You can study the CAVA online with Lift College: the Level 3 Assessor Certificate (CAVA) (RQF) is the TQUK Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (601/2389/8), Ofqual regulated, for £69.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, or £713.99 for the year. Your named UK tutor, marking in 5 to 7 working days and your TQUK certificate are included, there are no exams, and most learners finish in 4 to 8 months at 6 to 8 hours a week. Below, Lift College is compared with Open Study College, NCC Home Learning, Brooks and Kirk and TrainAid, using each provider's own course page as read on 20 October 2026.
What the CAVA is
CAVA stands for Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement. It is the Level 3 assessor qualification for people who assess NVQs, diplomas and apprenticeships, and it replaced the old A1 assessor award. It is 15 credits from three mandatory units:
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| Unit | Credits | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the principles and practices of assessment | 3 | The theory: assessment methods, planning, feedback and record keeping |
| Assess vocational skills, knowledge and understanding | 6 | Assessing learners in a training or classroom setting |
| Assess occupational competence in the work environment | 6 | Assessing learners at work, by observation, product evidence and questioning |
The two practice units are what make the CAVA the full assessor qualification. If you only assess knowledge in a classroom, the smaller Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement may be enough. Our TAQA vs CAVA guide sets out the whole family of assessor and quality assurance awards.
What you need before you enrol
The qualification asks for three things before you can complete it (as set out on Lift College's course page):
- Age 18 or over. Lift College also recommends Level 2 literacy or numeracy.
- Occupational competence in the area you will assess, such as care, construction, hairdressing or business.
- Learners to assess. You assess at least two learners, four assessments in total, in a real work environment and a training or classroom setting. Simulation is not allowed.
The third point is where providers differ most, so it has its own column in the table below.
Comparison table: online Level 3 CAVA courses
Details are as each provider shows them on its own course page; "Check provider" means the page did not state it.
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| Provider | Course and awarding body | Price (prices checked on 20 October 2026) | Length | Learners to assess | Tutor support and marking | Trial or refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lift College | Level 3 Assessor Certificate (CAVA) (RQF); TQUK, 601/2389/8 | £69.99 a month, or £713.99 a year; tutor, TQUK registration and certificate included | 4 to 8 months at 6 to 8 hours a week; 84 guided learning hours | You arrange at least two learners through your employer or a partner centre; agree it before you enrol | Named UK tutor; marked in 5 to 7 working days; resubmit at no extra cost | 7-day free trial, nothing charged until day 8; 14-day money back on every payment; no contract |
| Open Study College | Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement; TQUK | £929, or from £32.87 a month; FAQ: "No, everything is included in the price" | Up to 6 months to complete | Four assessments; at least two assessments of two learners, observed by a mentor from your own work or placement setting who holds the CAVA; evidence of a standardisation meeting | Personal tutor support; assessment marking and feedback | 14-day money back guarantee; no free trial on the page |
| NCC Home Learning | Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement; TQUK, 601/2389/8 | £341 pay in full (a £25 off code is shown), or £26 a month over 12 months with a £29 deposit; registration and certification fees: Check provider | Up to 12 months; 150 hours | Work placement required: "voluntary or paid work experience in an assessment environment" | 12 months expert tutor support; marked within 10 working days | Materials can be returned within 14 days if no coursework has been submitted, refunded minus the £29 deposit; no free trial |
| Brooks and Kirk | Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (RQF); awarding body: Check provider | £795 single payment, or a £50 deposit then £70.42 a month for 12 months (£895 in total); includes registration and certification | Around 5 to 6 months on average; up to 2 years to complete | Provides suitable learners if you do not have access to any | Unlimited tutor support | No free trial on the page; refund terms: Check provider |
| TrainAid | Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA); Highfield, 600/3871/8 | Online, self paced: £354.00 (£295.00 ex VAT) | Online option: Check provider | Check provider | Video guidance and supporting resources; tutor support on the online option: Check provider | Check provider |
TrainAid also sells the same qualification as a 3 day classroom course at £594.00 and a virtual course at £474.00, each followed by three months to complete the assessments.
How to read the differences
What you pay in total. The fixed prices above run from £341 (NCC Home Learning) to £929 (Open Study College). Lift College charges for the months you study: 4 to 8 months at £69.99 comes to £279.96 to £559.92, and the year is £713.99 if you prefer one payment. Check whether a fixed price includes registration and certification: Open Study College's FAQ says everything is included in the price, Brooks and Kirk's price includes registration and certification, and Lift College's price includes your TQUK registration and certificate.
Learners to assess. Brooks and Kirk is the only provider in this table whose page says it can provide learners. With Lift College, Open Study College and NCC Home Learning, you arrange learners through your own work or placement setting, so agree this with your employer or a partner centre first.
Awarding body. TQUK, Highfield and other Ofqual regulated awarding organisations all offer a Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement. Check the qualification number on the provider's page: Lift College's is 601/2389/8.
Marking and support. Lift College marks work in 5 to 7 working days with a named UK tutor; NCC Home Learning says 10 working days. Ask any provider how quickly marking comes back, because the practice units move at the pace of your assessments.
Commitment. Lift College has no contract and no credit check, and every payment has a 14-day money back guarantee, so you can stop if your assessing plans change.
Training assessors for your organisation
Lift College's free organisation account takes 15% off every course for every person, so the CAVA is £606.89 per person instead of £713.99, with no account fee and no minimum. You can pay by card or by invoice on 30 days terms with your own PO number.
Which should you choose?
- You want to start now and pay only while you study: Lift College, with a 7-day free trial and the TQUK certificate included.
- You have no learners to assess: Brooks and Kirk's page says it provides them.
- You want the lowest fixed price: NCC Home Learning at £341, with registration and certification fees to check.
- You prefer a classroom: TrainAid runs 3 day classroom and virtual courses.
Many assessors go on to teach. After the CAVA, the next step is the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education); read how to become an assessor with the CAVA for the full route, or see every course on the teaching and education hub.
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Frequently asked questions
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Sources checked
- Lift College, Level 3 Assessor Certificate (CAVA) (RQF) (checked 20 October 2026)
- Lift College, organisation accounts (checked 20 October 2026)
- Open Study College, Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (checked 20 October 2026)
- NCC Home Learning, Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement Level 3 RQF (CAVA) (checked 20 October 2026)
- Brooks and Kirk, Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (RQF) (checked 20 October 2026)
- TrainAid, Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) (checked 20 October 2026)