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Verifier FAQs

We’ve gathered the most common questions from Assessors so you can find the answers you need quickly.

Verification at EarnLearn

How does verification work and what evidence do I need?

Workplace verification is a key part of EarnLearn’s on-job assessment model. Verifiers provide evidence that a learner can consistently perform practical tasks to organisational and industry standards.

You can verify any practical task specified in the learner’s assessment, provided you:

  • Have personally observed the task being completed
  • Understand the required standard
  • Are qualified or experienced in that trade area (where required)
  • Are confident the work reflects normal workplace practice

 

Tasks can include technical procedures, use of tools or equipment, safety behaviours, installation tasks, checks, repairs, or other practical on-job activities.

A learner meets the standard when they can:

  • Carry out the full task correctly and safely
  • Meet organisational and industry expectations every time
  • Explain what they are doing and why
  • Complete the task independently, without prompting or coaching
  • Repeat the task consistently over time

 

If you aren’t fully confident, do not verify the task yet.

Sufficient evidence includes:

  • Direct observation of the task
  • Confirmation that all required steps were completed
  • Clear indication that the performance met the standard
  • The date you observed the work
  • Your name, role, and signature (or digital verification)

Some assessments may ask for brief comments or additional detail — follow the form instructions carefully.

To complete a verification form:

  1. Read the assessment instructions for the task.
  2. Observe the learner completing the task in the workplace.
  3. Tick or confirm each required performance point.
  4. Add comments where requested.
  5. Provide your verifier details, signature, and the date observed.
  6. Return the form according to the instructions provided.

 

Accuracy and completeness are essential; incomplete forms may delay assessment.

On-job evidence is drawn from real tasks the learner performs. Workplace documentation (e.g., job sheets, safety forms, reports) supports this by validating that the task occurred and meets expected standards.

  • Verification: You confirm what you observed in the workplace and whether it met the required standard.
  • Assessment: The assessor reviews all evidence — including your verification, learner responses, and workplace documents — and makes the final judgement on competency.

 

Verification supports assessment, but does not replace it.

Becoming an EarnLearn Verifier

Thinking about becoming a verifier?

Workplace verifiers are experienced people who observe apprentices completing real work and confirm that performance meets required standards. Some trades require verifiers to be formally registered with EarnLearn.

A workplace verifier is someone who works closely with the learner and regularly observes their day-to-day tasks. You can become a verifier if you:

  • Work in the same organisation as the apprentice
  • Have enough experience to recognise competent performance
  • Understand the workplace standards and expectations
  • Are able to observe the learner completing full tasks
  • Can provide honest, accurate, and timely verification
  • Are comfortable completing verification paperwork

 

You do not need to be an assessor — just someone who knows the work and sees the learner doing it.

For many programmes, you do not need a formal qualification — you simply need sufficient experience and knowledge to judge whether the work meets the required standard.

However, for regulated trades (Electrical, IMC, Plumbing, Gasfitting, Drainlaying, Scaffolding), you must hold the relevant trade qualification and/or licence. This ensures verification is safe, accurate, and compliant with industry rules.

Yes. Registration with EarnLearn is required for the following areas:

  • Electrical
  • Industrial Measurement & Control
  • Plumbing
  • Gasfitting
  • Drainlaying
  • Scaffolding

These programmes have strict licensing, safety, or regulatory requirements. Only approved Trades Verifiers can verify tasks in these areas.

  • Workplace Verifier:
    Works with the learner, observes tasks, and verifies performance for programmes without licensing or safety restrictions. No formal registration required.
  • Trades Verifier:
    Must meet specific qualification and licence requirements and be formally registered with EarnLearn. Applies only to certain trades.

 

Both roles provide workplace evidence — but Trades Verifiers must meet higher regulatory thresholds.

Yes. All verifiers — especially Trades Verifiers — receive onboarding support, which may include:

  • The EarnLearn Verifier Guide
  • An online verifier training module
  • Programme-specific instructions
  • Support from the Quality Assurance team

This training ensures you understand the standard, your responsibilities, and how to complete verification correctly.

Registering & Getting Started

Ready to apply?

To become a Trades Verifier, your workplace must have learners with EarnLearn Training Agreements. Once approved, you’ll receive onboarding information and guidance on how to verify learner tasks.

To register as a Trades Verifier, you must:

  • Work for an employer who has apprentices with EarnLearn Training Agreements
  • Hold the required trade qualification and/or practising licence for the area you want to verify (e.g., EWRB, PGDB, COC)
  • Have regular opportunities to observe the apprentice completing real on-job tasks
  • Be confident in recognising competent performance
  • Be willing to complete verification forms accurately and honestly

These prerequisites ensure you can verify safely, fairly, and in line with industry requirements.

  1. Download the Verifier Application Form from the EarnLearn website.
  2. Complete all sections, including your trade qualifications or practising licence details.
  3. Attach any required supporting documents (e.g., licence copy).
  4. Email your completed form to: qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

If anything is missing, the QA team will contact you.

Once your application is received:

  1. The Quality Assurance team reviews your qualifications and eligibility.
  2. Your details are checked against programme requirements.
  3. You are either approved, or the team will contact you if more information is needed.
  4. If approved, you will be officially added to EarnLearn’s Trades Verifier Register.
  5. You will receive onboarding materials and instructions on next steps.

Approved Trades Verifiers receive:

  • The Verifier Guide, explaining expectations and requirements
  • Access to the online verifier training module
  • Programme-specific verification instructions (where applicable)
  • Information about upcoming verifier forums and support channels
  • Contact details for the Quality Assurance team

These resources help you verify confidently and consistently.

You can access verification materials through:

  • The assessment or learning resources provided to your apprentice
  • Digital copies supplied by your EarnLearn Training Advisor
  • Direct support from the Quality Assurance team if you’re unsure where to find a specific form

If you ever need replacement or updated forms, email: qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

Trade-Specific Requirements

Do verifiers need licences or qualifications?

Some apprenticeship programmes require verifiers to hold specific licences or trade qualifications to ensure safe and accurate verification.

To verify Electrical or Industrial Measurement & Control (IMC) tasks, you must:

  • Hold the relevant electrical or IMC qualification, or be able to demonstrate equivalent trade experience and knowledge
  • Hold a current EWRB practising licence in the appropriate class
  • Work closely enough with the learner to observe tasks being completed in real workplace situations

These requirements ensure safe, accurate verification in regulated environments.

Requirements differ depending on the task area:

  • Plumbing or Drainlaying tasks:
    You must hold a current PGDB licence as a registered tradesperson in the area you are verifying.
  • Gasfitting tasks:
    You must hold a current PGDB licence as a certifying gasfitter.

 

Because these activities have strict regulatory and safety obligations, only appropriately licensed tradespeople can verify them.

To verify Scaffolding tasks, you must:

  • Hold the relevant scaffolding qualification for the level you are verifying
  • Hold a Certificate of Competency (COC) that is not restricted
  • Be actively involved in scaffold operations and familiar with NZ industry standards

 

This ensures you can accurately judge whether scaffolding work meets safety and performance expectations.

No. You may only verify tasks that fall within your:

  • Trade qualification
  • Practising licence (where required)
  • Demonstrated trade experience

 

Verifying outside your scope can compromise safety, accuracy, and assessment validity.

If you’re uncertain:

  1. Do not verify the task yet.
  2. Check the requirements for your programme area.
  3. Contact the EarnLearn Quality Assurance team for guidance:
    qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

 

The QA team can confirm whether you meet the requirements or advise on next steps.

Support, Training & Quality Assurance

What support can verifiers expect from EarnLearn?

You’re supported throughout your verifier journey. EarnLearn provides guidance, training, and forums to ensure high-quality, consistent verification across industries.

New verifiers receive a range of support to help them understand their responsibilities and verify confidently. This includes:

  • The Verifier Guide, outlining expectations, standards, and best practice
  • Programme-specific instructions for the tasks they will verify
  • Access to the online verifier training module
  • Ongoing support from the EarnLearn Quality Assurance team
  • Invitations to verifier forums and update sessions

 

You’re not expected to navigate the process alone — support is available throughout.

Yes. All newly approved Trades Verifiers receive access to an online training module during onboarding.
The module covers:

  • What verification is
  • How to complete verification correctly
  • Examples of good and poor verification
  • Responsibilities, expectations, and evidence requirements

 

Completion is strongly recommended to ensure consistent, high-quality verification.

Verifier forums are regular professional development sessions where verifiers can:

  • Receive updates on industry, programme, or assessment changes
  • Ask questions about verification and evidence requirements
  • Hear reminders about good practice
  • Share experiences with other verifiers

 

Forums may be held online or in person depending on the trade area.

Forum dates are published on the EarnLearn website and communicated directly to all registered verifiers. Your Training Advisor or the QA team will also confirm dates if you need them.

You can contact the EarnLearn Quality Assurance team for any verification-related questions:
qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

The QA team can help with:

  • Clarifying requirements
  • Understanding assessment tasks
  • Checking whether you meet trade prerequisites
  • Getting replacement forms or documents

Academic Integrity & Verification Issues

How do I handle concerns about a learner’s work?

Verifiers play a key role in maintaining assessment integrity. If performance does not appear to be the learner’s own work—or does not meet the standard—verifiers must respond appropriately.

If you suspect the learner required prompting, assistance, or guidance to complete the task, you should not verify it.
Instead:

  • Give the learner clear feedback about what needs improvement
  • Allow them time to practise the full task independently
  • Arrange to observe them again when they are ready

 

Verification must only be given when you are completely confident the learner can perform the task on their own.

If the work appears to be completed by someone else, staged, heavily coached, or repeated back without genuine understanding, this may indicate a concern.


You should:

  • Avoid verifying the task
  • Record what you observed
  • Notify the assessor or the Quality Assurance team

 

Honesty in workplace verification is essential to safeguarding assessment integrity.

Report any concerns directly to the EarnLearn Quality Assurance team by emailing:
qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

Include:

  • What you observed
  • Why it raised concern
  • Any relevant dates or context

 

Providing early, clear information allows the QA team to respond appropriately.

The Academic Integrity Policy  is available on the EarnLearn website under Policies and Procedures.

You can also request a copy by emailing:
qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

After you submit a concern, the Quality Assurance team will:

  1. Review the information you provided
  2. Contact relevant parties for clarification if needed
  3. Assess whether further action or investigation is required
  4. Communicate the next steps and provide guidance
  5. Support both you and the assessor through the resolution process

 

All concerns are handled confidentially and in line with EarnLearn’s academic integrity processes.

Learner Questions, Disputes & Feedback

What happens if a learner disagrees with verification?

Verification affects assessment outcomes. Clear communication helps learners understand what still needs improvement and what evidence is required.

If a learner disagrees with your verification, explain clearly what you observed and why the task did not yet meet the required standard. Keep the conversation factual and focused on:

  • The assessment requirements
  • The specific parts of the task that were not completed correctly
  • What the learner needs to demonstrate next time

 

If disagreement continues, refer the learner to their assessor for further clarification.

Break the standard down into simple, practical terms. Focus on:

  • What “good” performance looks like in the workplace
  • The steps, safety requirements, and expected outcomes
  • Any industry or organisational procedures they must follow
  • Examples of correct vs. incorrect performance

 

Using real job examples helps the learner understand what is required and why it matters.

Reassessment is handled by the assessor, not the verifier.
If a learner asks for reassessment:

  1. Provide them with clear feedback on what needs improvement.
  2. Direct them to speak with their assessor or Training Advisor.
  3. Do not verify the task until they can demonstrate competency independently.

 

Your role is to provide evidence, not manage reassessment decisions.

Effective verifier feedback is:

  • Specific: Describe exactly what you saw.
  • Objective: Focus on actions and behaviours, not personal attributes.
  • Linked to the standard: Explain why the performance did or didn’t meet requirements.
  • Timely: Provide feedback as close to the task as possible.
  • Supportive: Highlight what the learner did well and what needs improvement.

 

Good feedback helps learners build confidence and capability.

Refer concerns to the assessor when:

  • You are unsure whether the learner met the standard
  • The learner strongly disagrees with your verification
  • There are safety issues or repeated performance concerns
  • You suspect the work is not the learner’s own
  • You notice patterns that may affect assessment integrity

 

The assessor is responsible for making final competency decisions and can provide further guidance.

Contacting EarnLearn

Need help or clarification?

Our Quality Assurance team supports all verifiers with verification questions, process issues, and programme requirements.

For any questions about verification, assessment requirements, evidence, or programme expectations, contact the EarnLearn Quality Assurance (QA) team. They can guide you through processes, clarify standards, and help resolve any uncertainties.

Email: qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

The best way to contact the QA team is by email:
qa@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

This ensures your query is logged, directed to the right person, and responded to as quickly as possible. If your question relates to a specific learner or assessment, include:

  • The learner’s name
  • Programme or trade area
  • Assessment or task you’re verifying
  • Any relevant details or context

Call instead of emailing when the issue is:

  • Urgent — affecting safety, assessment timing, or a learner’s immediate progress
  • Time-sensitive — such as last-minute verification clarifications
  • Complex — situations where a back-and-forth email chain may delay resolution

Phone details can be found on the EarnLearn website under the Contact section.

For issues such as:

  • Trouble accessing digital assessment materials
  • Problems with verification forms
  • Technical errors in EarnLearn systems
  • Login or platform access issues

You should contact your EarnLearn Training Advisor or the technical support contact listed in your onboarding information. They can escalate system-related issues promptly if needed.

Contact Us


0800 327 648 (0800 EARN IT)
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm

If you’re overseas, please phone 
+64 09 9051748

supportel@waiouru.earnlearn.ac.nz

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