The best way to understand how assessment and accreditation works is to download and read the ‘CDW Workplace Assessment Handbook (go to the Resources for CDW National Standard page of this website).
If you are a CDW working with an organisation that is already targeting the National Standard, or is associated in some way with another organisation that targets the National Standard, then talk to your line manager about assessment and accreditation supported by your organisation.
If you are a CDW working with an organisation that is not yet targeting the National Standard, but you think it should, then talk to your line manager about it. Refer them to this website (pngcdwstandard.com). Your organisation will need to follow the steps below.
If you are a CDW working freelance, then you will need to contact a CDW Workplace Assessor in your area and make your own arrangements for them to assess you. To understand who a CDW Workplace Assessor is, read the information below. Contact us for help finding a CDW Workplace Assessor in your area.
How assessment and accreditation works for CDW organisations
STEP 1 Visit the NATTB at nattb.org and the PNG CDW ITC at pngcdwstandard.com (this website). Read the CDW Workplace Assessment Handbook, available for download at pngcdwstandard.com on the Resources for the CDW National Standard webpage.
STEP 2 Identify the Units from the National Standard that apply to your organisation’s workplace practice. A good idea is to include the performance criteria from these Units in CDW duty statements (you can download an example on this website on the Resources for the CDW National Standard page). You should also include your own performance criteria specific to your workplace practice.
STEP 3 Ensure that the CDWs in your organisation understand and perform the performance criteria from the National Standard (and your own performance criteria specific to your workplace practice). Normally this means delivering training and, or, mentoring. If needed, training packages have been developed for all the CDW Units and are available for download on the Resources for the CDW National Standard page of this website.
STEP 4 For many organisations, ensuring their CDWs are trained and work in way that meets the National Standard is enough. Other organisations will want to help CDWs to be assessed and accredited. To set up CDW assessment and accreditation in your organisation, you will need to identify a leading CDW to become your CDW Workplace Assessor (this CDW can also be your CDW trainer and mentor). Large organisations should have more than one CDW Workplace Assessor, to reduce the potential for conflict of interest. Your CDW Workplace Assessor candidate then needs to complete NATTB assessor training. In future, only a CDW who has been assessed as competent for the CDW Level 3 Unit ‘CDW Workplace Assessor’ will be eligible to become a CDW Workplace Assessor. But for the time-being, NATTB is allowing organisations to nominate an experienced CDW to become their CDW Workplace Assessor even if they have no formal CDW accreditation (otherwise there would be no one to assess CDWs).
STEP 5 When a CDW candidate feels confident that they can perform the performance criteria for a Unit from the National Standard, your CDW Workplace Assessor can conduct an assessment (on behalf of NATTB). NATTB requires that candidates have at least two-years of experience as a CDW before being assessed. CDW workplace assessors can download the assessment instruments from the Assessment Instruments page of this website. There is no need for these assessment instruments to be kept confidential, as a candidate cannot be found ‘competent’ unless they actually perform or demonstrate the critical performance criteria in front of the CDW Workplace Assessor.
STEP 6 The assessment is conducted. Assessment of CDWs is always ‘on-the-job’. The CDW Workplace Assessor, the candidate, and the candidate’s organisation need to follow the steps described in the CDW Workplace Assessment Handbook (available on this website, on go to the Resources for the CDW National Standard webpage). After the assessment, the completed assessment instrument and attachments (the evidence) is placed in the candidate’s portfolio. If the candidate is found to be ‘not yet competent’ then they can be re-assessed by the CDW Workplace Assessor. If the candidate is found to be ‘competent’ then the organisation can issue its own accreditation to the CDW (note that this is not yet NATTB accreditation).
STEP 7 When a candidate believes they have completed the requirements for a full CDW Level (Level 1, 2 or 3), they can submit their portfolio to NATTB for NATTB accreditation. To do this they need to complete an NATTB application form and pay the assessment fee (NATTB will inform you of current fees), then submit a copy of their portfolio to NATTB (uploaded to the NATTB website, by email, or by mail). The NATTB officer will inspect the assessment instruments and attachments in the candidate’s portfolio. If the NATTB officer agrees that the evidence demonstrates that the candidate is competent, then the candidate will receive a statement of attainment and a CDW Level 1, 2, or 3 certificate. If the NATTB officer does not agree that the candidate is competent, then the candidate will receive a statement of results that says ‘not yet competent’. The candidate can then be re-assessed by their CDW Workplace Assessor. A record of results for each CDW candidate will kept by NATTB.