ASQA | Spotlight On validation, Chapter 3
How and when to validate
Chapter 3 aims to help providers select which training products to focus on, when they are required to be validated and how to determine what makes an appropriate sample.
So, how should you validate your assessment, and when?
Using ASQA’s validation calculator
Now you know the requirements your chosen sampling approach needs to meet, how do you select your sample size?
Watch this video for a quick demonstration of how to use ASQA’s validation calculator, which helps you determine the required sample size. Keep reading this page to gain further insights.
Documenting and planning
It is best practice to have a plan that sets out when validation for each training product will occur.
Your documented plan may include but is not limited to:
- when assessment validation will occur
- which training products will be the focus of the validation
- who will lead and participate in the validation activities
- how the outcomes of those activities will be documented and acted upon.
Training providers should also have a records management process that documents evidence of validation. You will need to retain evidence of:
- the person/people leading and participating in the validation activities (including their qualifications, skills, and knowledge)
- the sample pool
- the validation tools used
- all assessment samples considered
- the validation outcomes
- the strategies for acting on any identified improvements
When to validate
Refer to the 2025 Standards for the minimum requirements for how often providers need to perform validation.
A validation plan
Every training product on the organisation’s scope of registration is validated at least once every five years and on a more frequent basis where the training organisation becomes aware of risk to training outcomes.
Risk indicators may flag that you need to validate your training products more often. Indicators of risk might include:
- the use of new assessment tools
- training products identified by ASQA, industry, or by you as high risk
- delivery of training products where safety is a concern
- the level and experience of the assessor
- changes in technology, workplace processes, legislation, and licensing requirements
- changes to the training product
- changes to your student cohort
- feedback from students, trainers, assessors, and industry.
Sampling approach to validation
Your chosen valid sampling approach needs to provide sufficient and confident evidence that all judgements have been made in line with the:
- Training package requirements
- Licensing requirements (where applicable)
- Principles of Assessment
- Rules of Evidence.
You are not required to validate every assessment judgement. Instead, your sample should be:
- Large enough – so that the validation outcomes of the sample can be considered relevant for the entire set of judgements
- Random – and taken from the set of assessment judgements being considered.
Use our validation calculator
ASQA’s validation calculator can help you determine the required sample size.
Improving validation with broad samples
When validating a qualification, accredited course or skill set, sample a sufficient number of units of competency as determined by your validation plan. You may expand the number of units at any time during the validation process, particularly when validation outcomes indicate that assessment judgments are not valid.
Validation outcomes
Validation can either confirm that your processes are operating as intended, or identify recommendations for improvement.
If concerns with the tools or judgements are noted, you should consider:
- increasing the validation sample size to assist in identifying patterns of issue
- validating completed assessments from other units of competency to see if the issue is spread across the whole of the qualification, and
- looking for patterns of error (for example, consider if it is one assessor making invalid judgements—this could indicate the assessor requires further training in competency-based assessment).