is approved by Skills England under the 2025/2026 apprenticeship assessment reforms and is available for information only. On 18 December 2026, it will replace the current version for new starts, allowing providers and employers to begin working with assessment organisations to deliver the assessment. Until then, the current apprenticeship standard and end-point assessment remains in place. Further details of this and other apprenticeships in revision are available in the revisions and adjustments status report.
Rigorous robust and independent assessment undertaken by an apprentice at the end of training to test that the apprentice can perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard
End-point assessment organisation (EPAO)
An organisation approved to deliver end-point assessment for a particular apprenticeship standard. EPAOs must be on the register of end-point assessment organisations
Holistic or synoptic
Assessment of an apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in an integrated way i.e. assessing several KSBs at the same time
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB)
What is needed to competently undertake the duties required for an occupational standard
Valid
Referred to in relation to assessment methods; fit for purpose
Change request policy
Most changes to an apprenticeship are made as a result of a holistic review of it. We prioritise the need for such reviews based on a range of factors. These include:
the time since the apprenticeship was developed or last reviewed (taking account of its typical duration)
the existence of any known problems with it (e.g. lower than expected starts, low achievement rate, high withdrawal rate, any issues with the availability of training or end-point assessment provision)
whether the apprenticeship is currently subject to a dispensation
the relative significance of the apprenticeship based on how many users it has
The availability of an employer group to support a review and its potential impact on any related technical education product also inform the timing of a review.
Details of apprenticeships that are currently being revised or adjusted are available in our revisions and adjustments status report.
End-point assessment plan revised. The adjustment is to the assessment location section of practical test with questions. allowing the EPAO more flexibility in sourcing equipment for the practical test.
Employers involved in creating the standard: BAE Systems Maritime Submarines, Doosan Babcock, Alstom, Pall Europe, Liebherr, Graham Engineering Ltd, Hudson-Swan Engineering Ltd, TEi Ltd, Billington Structures Ltd, H Young Structures Ltd, William Haley, Engineering Ltd, The Welding Institute, British Constructional Steelwork Association, SEMTA, ECITB, Manufacturing Technology Centre
