Planning & Preparing for the Continuing Competence Test


T


he CIWM/WAMITAB Operator Competence Scheme was fi rst introduced in 2008, and has two


components: the primary competence qualifi cation and the Continuing Competence test.


When the Continuing Competence was originally introduced it had a fi xed two-year cycle but this was changed to a rolling programme in 2014. T e aim was to make the process much more fl exible for the end user. However, as we are only 3 years into the new programme there is still a large tranche of people that are due to take their test in February/March time, with 2018 set to be another peak time, with thousands of people scheduled to take their test.


So, what advice does WAMITAB off er?


1. Check when your next test is due. T ere is a clear expiry date on each certifi cate so take a look now so you don’t get caught out.


2. If it is imminent, book your test! Spring 2018 there


is likely to be high demand for test appointments and if you have a preferred date, time or location you should consider booking your test sooner rather than later. If your plans change it is easy to defer to a new date.


3. T e WAMITAB website has a link to Pearson Vue, who manage the delivery of the test on our behalf, and they have Centres in most major towns (it’s where you go to take the Driving T eory Test), so there should be a centre not too far from you.


4. Remember this is a formal test and you should prepare for it. It is easy to think that as you are doing the job on a daily basis you shouldn’t need to revise but we recommend that everyone devotes some time to revision.


5. WAMITAB has produced a range of support material. T ere are free Revision Summaries, which provide the basic information to help people get ready for the test. T ere are Summaries for each of the test topics – including the generic tests that everyone takes, and the Activity Specifi c Tests (“AST”).


6. Revision Guides available to purchase from the WAMITAB website. T ese more detailed guides provide useful information and links to key legislation and guidance. Each guide covers all the topics likely to appear in the test, and includes space for your own notes as well as


6


activities to check knowledge and understanding. T e cost of these is £12 for the Generic titles and £14 for the ASTs plus postage and packing.


7. You can apply for “reasonable adjustments” such as extra time or a reader to support you whilst you take the test by completing the form on the WAMITAB website. You need to plan ahead for this as it can take fi ve working days to make arrangements and once approval has been received, you will need to contact Pearson Vue 24 hours later to fi nalise arrangements.


8. Take the necessary identifi cation documents with you to the test centre.


9. Everyone is automatically entered for the Generic elements of the test, covering Environmental Protection, Health and Safety and Legislation but you will need to select which AST you want from the drop down menu. Be careful! You can take up to three tests in each booked session but you do not have to take three. Just tick the boxes for the topic(s) you need.


10. Read the questions carefully – if you are not sure you can move onto the next question and then come back to it but you need to make sure you complete all questions. T ere are 18 generic questions, 6 for each of the areas covered, and then 8 questions for each AST.


11. T e pass mark is 65%, which is the equivalent of 17 marks but to be successful, candidates need to achieve at least 50% on the generic (8 or more correct answers) and each AST (4 or more correct answers).


12. You will receive a Score Sheet when you leave the test centre, don’t throw it away! Guidance on the back will help you to calculate whether you have passed or failed.


13. If you are the Technically Competent Manager for your site then you need to make sure that your Continuing Competence is up to date. Remember, the regulators have access to the WAMITAB database and can check the status of your Primary and Continuing Competence.


If you need any guidance you can visit www.wambitab.org. uk or contact a member of the team on 01604 231950 each weekday between 9.00-5.00pm.


One fi nal note - from 1st January 2018 the cost of the test will increase to £135. Good luck!


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