"Internal verification is the process by which the provider's assessment processes and procedures related to planning, managing and operationalising all aspects of assessment practices will be internally verified i.e. monitored by the provider itself." QQI Quality Assuring Assessment Guidelines for Providers (2013, p.24)

This involves:

1. Verification of assessment procedures
2. Verification of assessment results

The Internal Verifier's role includes verifying assessment procedures and checking and confirming assessment results. An Assessor cannot verify assessment procedures for his/her own assessment activities and cannot check and confirm his/her own assessment results. An Assessor may carry out the role of internal verification on the assessment activities and assessment results of other Assessors.

In the case where there are no assessment briefs, examination papers, marking schemes or outline solutions made available, the internal verifier should follow the provider's procedures for taking corrective action. The internal verifier should also communicate this fact to the provider and include details in the internal verification report.

The assessment briefs, marking schemes, examination papers etc. must be available for the external authentication process so it is important that the internal verifier can confirm their existence.

No, the internal verifier is not responsible for determining whether assessment material is in line with national standards and therefore will not be moderating assessment results. Moderation of assessment results is the role of the external authenticator.

If the sampling strategy provided by the provider does not yield an appropriate sample, the internal verifier or external authenticator should inform the provider and may select additional portfolios to ensure that a sufficient sample is selected.

The provider is responsible for developing the sampling strategies as part of their quality assuring assessment processes. Providers will make these sampling strategies available for the internal verification and external authentication processes, as appropriate.

The internal verifier and the external authenticator will apply the appropriate sampling strategy.

There are a number of aspects to the role of internal verifier and part of the role will require the internal verifier to look at a sample of portfolios and part of the role will require the internal verifier to look at all portfolios.

To confirm that results are recorded for all learners and that evidence is available for all learners the internal verifier will confirm that there is a portfolio available for each learner listed on the QBS authentication report (results sheet).

The internal verifier will look at a SAMPLE of portfolios to confirm that

• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">marks are totalled and percentage marks calculated correctly,
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">that marks are transferred correctly from learner evidence to learner marking sheet/record
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">that percentage marks and grades allocated are consistent with QQI grading bands 
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">assessment procedures are adhered to

Yes, all the portfolios of assessment must be available for the internal verification process.

The internal verifier needs to have access to:

• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">all the assessment evidence available, including
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">a portfolio of assessment for each learner registered for assessment,
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">a marking sheet(s) for each learner, completed and attached to the front of each portfolio.
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">an authentication report (results sheet from QBS) by learner group by minor award,
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">assessment instruments and associated documentation (outline solutions and marking schemes)
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">evidence of assessment planning 
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">evidence of other procedures based on learner evidence.

Providers are responsible for ensuring that internal verifiers are appropriately briefed and trained. Resources are available on the Further Education Support Service (FESS) website, www.fess.ie. FESS can be contacted in relation to training for internal verifiers.

The number of internal verifiers that a provider will have will depend on several factors:

• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">The time available for the internal verification process to be completed before the external authentication process begins
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">The number of programmes for which learners been assessed for the certification period
• http://www.fess.ie/templates/ja_edenite/images/bullet.gif) 18px 7px no-repeat;">The number of assessment portfolios that are being processed for certification

For a multi-location provider, the number of locations/centres through which learners may be processed The provider's quality assured processes

Yes. The internal verifier is internal to the provider and may be a staff member working in an ETB, or for other provider contexts may be a staff member working for that provider.

The person who will act as internal verifier will be identified by the provider. The way the provider organises the internal verification process and assigns the internal verifier(s) will reflect the provider's context and will be consistent with QQI Quality Assuring Assessment Guidelines for Providers, Guidelines for Internal Verifiers and the provider's quality assurance system.