Mentors
Thank you for continuing to support candidates through one of the biggest assessments of their professional career.
In preparation for the transition, we’d recommend reading our latest guidance document surrounding the new assessment and to support your candidates or mentees sharing the following updates with them:
The new assessment
We recommend sharing all information about each assessment option open to them during the transition. We know that some learning or assessment techniques can appeal more to others. Neither assessment is any easier or more challenging and we’d recommend discussing what works best for them.
If you have any questions, please contact: email tbc
The timeline
Candidates should be aware of the transition timeline so they can decide about what works for them. It is recommended they consider the progress they have made so far and if they feel they are able to complete the full assessment, including interviews before June 2027.
FAQs for mentors
Should I encourage a candidate to complete the current or new assessment?
Discuss how advanced their preparation is and whether they can realistically complete both stages of the current assessment before the deadlines. Candidates who are not close to submitting should review the new assessment requirements and consider preparing directly for the new format.
Will preparation for the current assessment be wasted?
No. The Chartered standard, level of difficulty and underlying competences are not changing. Candidates should be able to reuse much of their knowledge, experience and evidence, although they will need to restructure it for the new examination, accountability and complexity assessment, and portfolio presentation.
Is the Chartered standard becoming easier?
No. The level, standard and difficulty are not changing. The new assessment changes how competence is demonstrated, not the professional standard candidates must meet. It will also retain a live human element.
What support will be available in preparation for the new assessment to help candidates prepare?
In addition to the Chartered Standard itself and the Candidate Handbook, which replaces the current Chartered Guidance document, we have updated the Chartered Competences document. This is now the ChPP Competences and Evaluation Standards document, including more detail on the technical knowledge assessment criteria, and the evaluation standards for the accountability and complexity assessment. The aim is for this document to help guide candidates through what they need to prepare for the technical knowledge written exam, and ensure that the projects they select meet the evaluation standards, as well as detailing the professional practice competences.
There is a PowerPoint template for the portfolio presentation available for each of the pathways. The templates includes instructions and guidance for candidates on how best to present their evidence.
In March 2027, we plan to publish examples of what good looks like for the portfolio presentation. We will also be releasing sample questions with mark schemes for both the technical knowledge written exam and the accountability and complexity assessment.
Should the guidance I give around Recognised Assessments change?
No, Recognised Assessment and Pathways are not changing. You should continue to encourage candidates to check if they hold any Recognised Assessments so they can select the right pathway.
What’s the critical information candidates need to know if they’re preparing for the new assessment?
Its important candidates take the time to read what’s expected of them; not what they think will be asked of them.
This means looking in details at the competencies and bridge any knowledge gaps for their technical knowledge or ensure their professional practice meets the criteria.