Level 4 (at end of programme)
20 months maximum duration
£6,000 funding band maximum available through the Apprenticeship Levy. Employers that do not pay the Levy will fund 5% of the funding band maximum.
Quality Practitioner
Ensures that an organisation, product or service consistently functions well.
Occupational Summary
The Quality Practitioner deploys effective quality practices in their responsible area to ensure organisations fulfil the contractual and regulatory requirements of their stakeholders. This involves four main elements:
- Quality planning
- Quality management
- Quality assurance
- Quality control
The Quality Practitioner supports their organisation’s leaders to formulate quality strategy, contribute to the management of customer satisfaction and supplier performance, and deploy quality policies and governance.
Typical jobs include: Principal quality engineer, quality assurance officer, quality engineer, quality officer, supplier quality engineer.
Knowledge:
A quality practitioner will develop a comprehensive understanding of their organisation’s internal and external environments, including markets, stakeholders, legislative and regulatory factors, and sustainability considerations. They will grasp how strategy, commercial requirements, and stakeholder expectations influence quality objectives, and apply tools to define, measure, and manage these requirements effectively. They will be adept in risk and opportunity management, product and service life cycles, process design, and quality planning, using methods like CTQ Trees, Kano models, FMEAs, and value stream mapping. Quality practitioners will support continuous improvement through auditing, data analysis, and business improvement techniques, while promoting a quality culture and behaviours that drive performance. They will also recognise the need for adaptability in the face of change and commit to ongoing professional development, grounded in the principles of quality and quality management systems.
For a full list of knowledge the quality practitioner will develop, please view the occupational standard held by Skills England.
Skills:
A quality practitioner will demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply relevant legal, governmental, and industry regulations, while effectively communicating quality strategies and influencing stakeholders through appropriate methods and questioning techniques. They will identify, collect, and analyse quality data using tools such as Pareto analysis and statistical methods to support decision-making and continuous improvement. Quality practitioners will apply quality tools and methodologies to enhance processes, products, and services, manage risks and opportunities, and develop and implement improvement plans. They will conduct audits, assess measurement systems, and translate technical and commercial requirements into actionable process definitions, while understanding stakeholder dynamics and fostering engagement to support quality initiatives.
For a full list of skills the quality practitioner will demonstrate, please view the occupational standard held by Skills England.
Behaviours:
Behaviours
A quality practitioner will display a commitment to best practices and continuous improvement, acting with diligence, professionalism, and integrity while maintaining a clear focus on customer needs. They will consider the broader organisational context in their actions, communicate openly and honestly, and take ownership of their ongoing professional development through self-reflection, planning, and staying informed about relevant industry and regulatory changes.
For a full list of behaviours the quality practitioner will display, please view the occupational standard held by Skills England.
Entry requirements
- There are no set entry qualifications for this apprenticeship. Apprentices will need to be working in a suitable role that will allow them to meet the KSBs outlined in the apprenticeship standard. ATAC will discuss this with all candidates before progressing through to enrolment.
Progression routes
- At the end of this apprenticeship, apprentices will have achieved level 4 apprenticeship in ‘Quality Practitioner’
- The apprenticeship is aligned with professional registration at Practitioner with the Chartered Quality Institute
- Further apprenticeships and academic learning in quality & management roles would also be open for further professional development
Training providers:
Training provider analysis
This is a new apprenticeship standard that was only completed by a cross-section of employers in September 2020.
Training provider analysis selected CSR Group as the preferred provider as they have developed training materials to support this programme, offer blended learning for national cohorts and successfully deliver other apprenticeships for ATAC
