Maintaining Effective IQA Practice CPD
Develop and enhance your professional practice in the internal quality assurance of dental nursing assessment.
This course is written for individuals involved in the internal quality assurance of assessment in dental nursing. Across three learning outcomes, it covers the legislative frameworks that underpin effective IQA practice, the core principles and processes of internal quality assurance, and how to implement IQA effectively in practice. Content is mapped to GDC Development Outcomes B and C, and aligned to GDC Standards for Education and the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework.
Content is mapped to Ofqual Conditions of Recognition and GDC Standards for Education — not generic assessor training
VARCS, the assessment cycle, formative and summative methods, standardisation and the IQA–EQA relationship
GDC-ready certificate and structured reflection form included — ready to add directly to your CPD record
Complete online, with interactive exercises at every learning outcome to check your understanding as you go
What you will study
Three learning outcomes. Fully mapped to Ofqual and GDC.
Each outcome is aligned to the Ofqual Conditions of Recognition, GDC Standards for Education and the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework. Click any outcome to see what it covers.
This outcome covers:
- The purpose of IQA — standardisation, quality control and integrity, and continuous improvement
- The IQA cycle — identify, plan, monitor, provide feedback and evaluate
- Strategic sampling — risk-based, thematic, milestone and representative sampling (including the CAMERA framework)
- Facilitating standardisation — ensuring consistent interpretation of assessment criteria across the teaching team
- The VARCS framework — valid, authentic, reliable, current and sufficient assessment evidence
- How IQA supports learner success — improving feedback quality, removing barriers to achievement and proactive risk management
This outcome covers:
- Core assessment terminology — learning outcomes, assessment criteria, evidence, formative assessment, summative assessment and holistic assessment
- Five assessment methods used in dental nursing qualifications — direct observation, questioning and professional discussion, product evidence, witness testimonies and reflective accounts
- Formative and summative application of each method — how and when each approach is used appropriately across the learner's journey
This outcome covers:
- Components of an effective IQA plan — risk-based approach, integration of standardisation, plan adjustment and adherence to quality principles
- Preparations for IQA activities — initial preparation, communication with centre managers and assessors, and application of the IQA cycle
- Disputes and appeals procedures — informal resolution, formal investigation, the appeals process and external mediation
- Reflective practice — refining professional judgement, improving interpersonal strategy and adapting to different delivery models
- Collaborative relationships — the IQA's working relationship with assessors, centre managers and external quality assurers.
What's Included?
Everything included in the Maintaining Effective IQA Practice CPD
Each outcome is mapped to Ofqual Conditions of Recognition and GDC Standards for Education. Content is specifically written for those assessing or quality-assuring dental nursing qualifications — not adapted from generic assessor training.
Every learning outcome includes built-in exercises — scenario matching, word-bank activities, case studies and VARCS application tasks — designed to consolidate learning and reflect the kind of judgment required in real assessor practice.
On completion, you will receive a verifiable CPD certificate and a structured reflection form. Both are pre-formatted with all the information required for your CPD record — subject, hours, outcome and quality assurance details.
Your purchase provides 12 months of full access to all eight topics. Revisit content at any time throughout the year.
This course is designed for assessors, educators, IQAs and EQAs involved in the delivery and quality assurance of dental nursing qualifications. It is not intended for dental nursing learners or qualified dental nurses seeking GDC verifiable CPD hours for clinical practice.
Getting started
Three steps to completing your CPD
One annual payment gives you 12 months access to the course. Want to access again? Simply repurchase when you are ready to start learning.
Complete outcomes at your own pace, online and on demand. Each outcome includes interactive scenario-based exercises applying legislation, VARCS principles, the assessment cycle and feedback techniques to real assessor contexts.
On completing the course, download your verifiable CPD certificate and structured reflection form. Both are pre-formatted with all the information you need to add to your CPD record — no additional paperwork required.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
This course is written for individuals involved in the internal quality assurance of assessment in dental nursing — including internal quality assurers (IQAs), external quality assurers (EQAs), assessors who contribute to IQA activities, and centre managers responsible for assessment quality. It is not designed for dental nursing learners or qualified dental nurses seeking GDC verifiable CPD hours for clinical practice.
The course covers the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Equality Act 2010, Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, and Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 — all applied specifically to IQA practice in dental nursing education. It also covers relevant Ofqual Conditions of Recognition, GDC Standards for Education, and the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework.
VARCS stands for Valid, Authentic, Reliable, Current and Sufficient — the five principles all assessment evidence must meet. The course applies each principle to realistic IQA scenarios, so you can evaluate assessment decisions consistently and in line with Awarding Organisation requirements.
Yes. On completion you receive a GDC-ready verifiable CPD certificate and a structured reflection form, both mapped to GDC Development Outcomes B and C and including all information required to add the learning to your CPD record.
No. The Assessment Practice course is written for assessors delivering and assessing learning with dental nursing learners. This IQA course is written for those overseeing the quality of that assessment — internal quality assurers, EQAs and centre managers responsible for ensuring assessment is consistent, compliant and fair across the training organisation.
Maintaining Effective IQA Practice CPD
£12 / year
Develop and enhance your professional practice in the internal quality assurance of dental nursing assessment.