Understanding End-Point Assessment

One of the most important parts of your apprenticeship is the End-Point Assessment (EPA). This is the final stage of your programme, where you showcase everything you’ve learned and how you can apply it in your job. Preparing for your EPA isn’t something to leave until the last minute, the earlier you start, the easier it will be.

What is the EPA?

The EPA is like a final exam for your apprenticeship. It checks that you have developed the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed for your role. An independent assessor (not your trainer or employer) will review your work and decide if you’ve met the required standard.

Different apprenticeships have different EPA methods, but the most common ones include:

Portfolio of Evidence: a collection of your best work that shows how you’ve applied your learning in real tasks.
Professional Discussion: a structured conversation with an independent assessor about your work, experiences, and how you’ve developed during your apprenticeship.
Case Study or Test: a written or practical test based on real-life scenarios in your job role.

Why is it Important?

It’s the gateway to your qualification. You cannot complete your apprenticeship without successfully passing the EPA. Where there are industry exams, most of these now hold the final exam as the very last thing to be completed and it cannot be taken any earlier.
It shows you’re job ready. The EPA proves to employers that you have the right skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in your role.
It sets you up for progression. Whether you want to move into a higher-level apprenticeship, gain promotion, or take on more responsibility, passing the EPA is a crucial stepping stone.

Building Your Portfolio: What You Need to Know

Not all apprenticeships let you start building your portfolio straight away. Some allow you to collect evidence from day one, while others only open the portfolio at a specific stage in the programme.

It’s also important to know:

On some standards, you cannot enter EPA until your portfolio is fully complete.
On others, you can continue building your portfolio during EPA.
Some standards have expiry rules, meaning evidence must be recent. For example, certain apprenticeships do not allow evidence to be more than six months old at the point of entering EPA.

When Can You Build Portfolio Evidence at Skills Edge Training?

Apprenticeship Standard	When Portfolio Building Can Start	Required Prior to EPA?	Portfolio Expires?
Financial Services Administrator (Level 3)	6 months prior to Gateway and continued within the Gateway	Portfolio is uploaded once in Gateway	Gateway period is typically up to 3 months but no expiry date
Mortgage Adviser (Level 3)	6 months prior to entering Gateway and continued within Gateway	Portfolio is uploaded once in Gateway	Gateway period is typically up to 3 months but no expiry date
Compliance and Risk Officer (Level 3)	During the on-programme period and continued within the Gateway	Portfolio is uploaded once in Gateway	Gateway period is typically up to 3 months but no expiry date
Paraplanner and Financial Planner (Level 4)	During the on-programme period	tbc	tbc
Insurance Practitioner (Level 3)	During the on-programme period	Portfolio uploaded at Gateway	6 months maximum in Gateway
Insurance Professional (Level 4)	3 months prior to entering Gateway and continued in Gateway	Portfolio is uploaded once in Gateway	Gateway period is typically up to 4 months but no expiry date
Team Leader / Supervisor (Level 3)	During the on-programme period	Portfolio uploaded at Gateway	Gateway period is typically up to 4 months but no expiry date
Business Administrator (Level 3)	During the on-programme period Project starts after month 9	Portfolio uploaded at Gateway	4 months maximum in Gateway
Operations Manager (Level 5)	During the on-programme period	Portfolio uploaded at Gateway	Gateway period is typically up to 4 months but no expiry date
Customer Service Practitioner (Level 2)	Showcase Report compiled after 12 months of on-programme	Showcase Project uploaded at Gateway	Gateway period is typically up to 3 months but no expiry date

Why Prepare Early?

The best way to succeed at the EPA is to start preparing as soon as your apprenticeship standard allows you to. Here’s why:

Building your portfolio takes time. Collecting evidence of your work isn’t something that can be rushed.
Confidence grows with practice. The more you reflect on your work and talk about it with your assessors and trainers, the easier your professional discussion will feel.
Avoids last-minute stress. Preparing early means you won’t be panicking close to your EPA date, you’ll feel ready and in control.

Top Tips for Success

Check when you can start. Check with us when portfolio evidence collection begins for your programme.
Keep everything organised. Save redacted reports, emails, project notes, and feedback that show what you’ve achieved in your SharePoint folder.
Reflect on your learning. Ask yourself: What did I do? What did I learn? How did it help the business? Make this a standard feature of your portfolio work.
Practice talking about your work with others. This will make your professional discussion feel much more natural.
Stay on track. Use your progress reviews with your assessor to make sure you’re always working towards timely EPA success.

In Summary

The End-Point Assessment is your chance to shine and prove how far you’ve come. Different apprenticeships have different rules on when and how you can build your portfolio, so it’s vital to understand your programme early. By starting your evidence collection as soon as possible (and keeping it recent), you’ll be ready to complete your apprenticeship with confidence and open the door to the next stage of your career.