Navigating the apprenticeship assessment reforms

What's changing?

• Apprenticeship assessment replaces EPA.
• Assessment can take place throughout the programme and inform the final outcome.
• Training providers may deliver and mark parts of the assessment where the plan allows.
• Employers will be responsible for verifying behaviours.
• Assessment plans are shorter and focus on clustering outcomes while removing unnecessary duplication. 

Policy background

The Department for Education (DfE) Apprenticeship Assessment Principles, (February 2025) set out the direction for reforms. These principles focus on: 

• removing unnecessary duplication
• enabling proportionate assessment
• providing flexibility in when assessment happens
• supporting provider involvement in marking where appropriate. 

Skills England is working with the DfE, Ofqual, employers, providers and assessment organisations to revise assessment plans. The reforms aim to keep assessment robust and reliable while reducing the burden on providers and apprentices. 

Assessment plan implementation 

Skills England will review and approve all revised assessment plans before you can use them for delivery. 

Approved plans ensure: 

• alignment with occupational standards and the Apprenticeship Assessment Principles
• practical delivery that works for providers and employers  
• valid and high-quality assessment that meets regulatory expectations. 

Keep an eye on the Skills England revisions and adjustments status report. It will give you updates on revised plans and their delivery dates. Skills England has shared example assessment plans for a few jobs. These plans will help you get ready for the changes. 

These examples are for guidance only. Current EPA arrangements remain in place until revised plans are live. 

Timeline

•  October 2025: revised assessment plans begin to roll out in phases
• 2025–2026: transition period. Current EPA plans remain available until replaced
• spring 2026: After consultation, Ofqual plans  to publish its new regulatory framework for apprenticeship assessment
• 2026–2027 – apprentices begin assessments under revised plans as they go live. 

Revised plan publication and start dates vary by occupation. You can check the Skills England Apprenticeship Finder for the latest details. 

What this means for providers

Training providers should: 

• continue to use existing EPA plans until revised assessment plans are live 
• monitor the Skills England revisions and adjustments status report
• prepare your teams for increased involvement in assessment delivery and marking where permitted
• engage employers on their role in verifying behaviours
• keep an eye out for Ofqual’s new regulatory framework. It’s open for consultation until 11 February 2026. 

Regulation & quality (Ofqual updates)

Ofqual regulatory framework and consultation 

Ofqual is developing a new regulatory framework for apprenticeship assessment. The framework reflects the DfE’s assessment principles to ensure validity and comparability. It will set out: 

• conditions and requirements awarding organisations (AOs) must follow 

• how assessments must cover knowledge and skills in the occupational standard 

• design expectations and general purposes of assessment plans 

The consultation on draft conditions, requirements and guidance is until 11 February 2026. Ofqual will publish final rules and statutory guidance, expected Spring 2026.  

Ofqual has also published outcomes from an earlier phase of its regulatory review. These outcomes confirm Ofqual’s commitment to embedding the DfE’s assessment principles. They also ensure continued rigour and reliability.  

Interim guidance

Skills England has published an interim General Requirements for Apprenticeship Assessment. This helps stakeholders understand the baseline features of assessment during the transition. Final guidance is expected after Ofqual’s framework is finalised.  

If you would like to deliver the apprenticeship assessment centre assessment model, you must apply for NCFE approval.  

Contact us to let us know you'd like to gain approval. We will support you through the process.  

Apprenticeship funding rules have been updated for 2025/26. Updated rules include: 

• adjustments to how training and assessment costs are calculated 

• continued use of funding bands 

• standard approaches to calculating earnings and completion payments.  

Please see the Apprenticeship Funding Rules 2025 to 2026 guidance for full details. 

The minimum duration for apprenticeships has been reduced to 8 months from August 2025. 

• The following standards have been updated to reflect a shorter typical duration to gateway: 

• Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker (Health and Social Care) – 8 months 

• Level 2 Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installer (Construction and Built Environment) – 8 months 

• Level 3 Production Assistant – Screen and Audio (Creative and Design) – 9 months 

• Level 6 Postgraduate Teacher (Education and Early Years) – 9 months. 

See the government’s announcement on shorter apprenticeships.

Foundation apprenticeships give young people aged 16 to 21 a new training route. They combine paid work with structured learning in priority sectors. Foundation apprenticeships are shorter and aim to give young people a fast track into technical careers. 

Key points: 

• Who can apply: primarily 16–21-year-olds (with some exceptions, as set out in DfE funding rules). 

• Length: around 8 months (pending legislation that allows shorter apprenticeships). 

• Learning requirements: at least 187 hours of off-the-job training.

• Approval needed: providers must have EPAO recognition before starting delivery. 

• Employer incentive: up to £2,000 per apprentice, depending on retention and progression. 

 Available foundation apprenticeships: 

Explore foundation apprenticeships on Skills England  

NCFE foundation apprenticeships 

We are pleased to announce that Ofqual has approved NCFE for the following foundation apprenticeships: 

• Software and data foundation apprenticeship 

• Health and social care foundation apprenticeship 

We have held two webinars to share our approach, pricing, guidance and support available. 

Speak to a member of our team about our foundation apprenticeships.

The government is refocusing investment towards young people at the start of their working lives. This reduces funding for those already in work with higher levels of prior learning and qualifications. 

From 1 January 2026, Level 7 apprenticeships will be government-funded for: 

• young people aged 16-21 

• under 25 for care leavers and those with an EHCP at the start of their apprenticeship in England.  

Apprentices who started a level 7 apprenticeship before 1 January 2026 will continue to be funded until completion. 

• As part of the government’s 10-year health plan for England, funding for level 7 apprenticeships in five health professions will last until 2028-29. 

The professions are: 

• advanced clinical practitioner 

• specialist community public health nurse 

• district nurse 

•  clinical associate in psychology, 

•  population health intelligence specialist.  

Find out more about Level 7 apprenticeships 

Department for Education

• Changes to apprenticeship assessment, 2025–26: official DfE guidance on reforms.

Skills England

• Skills England blog: Understanding the apprenticeship assessment reforms
• Apprenticeship Finder (assessment plans)
• Revisions and Adjustments Status Report
• Apprenticeship funding rules 2025-26

Ofqual

• Regulatory framework for apprenticeship assessment (consultation open)