Frequently Asked Questions


What is the Training Quality Standard?

Who can apply?

How do I apply?

How much will assessment cost?

How is it assessed?

How long does the assessment take?

What does the Training Quality Standard look at?

What support can I get?

What impact will the Standard have?

Where can I find out more?

My question isn’t answered here.




What is the Training Quality Standard?

The Training Quality Standard is a framework and an assessment and certification process which recognises and celebrates the best organisations delivering training and development solutions to employers.

Who can apply?

Any organisation providing and delivering training and development solutions can use the Training Quality Standard as an assessment framework, regardless of its size, ownership, governance or funding arrangement. There are, however, some basic eligibility requirements – please click here for more details.  

How do I apply?

If you are interested in seeking Training Quality Standard Certification, the first step is to register with a licensed Certification Body. This will usually involve filling in a registration form or registering online; the steps you take though will depend on which Certification Body you choose.

How much will assessment cost?

For information on costs, please contact one of the Certification Bodies, who will be able to run you through their pricing policy.

 You can find out more about Certification Bodies here.

How is it assessed?

After completing an application form, a lead Assessor will be appointed to manage your case. They will make contact with you and begin a review of your application, scoring it against the assessment framework and identifying issues they would like to check.

Following that, the lead Assessor, accompanied by a Support Assessor, will visit you and verify the details of your application.

After concluding the visit, the Assessors will agree a score and recommendation for your application.

The outcomes of all of these steps will then go to a panel review to make the final decision on certification. Their decision will be forwarded to you once it is made, and followed up by a return visit from your lead Assessor, to present a Feedback Report.

How long does the assessment take?

Your Certification Body will discuss timescales with you. Timely conclusion of an assessment will be helped where an application is submitted for the deadline agreed with your Certification Body, and will partially depend upon the dates you can offer to the Assessor team in arranging the Verification Visit.

What does the Training Quality Standard look at?

The Training Quality Standard emphasises two linked but ultimately very different competencies in the performance of delivering services to employers:

  • responding to their needs as an individual customer; and
  • offering expertise in particular sectors.

What support can I get?

The following sources of support are available to help you with your application:

-          The Applicant Guide sets out detailed guidance on the Training Quality Standard and what it looks for, and all of the steps involved in assessment.

-          Applicant Training Courses will assist you in understanding what an Assessor will look for in an application. A list of these can be found here.

In addition, if your organisation needs support in developing its capacity and capability to respond to employers (rather than prepare for assessment itself), and it is in receipt of public funds, you might be able to access support through the World Class Skills programme.

What impact will the Standard have?

The Training Quality Standard has the potential to make an impact through:

  • Increasing confidence in purchasing training
  • Cutting employers' costs of sourcing and taking delivery of training 
  • Increasing the return-on-investment of buying training provision.

Where can I find out more?

This website contains a range of background information – to find out more about any aspect of the Standard, a good place to start is ‘About the TQS’. 

My question isn’t answered here.

There is a full and comprehensive FAQs document which is available to download here.