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Unfortunately jargon is common in training. Here is a list of currently used acronyms that we have encountered on our journey.

Please be aware that some acronyms can have multiple meanings, if you come across an acronym that we have not listed and you feel would be helpful to others, please share with us!

General Training Acronyms

  • AAT: Association of Accounting Technicians   
  • CIPD: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development   
  • CMI: Chartered Management Institute
  • CPD: Continuous Professional Development   
  • CSCS: Construction Skills Certification Scheme
  • ESFA: Education and Skills Funding Agency
  • FA: First Aid
  • GCSE: General Certificate of Secondary Education
  • H&S: Health and Safety
  • IAG: Information, Advice and Guidance
  • ILM: Institute of Leadership and Management   
  • ILP: Individual Learning Plan   
  • NVQ: National Vocational Qualification
  • Ofsted: Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
  • Ofqual: The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation
  • PTLLS: Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector
  • QA: Quality Assurance
  • RTITB: Road Transport Industry Training Board
  • SMSTS: Site Management Safety Training Scheme
  • SSSTS: Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme
  • TQUK: Training Qualifications UK

Apprenticeship-Specific Acronyms

  • EPA: End-point Assessment   
  • FTA: Funding Training Agency
  • GLA: Greater London Authority
  • IfATE: Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education   
  • LSC: Learning and Skills Council
  • SASE: Skills, Apprenticeships and Stakeholder Engagement
  • UKCES: UK Commission for Employment and Skills

Other Relevant Acronyms

  • AELP: Association of Employment and Learning Providers   
  • AO: Awarding Organisation   
  • BIIAB: British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body   
  • CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility   
  • E&D: Equality and Diversity
  • EIF: Education Inspection Framework
  • EP: Electronic Portfolio
  • EQA: External Quality Assurance
  • ESF: European Social Fund
  • FS: Functional Skills
  • IQA: Internal Quality Assurance   
  • ITP: Independent Training Provider   
  • KSB: Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours   
  • LDD: Learning Difficulty or Disability   
  • LER: Learner Exit Review   
  • LMS: Learning Management System   
  • LRS: Learner Record Service   
  • MHFA: Mental Health First Aider   
  • NSAFD: National Skills Academy for Food and Drink   
  • OTL: Observation of Teaching and Learning   
  • PD: Professional Discussion   
  • PDW: Personal Development and Welfare   
  • PFA: Provider Financial Assurance   
  • PLR: Personal Learner Record   
  • QAR: Qualification Achievement Rate   
  • RFG: Readiness for Gateway   
  • ROI: Return on Investment   
  • SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound   
  • SME: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises or Subject Matter Expert dependent on situation
  • SMT: Senior Management Team   
  • SQA: Scottish Qualifications Authority   
  • TL: Team Leader   
  • ULN: Unique Learner Number   
  • USP: Unique Selling Point   
  • WT: Witness Testimony