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Turn your industry experience into a recognised qualification
Already have substantial experience in fire safety but don’t hold the corresponding formal qualification?
Our Experienced Practitioner Assessment Route allows suitable professionals to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competence they have developed through their work, using existing workplace evidence.
You may not need to attend a full training course to gain formal recognition of your existing competence. We’ll review your experience and evidence against the relevant SFJ Awards qualification requirements.
Use Your Experience
Build your assessment around work you’ve already completed in your professional practice.
Evidence-Based Assessment
Your evidence is mapped against the relevant SFJ Awards learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
Professional Discussion
Discuss your work, knowledge and professional decisions with a qualified assessor.
The route is intended for experienced practitioners who already have substantial knowledge and practical experience in their area of work.
Who might this include?
Fire risk assessors, fire safety inspectors, auditors, consultants, fire safety managers, fire engineering technicians and other experienced fire safety professionals.
01 — Initial Discussion
We’ll discuss your experience, current role and the qualification you wish to achieve. This helps us determine whether the route is suitable for you.
02 — Evidence Submission
You’ll provide relevant evidence from your professional practice.
This could include:
03 — Evidence Mapping
A qualified assessor will review your evidence and map it against the relevant SFJ Awards learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
You won’t be expected to recreate evidence unnecessarily where your existing work already demonstrates the required competence.
04 — Assessment Planning
We’ll explain which assessment criteria are already covered and identify any areas requiring further evidence or clarification.
05 — Professional Discussion
You’ll have a structured discussion with your assessor, giving you the opportunity to:
06 — Quality Assurance and Certification
Once all assessment requirements have been met, your portfolio will undergo Compass’s internal quality assurance process before certification is claimed through SFJ Awards.
This is an assessment-only route. You will not normally need to attend a scheduled training course or repeat learning you have already gained through professional practice.
The same SFJ Awards assessment criteria and quality requirements apply. A qualification is awarded only where sufficient evidence of knowledge and competence has been demonstrated.
Fire Risk Assessments
Evidence of your practical risk assessment work.
Inspection & Audit Reports
Reports demonstrating inspection, auditing or review activity.
Technical Reports & Strategies
Fire safety strategies, technical reports and recommendations.
Plans, Drawings & Calculations
Relevant technical work completed as part of your professional practice.
Policies & Procedures
Work demonstrating how you develop or apply fire safety processes.
Projects & Case Studies
Records demonstrating your involvement and decision-making.
Training & CPD
Relevant records supporting your knowledge and ongoing development.
Witness Statements
Supporting statements or testimonies where appropriate.
Important: Evidence must be your own work and should be sufficiently current and detailed to demonstrate your competence.
The Experienced Practitioner Assessment Route can be considered across the SFJ Awards qualifications delivered by Compass.
Suitability will depend on your previous experience, the quality and range of evidence available, the requirements of your chosen qualification and any mandatory assessment methods specified by SFJ Awards.
We’ll review your experience and evidence with you before registration and recommend the most appropriate route.
If you have extensive industry experience but haven’t yet gained the formal qualification that reflects your competence, we’d be happy to talk through your options.
We’ll discuss your experience, the evidence you may already hold and whether the Experienced Practitioner Assessment Route could be suitable for you.
