V1.2
This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the boatmaster apprenticeship.
End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA. It will also be of interest to apprentices, their employers and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) approved training providers.
This apprenticeship leads to the Boatmasters’ Licence (BML). This apprenticeship has an integrated EPA. The EPA uses an independent EPAO assessment alongside the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment for the MCA's BML.
This apprenticeship has an integrated EPA. The EPA uses an independent EPAO assessment alongside the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment for the MCA's BML.
Boatmaster apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.
The integrated EPA is permitted because the following criteria are met:
Boatmasters are subject to statutory regulation by the MCA. The MCA sets the standards of proficiency required for entry to the professional register and these are the occupational standards for registered boatmasters.
The MCA also has the statutory duty to set requirements of programmes necessary to support the achievement of the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the standards of proficiency and the KSBs in the occupational standard. The apprenticeship standard and the delivery of the apprentices' training must be aligned to all relevant MCA standards to ensure that apprentices are eligible for entry to the boatmaster register on completion. It is against the law for anyone to work as a boatmaster without being registered with the MCA.
The EPA assesses whether apprentices have also passed the apprenticeship and is based on the same professional KSBs as the occupational standard.
Important notice: Only training providers who are approved by the MCA to deliver the BML may deliver this apprenticeship. Training providers must contact the MCA prior to commencing the training of apprentices towards this apprenticeship. An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must work with the training provider to select an approved EPAO from the apprenticeship providers and assessment register (APAR).
A full-time boatmaster apprentice typically spends 24 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.
The EPA should be completed within an EPA period lasting typically 6 months.
The apprentice must complete their training and meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA. The EPA will assess occupational competence.
An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must work with the training provider to select an approved EPAO.
This EPA has 3 assessment methods.
The grades available for each assessment method are below.
Assessment method 1 - professional discussion:
Assessment method 2 - mca bml oral assessment :
Assessment method 3 - mca bml practical assessment:
The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:
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 the EPA should start as quickly as possible.
The apprentice’s employer must confirm that they think their apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard. The apprentice will then enter the gateway. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider(s), but the employer must make the decision.
The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.
These are:
There are other conditions that must be met in order for an applicant to apply to the MCA to take the MCA assessments. Please enquire with the MCA as to these requirements.
The apprentice must submit any policies and procedures as requested by the EPAO.
The professional discussion must be taken first, and passed, before the apprentice books and undertakes the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment.
The reason for this order is to help ensure that apprentices complete end-point assessment.
Passing the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment lawfully permits the apprentice to work as a boatmaster. However only the combination of all assessment methods affirms full occupational competency for the purposes of this apprenticeship.
It is the responsibility of the EPAO to ensure that the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment are booked with the MCA once the apprentice has achieved a minimum of a pass in the professional discussion.
In the discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation.
The rationale for this assessment method is:
• it will allow some KSBs which may not naturally occur in every workplace or may take too long to observe to be assessed
• it allows assessment of those KSBs not assessed by the MCA
• it allows for a related yet diverse range of maritime activities to be evidenced through discussion
• it provides a cost-effective assessment, as it minimises independent assessor time and may make use of the apprentice’s employer’s workplace, equipment and resources or may be undertaken remotely.
The professional discussion must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
An independent assessor must conduct and assess the professional discussion.
The topics and themes that must be covered in the professional discussion are:
EPAOs must make arrangements for the professional discussion with the apprentice’s employer. KSBs met and answers to questions must be recorded by the independent assessor. The independent assessor will make all grading decisions.
Only once the apprentice has attained a pass in the professional discussion can the apprentice and their employer book the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment, with the MCA, using their established booking system. The MCA will then deliver and assess the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment.
The EPAO must give an apprentice 2 weeks notice of the professional discussion.
The professional discussion must last for 60 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to respond to a question if necessary.
The independent assessor must ask at least 8 questions. Follow-up questions are allowed where clarification is required. The independent assessor must use the questions from their EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in-line with the EPAO’s training.
The apprentice may choose to end the assessment method early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The independent assessor or EPAO must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The independent assessor or EPAO cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent assessor may suggest the assessment continues. The independent assessor must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.
The independent assessor must make the grading decision. The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
The professional discussion must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO (for example the EPAO’s or employer’s premises).
The professional discussion can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.
The professional discussion should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.
The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.
The EPAO must ensure that apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.
The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the professional discussion:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation, training, and moderation.
In the professional discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
This assessment method is being used because you must have a Boatmasters' licence if you are the master of certain vessels on:
Provided the apprentice has attained a pass in the Professional Discussion, the apprentice and their employer will book the MCA Oral Assessment and Practical Assessment with the MCA, using the MCA's established booking system. The MCA will then deliver and assess the MCA Oral Assessment and Practical Assessment. The MCA is responsible for discharging its statutory functions (and in order to meet international maritime regulations) by overseeing these assessments that affirm certification of a Boatmasters Licence. The MCA must retain control over how they meet this requirements, however they are also responsible for ensuring:
reduces the assessment burden on the apprentice
The professional discussion must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
An independent assessor must conduct and assess the professional discussion.
The purpose of the independent assessor’s questions will be to assess the apprentice’s competence against the following themes:
The purpose of the independent assessor's questions will be to allow the apprentice to demonstrate the level of underpinning knowledge required for the Tier 1 Level 2 Boatmaster Licence. This underpinning knowledge will cover the following:
The EPAO must give an apprentice 2 weeks' notice of the professional discussion.
The professional discussion must last for 120 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to respond to a question if necessary.
The independent assessor must explain to the apprentice the format and timescales of the professional discussion before it starts. This does not count towards the assessment time.
The independent assessor must ask at least 11 questions. The independent assessor must create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training. Follow-up questions are allowed where clarification is required.
The apprentice may choose to end the assessment method early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The independent assessor or EPAO must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The independent assessor or EPAO cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent assessor may suggest the assessment continues. The independent assessor must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.
The independent assessor must make the grading decision.
The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
The professional discussion must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO for example, the EPAO’s or employer’s premises.
The professional discussion can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.
The professional discussion should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence. Additional venue requirements include:
Assessments are only taken at a location approved by the MCA, such as a marine office or a contractor examination centre. Each assessment must be invigilated as per the code of conduct which is approved by the MCA specifically for these assessments. The assessments are subject to inspections from the MCA to ensure they comply with the code of conduct.
Assessments take place under controlled conditions and must be conducted in one of the following locations:
• an examination centre approved by MCA
• the premises of the contractor, such as an examination centre
• A marine office
The MCA will set out under contract what other specific venue requirements must be in place.
The MCA BML oral assessment should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence. The MCA BML oral assessment will in all cases be conducted in English by an examiner from the MCA, generally at an MCA Marine Office. Video conferencing can be used to conduct the MCA BML oral assessment, but the MCA examiner must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.
The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO must maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.
The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.
The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the mca bml oral assessment :
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.
In the MCA BML practical assessment, the apprentice is assessed through practical tasks. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours mapped to this assessment method. Please refer to the MCA's latest guidance for details of the assessment.
The MCA is responsible for discharging its statutory functions (and in order to meet international maritime regulations) by overseeing these assessments that affirm certification of the BML. The MCA must retain control over how they meet this requirement, however they are also responsible for ensuring;
Performance in the EPA determines the apprenticeship grade of:
An independent assessor must individually grade the: Professional discussion, MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment 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 or more assessment methods, they will be awarded an overall fail.
To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice must achieve a pass in all the assessment methods.
Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.
If the apprentice fails one or more assessment methods 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.
For the professional discussion, the employer and EPAO agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 6 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.
Resits and re-takes of the MCA BML oral assessment and MCA BML practical assessment will be for the MCA to decide.
The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.
This should include:
Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.
For reasonable adjustments to the MCA assessments, please contact the MCA.
Internal quality assurance refers to how the EPAO ensures valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions. The EPAO must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities section:
The EPAO must also:
Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:
Professional body recognition is not relevant to this occupational apprenticeship.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | End-point assessment plan revised. | 21/03/2025 | Not set |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment, standard and funding band revised | 25/04/2023 | 20/03/2025 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 04/11/2019 | 24/04/2023 |
Crown copyright © 2025. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence