Internal Quality Assurance (QA Training)
Coursetopia delivers a range of Internal Verifier (IV) and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA Training) Courses. These QA courses are regulated and enable you to be a professional NVQ, RQF Internal Verifier or Quality Assurance Moderator. These courses have replaced the old V1 and D34 Awards.
Delivery of Our QA Training
Our QA Training is delivered fast track online or blended learning which will include some classroom support to address the theory part of the qualifications. For those working in roles where they need to demonstrate a range of skills in learning and development, we have bundled our internal verifier quality assurance courses with other qualifications such as assessors, teacher training, and learning and development.
Role of an IQA
As an internal verifier (moderator) you will have the task of safeguarding qualifications and ensuring compliance with all regulators. You will also need to ensure candidates are fully supported and treated fairly.
Information About All Internal Quality Assurance Qualifications
There are currently four different internal quality assurance courses which are aimed at different settings.
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Level 4
Online
Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
The course is intended for those who wish to gain an understanding of the principles and practices of internal quality assurance without any requirement to practise. It is ideal for candidates or managers who just want to understand the work of an internal verifier.
Read more -
Level 4
OnlineBlended
Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
This course will enable you to become a qualified internal verifier or moderator. It is aimed at candidates who are in charge of internal quality assurance of an organisation involved in learning and development. The course has replaced the Old D34 and V1 qualifications.
Read more -
Level 4
OnlineBlended
Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
This course will enable you to become a qualified NVQ Internal Verifier or Moderator. The qualification also acknowledges you are a qualified lead Verifier, leading a team, which can be other verifiers, assessors and other practitioners.
Read more -
Level 4
Online
Level 4 Award in Understanding the External Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF)
The Level 4 Award in Understanding the External Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (EQA Course) is intended for those who wish to gain an understanding of the principles and practices of external quality assurance without any requirement to practise. It is ideal for candidates or managers who just want to understand the work of an external moderator and how to carry out quality assurance on external organisations.
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Comparing the Four Quality Assurance Qualifications
| Qualification | Price | Credits | GLH | Practical requirement | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice | £190 | 6 | 45 | Knowledge only - no requirement to supervise assessors | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (IQA Award) | £395 (£250 upgrade price if you already hold the Understanding IQA Award) | 12 | 90 | Access to at least two assessors to supervise | 2 to 10 weeks |
| Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Certificate) | £490 | 17 | 115 | Team leader status, plus access to at least two assessors | 3 to 15 weeks |
| Understanding External Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice | £230 standard (£250 fast track) | 6 | 45 | Knowledge only - no requirement to practise as an external verifier | 4 to 12 weeks standard, 4 weeks fast track |
The two "Understanding" awards (internal and external) are knowledge-only, so neither requires you to supervise or verify anyone in practice. The IQA Award and the Leading IQA Certificate both require access to at least two assessors to supervise, with the Certificate additionally expecting team leader status, since it's aimed at managing the wider IQA process rather than sampling individual assessors.
D34, V1 and the Current IQA Suite: How the Verifier Qualification Has Changed
If you've seen "D34" or "V1" mentioned alongside internal quality assurance training, these are older, discontinued internal verifier awards, not alternatives to what's on offer today.
| Qualification | Status | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|
| D34 (Internal Verifier award) | Discontinued | Current Level 4 IQA suite (2010) |
| V1 (Internal Verifier award) | Discontinued | Current Level 4 IQA suite (2010) |
| Level 4 Certificate in Leading Internal Quality Assurance | Current | - |
D34 and V1 were the original internal verifier awards, retired as part of the same 2010 TAQA reform that replaced the A1 assessor award with the Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA). The Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice is generally regarded as the direct replacement, since it covers managing and leading the IQA process, the same scope V1 and D34 held.
If you already hold a D34 or V1 award, it remains a legitimate qualification and hasn't been withdrawn from you, but it's no longer the current standard and isn't issued to anyone starting out today. If you're returning to internal verification after a long break, it's worth refreshing your knowledge with a current qualification such as our Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice award.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the four quality assurance qualifications?
The two "Understanding" awards, internal and external, are knowledge-only, so you don't need to supervise assessors or practise as a verifier to complete them. The IQA Award qualifies you to practise as an internal verifier, sampling and supervising assessors. The Leading IQA Certificate goes further, aimed at those managing the wider internal quality assurance process, and expects team leader status.
Do I need the Understanding IQA Award before taking the full IQA Award?
Not as a separate purchase: the Understanding IQA Award's unit is the shared foundational unit built into both the full IQA Award and the Leading IQA Certificate, so you cover that content either way. Taking the standalone Understanding Award first mainly makes sense if you want the knowledge now but aren't ready to meet the full Award's practical requirement (access to at least two assessors to supervise) yet, since holding it already unlocks the reduced upgrade price when you do move on to the full IQA Award.
What's the difference between the IQA Award and the Leading IQA Certificate?
The IQA Award qualifies you to carry out internal quality assurance yourself, sampling and supervising assessors. The Leading IQA Certificate is aimed at those managing that process more broadly, overseeing the IQA function itself, and expects team leader status in addition to access to assessors, which is why it carries more credits and guided learning hours.
Which of these should most people choose?
For most people carrying out the traditional internal verifier role, the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice is the best fit, since it matches that role directly. The Leading IQA Certificate suits those who need to demonstrate team leadership and manage the wider IQA process, which some employers specifically require. See our full guide to choosing an IQA qualification for a more detailed walkthrough.
Is the External Quality Assurance course the same as internal quality assurance?
No. Internal quality assurance (IQA) is carried out within your own organisation, sampling and supervising your own assessors. External quality assurance (EQA) is the process an awarding body uses to verify a centre's assessment and IQA decisions from the outside. Our Understanding External Quality Assurance award is knowledge-only, giving you an understanding of that external process without qualifying you to practise as an external verifier.
I hold an old V1 or D34 award. Is it still valid, or do I need to retrain?
A V1 or D34 award hasn't been withdrawn from you and remains a legitimate qualification, but neither is still issued or delivered today; the current Level 4 IQA suite has been the standard since 2010. If you've been actively verifying, your award likely still reflects your competence. If you're returning after a long break, we'd recommend refreshing your knowledge with a current qualification such as Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice.
Which awarding body issues these qualifications?
We hold centre approval with NOCN, Innovate Awarding, and Biiab under our brand, Focus and Achieve (FAA). Contact us if you need to know exactly which body a specific qualification sits under.
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