Work Experience
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about the Programme
- How do I become a Placement Organiser?
- Do the placement inspections need to be undertaken on the same day as the accreditor’s visit to our offices?
- How long will it take for my organisation/company to become accredited?
- What happens if I am awarded conditional approval?
- What is the difference between standard and advanced level certification?
- How long does a Placement Organiser’s accreditation last for?
- How do candidates apply for certification?
- How do I obtain copies of the assessment booklets?
- How long will it be before certificates are received from CIE?
- Can CIE replace lost or damaged certificates?
- I am a student who is interested in applying for the CIE Certificate in Work Experience. How do I go about doing this?
- Are there any specific requirements for certification?
- How do I become a Placement Organiser?
- You need to complete an initial enquiry form. CIE will then send you an application form to complete. The completed form will be forwarded to one of CIE’s accreditors, who will contact you directly to arrange an accreditation visit. The accreditation visit involves an accreditor visiting the offices of your organisation to examine your administrative and candidate support/placement procedures. There is also a requirement for the accreditor to inspect two placements that have been arranged in order to assess various aspects of those placements, including health and safety and how well a candidate and placement have been matched.
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- Do the placement inspections need to be undertaken on the same day as the accreditor’s visit to our offices?
- No. However additional costs will be incurred if the accreditation process takes more than one day.
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- How long will it take for my organisation/company to become accredited?
- The timescale can vary depending on how busy our accreditors are at the time of your application for accreditation and on when a mutually convenient visit date can be arranged. The accreditor will also compile a visit report that will recommend whether or not your organisation/company can be accredited. Conditional approval is recommended if the accreditor decides that there are areas for improvement. You will be informed of the outcome of your accreditation visit after CIE has reviewed the visit report.
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- What happens if I am awarded conditional approval?
- You will be advised which areas of your operation need improving and how full approval can be awarded.
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- What is the difference between standard and advanced level certification?
- Candidates aiming to achieve standard level certification need to complete an assessment booklet, which asks them various questions about their placement with a view to assisting candidates in an evaluation of their placement. For advanced certification, candidates complete a similar, but more demanding assessment booklet and are also required to compile a portfolio of work. This portfolio should include (among other things) the candidate’s curriculum vitae, their letter of application to either an employer or Placement Organiser, a diary that accounts for all work undertaken by the candidate during their placement, and evidence of work undertaken.
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- How long does a Placement Organiser’s accreditation last for?
- One year from the month of the accreditation visit. After this period has elapsed, a further accreditation visit is required to ensure standards are maintained, followed by annual visits thereafter.
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- How do candidates apply for certification?
- Depending on the level of certification a candidate wishes to apply for, candidates complete the relevant assessment booklet and send it to their Placement Organiser for forwarding to CIE, where assessment of candidate work is undertaken.
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- How do I obtain copies of the assessment booklets?
- New Placement Organisers are contacted by CIE to determine the number of booklets that are to be sent with their accreditation certificate and visit report. After your initial supply of assessment booklets has been used up, further copies can be obtained by sending a stationery order form to CIE. The form is sent to new Placement Organisers with their initial assessment booklet order; you can also download a copy of the order form here.
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- How long will it be before certificates are received from CIE?
- We ask Placement Organisers to allow 4 weeks for certificates to be received from CIE. This time scale can vary depending on the time of year.
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- Can CIE replace lost or damaged certificates?
- Yes. Damaged certificates can be replaced with another certificate. Lost certificates will be replaced by a Certifying Statement. Please contact CIE for the charges that apply to replace certificates.
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- I am a student who is interested in applying for the CIE Certificate in Work Experience, how do I go about doing this?
- CIE only works with Placement Organisers, so you will need to contact one of these organisations/companies for further information. CIE can supply you with contact details for some Placement Organisers (based in the UK and overseas) on request.
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- Are there any specific requirements for certification?
- Yes. Candidates aiming to achieve standard level certification need to undertake a work experience placement lasting at least 3 weeks; for advanced level this minimum placement length increases to 6 weeks. It is also expected that candidates will work for 35 hours per week, in line with UK full time working hours.
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