HOW TO BECOME A CITY AND GUILDS ESOL/IESOL TEST CENTRE
If your organisation is not currently a City & Guilds approved centre, you must apply for centre approval. You will need to provide us with evidence that you are able/will be able to meet our approval criteria in four key areas of operation:
- management and administrative systems
- physical and staff resources
- assessment
- quality assurance.
This will show us whether you have the overall systems and people in place to deliver our qualifications.
Stage 1 - Application
You will need to
· complete an Application for centre approval (Form CGI/CAP)
· complete an Application for credit (Form CGI/CAF)
· provide a current letterhead of the organization/university
· organizational chart
· equal opportunities statement
· appeals procedure
· Health and Safety certificate
· email the completed CGI/CAP and CGI/CAF forms and others
To: Mr Ugur Yilmaz
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and
Mr. Artúr Regő Regional Sales Manager
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We will
- review the completed Form CGI/CAP
- send you an acknowledgement of receipt of your application and advise you if we require any additional information
- send a copy of the form, when we have all necessary information, to a quality inspector, who may also request additional information from you
- ask a quality inspector to undertake an approval visit
- advise you of the name of the quality inspector who will be contacting you
- send Form CGI/CAF and attachments to our Finance Department, which may initiate credit status enquiries.
- confirm to you in writing the outcome of the application, normally within 4-6 weeks of receipt of your application and all supporting documentation.
Stage 2 - Approval Visit
The centre approval visit will normally be undertaken by a quality inspector.
Prior to the visit
The quality inspector will
- contact your nominated assessment manager and agree the visit schedule
- send a Visit planner (Form CGI/VPL) confirming the arrangements made
- indicate any points within the application which need clarification/discussion
- identify the members of staff* s/he wishes to meet.
* These will normally include the examinations secretary and, depending on availability, invigilators.
During the visit
The quality inspector will
- look for evidence to confirm that you meet or have the potential to meet the approval criteria specified on form CGI/CAP and with the Regulations for the conduct of examinations.
- ensure that systems exist for advising all staff involved with conduct of examinations of their roles and responsibilities
- give any help or advice required.
The duration of the visit will vary, depending on the size/complexity of the organisation.
At the end of the visit
The quality inspector will
- complete a Visit report – centre approval, which may include an action plan
- leave a copy of the report for the assessment manager
- send a copy of the report to City & Guilds head office/branch office.
We will advise you of the outcome of your application.
Stage 3 - Decision
At the time of the approval visit the external verifier/quality inspector will discuss their findings and recommendations with you but you must await formal notification from our head office/branch office of our approval decision before undertaking any assessments/examinations. We do not grant conditional approval to centres, unless there are minor issues which can be easily remedied within the required timescale.
For further details please read the Centre Approval Guide. If you need to speak to an USBEM representative for support please contact us on 0312 229 7644
Related Documents
Introduction Guide - Delivering International Qualifications
Centre Guide - Delivering International Qualifications
Resources
One of the most important points to consider when preparing to become a City & Guilds centre are the resources you need. They are people.
In other words, having the right people in place to carry out all the key roles in verification, assessment, examination and invigilation. There are several main participants and they are: