Procedure for achieving Approved Centre status
Accreditation procedure
The approval process is free of charge for ECITB in-scope companies. However, there will be a charge for companies whose activities are out-of-scope.
Once a decision has been taken to formally apply the applying organisation will complete the form, VQ001Application to become an approved centre offering VQ assessment. This form is contained within the guide. On completion the form must be returned to the VQ administrator. The VQ administrator will acknowledge receipt of the VQ001 form to the applicant and forward the form to the ECITB lead verifier.
The approval process may require several visits to be made before full compliance to the approved centre criteria is met. The production of an approved centre action plan will help with the planning of visits and determining time-scales to ensure the organisation will successfully achieve approved centre status.
Only organisations with the necessary resources, systems, commitment, and expertise to support the consistent delivery, assessment, and quality assurance of a qualification are given approved centre status.
Organisations applying for approved centre status must declare if they have had any previous application for approval refused or withdrawn or have any tariffs or sanctions currently placed on any approved centre that they operate. On completion of the Centre approval checklist (VQ020) the ECITB lead verifier will then forward the form to the VQ administrator for processing.
The VQ Administrator will issue an approved centre plaque and letter to the approved centre contact. The letter will contain a unique approved centre registration number which must be used thereafter in all correspondence with the Awarding body. After approval the lead verifier will allocate an external verifier, based on geographical location of the centre and occupational experience of the external verifier.
Direct Claims
Direct claims status will not be granted to Approved Centres until after the initial cohort of candidates has been certificated and an EV judgement has confirmed approval.