The process
Your Journey to Qualified
A personal, flexible way to earn your qualification, built around your life and your job.
Your dedicated assessor — from day one to sign-off
Most online providers assign you to an assessor rota: a different person assesses you each time. With Learning with Nicole, you work with the same named assessor throughout your entire course.
Nicole supports you from your initial induction, through your portfolio building, right through to your final observation and sign-off. You build a relationship with someone who knows your progress, your setting, and your goals.
- Consistent support: no starting over with someone new
- Your assessor knows your context and tailors feedback accordingly
- One point of contact for all questions and check-ins
Your learning journey
Enrolment
Apply online (it takes about 4 minutes), then pay using the secure link we email you (check your spam folder if it doesn't land in your inbox). Once payment clears, we activate your access to the learning platform and email you your login details.
Induction
You'll get a link to book your induction session, where Nicole walks you through the course plan, timeline, platform access, and what to expect at each stage.
Online learning & portfolio building
You access course materials through the learning platform and build your portfolio of evidence at your own pace, with support along the way. See how below.
Face-to-face observation
Nicole comes to your workplace to observe you in practice. This is an Ofqual requirement for all vocational qualifications, not an add-on. The observation is conducted by Nicole herself, not a third-party stranger.
Completion & certification
Once your portfolio is complete and observation signed off, your evidence goes through quality checks before your certificate is issued. See exactly how below.
What happens next
Study at your pace. Get certified on time.
From your first assignment to the certificate in your hand: here's exactly what to expect, and when.
Self-paced, not self-taught
This is a self-paced course, so you decide when you study. But you're not left to work it out alone. Support is built in at every stage.
- Book 1:1 support sessions with Nicole on weekday evenings or weekend daytime. A booking link is shared once you're enrolled.
- Assignments are assessed and returned within 14 days on the standard track, or 7 days (often faster) on Fast Track.
- There's no fixed weekly schedule. Most standard-track learners commit 2–4 hours a week; Fast Track learners typically commit 4–8 hours, depending on how quickly you like to move.
From final assignment to certificate
Your certificate isn't issued by us. It's issued by the awarding body, once two independent quality checks have both signed off your work. Here's exactly what happens after your last assignment.
Internal quality check (IQA)
We submit your portfolio for Internal Quality Assurance: our own check for accuracy and consistency. If anything needs adjusting, we'll tell you straight away so you can act quickly.
External quality check (EQA)
Once IQA is satisfied, your portfolio goes to the awarding body for External Quality Assurance: the same kind of check, done independently. Anything that needs your input here is flagged to you immediately too.
E-certificate issued
Once EQA passes, the awarding body typically issues your e-certificate within 3 working days. We email it to you the same day we receive it.
Physical copy posted
A physical copy usually follows 2–3 weeks later. We post it out to you the next working day after it reaches us.
When to expect it — depends on your awarding body
- ICQ: usually about a month from IQA submission to when your certificate can be claimed.
- NCFE: we claim NCFE certificates twice a year, in March–April and September–October. If your work is signed off outside these, we'll claim your certificate at the next one rather than straight away. Talk to us on WhatsApp or by email in advance, or ask your assessor, to confirm which window applies to your course and when to expect yours.
What's next
Now you know how it works. Find the right course for you.
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