Electrical and electronic engineer (degree)

This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the electrical and electronic engineer (degree) degree-apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.

Electrical and electronic engineer (degree) apprentices, their employers and training provider should read this document.

A degree-apprenticeship awards a degree with the achievement of the apprenticeship. The degree learning outcomes must be aligned with the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in the apprenticeship. The degree must be completed, passed and awarded alongside the electrical and electronic engineer (degree) degree-apprenticeship.

The apprentice must complete their training and meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA. The EPA will assess occupational competence.

A degree-apprenticeship must be delivered by a Higher Education Provider (HEP) that is on the apprenticeship providers and assessment register (APAR). The selected HEP must be the training provider and the EPAO. The apprentice's employer must select a HEP from this register.

If the HEP is using a credit framework, the EPA must contribute to the total credit value, and must be delivered in line with this EPA plan. However, the number of credits devoted to EPA may vary across HEP’s. The recommended EPA contribution is 10% of the total credit value.

A full-time electrical and electronic engineer (degree) apprentice typically spends 42 months on-programme. The apprentice must spend at least 12 months on-programme and complete the required amount of off-the-job training in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

This EPA should be completed within an EPA period lasting typically 6 months.

Occupational competence is outlined by the EPA grade descriptors and determined, when assessed in line with this EPA plan, by an independent assessor who is an occupational expert and confirms the overall EPA grade.

This EPA has 0 assessment methods.

The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall degree-apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the degree-apprenticeship:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The EPA is taken in the EPA period. The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements have been met and is typically 6 months.

The EPAO should confirm the gateway requirements have been met and start the EPA as quickly as possible.

The apprentice’s employer must be content that the apprentice is occupationally competent. That is, they are deemed to be working at or above the level set out in the apprenticeship standard and ready to undertake the EPA. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider, but the employer must make the decision. The apprentice will then enter the gateway.

The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.

They must:

• confirm they are ready to take the EPA
• have achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules

• have completed and passed all required elements of the BEng or BSc Honours Electrical and Electronic Engineer degree that fully aligns with the KSBs degree-apprenticeship except the EPA

Gateway evidence must be submitted to the EPAO, along with any organisation specific policies and procedures requested by the EPAO.

The assessment methods can be delivered in any order.
The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.

Performance in the EPA determines the overall grade of:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

An independent assessor must individually grade the in line with this EPA plan.

The EPAO must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.

If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they will be awarded an overall fail.

To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in all the assessment methods. To achieve an overall distinction, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in the project with report, presentation and questioning, and a distinction in the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.

Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.

The outcome of the EPA must be aggregated with the degree to enable the degree-apprenticeship to be awarded.

Once the overall EPA grade has been determined, aggregation can be achieved in a variety of ways. This will be determined during the creation of the degree-apprenticeship. Examples of how this aggregation can work include:

• each assessment method grade, and therefore the overall EPA grade, can be converted to marks or percentages however these must be an absolute figure and not a range
• alternatively, the overall EPA grade can be used directly

HEPs can explore other ways of aggregating the EPA with the degree outcomes in line with the latest IfATE degree-apprenticeship policy

If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they can take a re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does. The apprentice should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.

The employer and the EPAO should agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 3 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 6 months of the EPA outcome notification.

Failed assessment methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.

Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.

The apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of pass if they need to re-sit or re-take one or more assessment methods, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.

Reasonable adjustments

The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.

This should include:

• how an apprentice qualifies for a reasonable adjustment
• what reasonable adjustments may be made

Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.

Special considerations

The EPAO must have special consideration arrangements for the EPA.

This should include:

• how an apprentice qualifies for a special consideration
• what special considerations will be given

Special considerations must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.

They must also appoint independent assessors who:

• have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 6 gained in the last 3 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector
• meet the following minimum requirements:
  • will typically have professional recognition at incorporated engineer level or above by a professional body recognised by the engineering council.

Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:

• utilising digital remote platforms to conduct applicable assessment methods

• using the employer’s premises

• conducting assessment methods on the same day

This degree-apprenticeship aligns with:

• Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) for Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

This degree-apprenticeship aligns with:

• Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) for Incorporated Engineer (IEng)