Assessment Process

The TQS process is made up of seven distinct steps.

The timescale between Registration and Application varies, but the period from Application to Decision is typically three months. 

Registration

You submit your registration form (download) to start the process. IiE will check the details and discuss the timescales and scope. We’ll also book you on an applicant training course – one free place is offered for each Part A registration.

Application

After the training you’ll work on your application document (download) and submit this to IiE us by the agreed deadline. As TQS is an application-based assessment process it’s important that your submission contains all the key information.

Assessment

The two assessors assigned to your application will carry out an initial desktop assessment to identify strengths, areas for improvement and issues they need to check with you. They’ll also produce an initial score.

Verification

Both assessors visit your organisation (typically for one or two days) to ‘verify, amplify and clarify’ the content of your application. It’s important to appreciate that they can’t take new evidence into account at this stage. At the end of the visit the assessors will reach a consensus on the scoring of your application.

Validation

If your organisation has reached the minimum score required for certification, IiE will complete a telephone survey of a sample of your employer customers. (Please click here for further details.) If your score doesn’t reach the threshold for certification then we won’t proceed with validation.

Decision

After checks and moderation by IiE, the final decision on your application will be made by an independent panel of employers who meet approximately every five weeks.

Feedback

Every applicant receives a detailed feedback report and a visit from the lead assessor to help clarify the content and help your organisation move forward.