What are CIfA-approved employer training schemes?
If you do not already offer training to early career archaeologists, read the Training toolkit [LINK] to see how you can provide good-quality training to those starting out.
If you have training plans and learning opportunities for new starters, consider applying for them to be CIfA approved to highlight their high quality.
Employer training schemes are a valuable way for archaeologists to gain skills and experience in real work situations. They must be structured, supervised and promote high standards of ethical and responsible behaviour. Practitioner accreditation (PCIfA) represents the minimum level of competence of a practising archaeologist. In order for your employer archaeologist-training to receive the CIfA Approved Training & CPD mark, you must be able to demonstrate that its goal is to equip your employee with PCIfA-level competence.
What are the benefits?
Employer training is vital to build on knowledge and skills learnt at university or on apprenticeships and training courses and will ensure that your new employees are confident and competent early career archaeologists.
CIfA-approved employer training schemes are accepted by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and trainees on them are eligible to apply to CSCS for a Trainee card after passing the CITB Operatives level ‘Health, safety and environment’ test.
How does it work?
Once you are ready to get your employer training scheme assessed, we ask you to submit written evidence to support an application for it to become CIfA Approved Training & CPD. This is appraised against the assessment criteria outlined below. We then either approve your training scheme or we give you feedback, and you can resubmit.
Once your employer training scheme has been approved, we will send you written guidelines for the logo usage together with a suite of logo files. Your approved training scheme will appear on the CIfA website with a link to your website. Any CIfA Approved Training & CPD learning opportunity may be randomly selected for reassessment at any time. You will be asked to return an annual monitoring form and the scheme will be revisited every three years.
- Employer training schemes being submitted for approval must demonstrate they provide
- appropriate and achievable learning outcomeslearning outcomes set out in terms of National Occupational Standards (NOS)
- learning outcomes that cover understanding of relevant ethical issues
- learning outcomes that will meet the criteria for CIfA accreditation
- active encouragement of a CPD culture
- supervision/tuition undertaken by appropriately competent and accredited organisations and individuals
We can provide support in meeting the criteria, for example in linking learning outcomes to NOS. Additional fees apply. Please contact us for details.
Is there a cost and how do I find out more?
The assessment and approval fee for a single employer training scheme is £335. Please note there is no fee for employer training schemes provided by CIfA Registered Organisations.
To get things started, please contact Anna Welch at CIfA via approvedcpd@archaeologists.net for an informal discussion.