Review and support visits

All authorised training employers (ATEs) are visited at least once every three years as part of a programme of monitoring compliance to ICAEW training standards and support.

Objectives and notification

These visits are designed to:

• provide support and practical advice to employers;
• update on training issues;
• gain feedback from training employers; and
• ensure training employers continue to meet the ICAEW training standards.

ICAEW writes to the qualified person responsible for training (QPRT) to advise that a review visit is due. It is one of our Training and CPD Managers who will carry out the visit and they contact the QPRT to arrange a convenient time during the next six months.

An office may also be selected for a review and support visit if there has been a material change in the circumstances of your organisation (eg, change of business activity or management buy-out) or we have received information from other ICAEW departments such as the Professional Standards department.

If you refuse to meet with the Training and CPD Manager it is likely that your ATE status will be withdrawn and you will no longer be able to train ACA students.

Preparing for a visit

We do not intend to burden you with excessive processes or forms to complete, but you’ll need to have some key documents ready in time.  The Training and CPD Manager will need to see:

• student training records;
• your latest training agreement(s); and
• the QPRT’s record of CPD activity.

You may also like to remind yourself of our training standards (PDF 53KB/3 pages) .

After the visit

You will receive a letter confirming that your authorisation to train ACA students is continued together with a new authorised training employer (ATE) certificate. We also ask you to complete a short feedback questionnaire to help us to improve our service.