Accredited EQA (External Quality Assurer)

Independent Oversight. Assurance of Standards. Confidence in Global Qualifications.

The Accredited External Quality Assurer (EQA) holds a critical and independent responsibility in protecting the quality, integrity, and international credibility of qualifications delivered within the ICTQual AB framework. Acting as an objective external authority, the EQA provides rigorous oversight of approved centres and their internal quality assurance systems.

Through systematic monitoring, evaluation, and verification, Accredited EQAs ensure that assessment practices, quality controls, and decision-making processes consistently meet required standards, regulatory expectations, and internationally recognised quality benchmarks. This independent assurance function is fundamental to maintaining stakeholder confidence and safeguarding the global recognition of ICTQual AB qualifications.

Accredited EQA Role

The Accredited External Quality Assurer (EQA) is responsible for the independent external monitoring, evaluation, and verification of assessment practices and internal quality assurance systems operated by approved centres.

Acting with full independence and objectivity, Accredited EQAs ensure that assessment decisions are valid, reliable, fair, and fully compliant with awarding-body requirements and quality standards. This external oversight function is essential in maintaining stakeholder confidence, regulatory assurance, and the ongoing international recognition of ICTQual AB qualifications.

Key Responsibilities of an Accredited EQA

As an Accredited External Quality Assurer (EQA), you will be entrusted with providing independent oversight and assurance of assessment quality and internal quality assurance systems across approved centres.

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Independently monitoring, sampling, and reviewing centre assessment and IQA practices to ensure full compliance with ICTQual AB standards, policies, and quality requirements.
  • Verifying the effectiveness and robustness of internal quality assurance systems, including assessor standardisation processes and the consistency of assessment decision-making.
  • Evaluating assessment decisions and learner evidence to confirm that outcomes are valid, reliable, fair, and evidence-based.
  • Identifying areas of effective practice, potential risk, or non-compliance, and producing clear, objective, and evidence-based findings.
  • Providing formal written feedback, recommendations, and action requirements to support corrective and preventive measures at centre level.
  • Supporting continuous improvement and quality enhancement initiatives across approved centres through guidance and monitoring.
  • Conducting external quality assurance activities, including remote or onsite reviews, audits, centre visits, and sampling exercises, as required.
  • Producing accurate, timely, and compliant EQA reports and records in accordance with awarding-body policies and regulatory expectations.

Why Become an Accredited EQA?

Becoming an Accredited External Quality Assurer (EQA) offers senior-level professional recognition and the opportunity to influence quality assurance, compliance, and standards at a strategic and system-wide level within an internationally recognised qualification framework.

This role is ideally suited to experienced quality assurance professionals seeking to apply their expertise in independent oversight, governance, and regulatory assurance, while contributing to the continuous improvement of global education and certification systems.

Key Benefits Include:

✔ Formal recognition as an independent External Quality Assurer, validating your expertise in external monitoring and quality assurance
✔ Professional engagement with a globally recognised UK awarding body, strengthening your international credibility
✔ Opportunities to oversee, review, and support quality standards across international centres
✔ Involvement in high-level compliance, monitoring, audit, and governance activities
✔ Direct contribution to the integrity, credibility, and global acceptance of qualifications
✔ Access to ongoing professional development, quality updates, and assurance guidance

By becoming an Accredited EQA, you position yourself as a trusted independent authority, helping to safeguard excellence, consistency, and global confidence in professional qualifications.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for Accredited External Quality Assurer (EQA) status, applicants must demonstrate appropriate qualifications, professional experience, and advanced quality assurance competence in line with internationally recognised standards.

✔ Qualifications

Applicants must:

  • Hold relevant internationally recognised qualifications in assessment, external quality assurance, education, auditing, or a closely related professional discipline.
  • Possess EQA-specific, verifier, auditor, or external quality assurance qualifications, which are highly desirable and strongly preferred.

✔ Professional Experience

Applicants must have:

  • A minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in assessment, internal quality assurance, external verification, auditing, regulatory compliance, or equivalent quality-focused roles.
  • Proven experience in reviewing internal quality assurance (IQA) systems, sampling assessment decisions, and evaluating the consistency and validity of assessment outcomes.

✔ Professional Competence

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

  • A comprehensive understanding of assessment principles, quality assurance frameworks, and regulatory compliance requirements.
  • The ability to operate independently, objectively, and impartially, applying professional judgement with integrity.
  • Strong analytical, evaluative, reporting, and professional communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, evidence-based findings and recommendations.

How the Accredited EQA Approval Process Works

The Accredited External Quality Assurer (EQA) approval process is designed to be robust, transparent, and evidence-based, ensuring that all approved EQAs meet the high professional, ethical, and quality assurance standards required by ICTQual AB.

Applicants begin the process by submitting an expression of interest and formal application, outlining their professional background, qualifications, and experience in external quality assurance, verification, or compliance.

Applicants are required to provide comprehensive supporting documentation, including:

  • Details of previous roles involving external monitoring, verification, or quality assurance oversight
  • Copies of internationally recognised qualifications
  • Evidence of professional experience in assessment, IQA, EQA, auditing, or regulatory compliance

ICTQual AB conducts a detailed review of the application to assess:

  • Eligibility against Accredited EQA entry requirements
  • Professional competence and sector expertise
  • Alignment with ICTQual AB quality assurance and governance standards

Additional clarification or documentation may be requested during this stage.

Where required, applicants may undergo further evaluation, which can include:

  • Professional discussions or interviews
  • Review of previous EQA, audit, or verification experience
  • Assessment of understanding of external quality assurance principles and regulatory expectations

Following successful evaluation, ICTQual AB makes a formal approval decision. Applicants are notified of the outcome, and successful candidates are granted Accredited EQA status.

Approved EQAs receive:

  • Official confirmation of Accredited EQA appointment
  • Access to ICTQual AB quality assurance policies, procedures, and reporting requirements
  • Briefing on EQA roles, responsibilities, independence, and ethical expectations

Accredited EQAs are subject to ongoing performance monitoring and are expected to engage in continuous professional development (CPD) to ensure continued compliance with quality standards and international best practice.

Registration Form