Q. I’ve got my AM2S coming up soon and I’m desperate for Inspection & Testing experience, but can’t seem to get it via my employer. What can I do?
The Inspection & Testing section of the AM2S is certainly an area where lots of candidates struggle due to lack of experience.
We’ve developed NET’s Inspection & Testing App, which provides an interactive take on some of the tests you’ll encounter in the assessment. So we encourage you to make best use of that in the run up to your assessment.
But this is no substitute for correct training in this area and you must go back to your training provider and employer and ask for support.
Within your apprenticeship qualification there are two knowledge components to provide an understanding of testing techniques – your training provider should have taught these, and you would have completed a simulated assessment with a knowledge examination.
In addition, there’s a corresponding performance unit where you should have been able to provide evidence of testing on a minimum of two occasions. This would have been assessed by your training provider and shouldn’t have been signed off unless you and the assessor are comfortable that the criteria had been met.
From your employer’s perspective, there are always business pressures and constraints but keep asking for as much exposure to Inspection & Testing as possible.
During the AM2S itself you’ll have Guidance Note 3 and the On-Site Guide available for reference, so follow these testing procedures to the letter. The Pre-Assessment Manual on the NET website gives a full list of the very basic errors you can avoid.
Finally, the power is in your hands with the AM2S Checklist and we encourage you not to sign the checklist saying you’re ready for the assessment until you feel completely prepared.
Have the confidence to tell your employer and training provider you want to gain more experience in Inspection & Testing before you sign up.
Access NET’s ‘AM2S’ Readiness For Assessment checklist here
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