Telescopic Handler – CADUK Skills Academy LTD

How the assessment works

This Telescopic Handler NVQ is completely evidence-based. Instead of taking another test, you show how you operate the tele-handler day to day by uploading photos or short videos of your pre-use checks, travelling with a suspended or palletised load, placing the load at height, and parking or shut-down. Add any site paperwork that carries your name—inspection sheets, RAMS, maintenance or fuel logs—and, if possible, a brief witness statement from a supervisor who has watched you work. You can drop everything into our secure online e-Portfolio whenever it suits you.

Your assessor reviews each upload, gives feedback and lets you know if anything else is needed. Once all the evidence has been accepted, you book a one-to-one video call. During this discussion the assessor asks you to talk through what you have submitted and to explain the site rules you follow. It feels more like a structured chat than an exam and is usually wrapped up in a single session.

After the call the assessor signs off the NVQ and submits it for certification. About a week later we will email you an electronic copy of your certificate so you can upgrade your CPCS or NPORS card.

No classroom time, no site visits and no written tests—just clear proof of the work you already do.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Below are a few sample exchanges an assessor might use in the professional-discussion for the Telescopic Handler Level 2 NVQ:

Assessor: How do you keep the tele-handler stable when placing a pallet on uneven ground?

Learner: I park with the boom facing downhill if possible, keep the boom retracted until I’m in position, lower the stabilisers if fitted, select low gear and lift slowly. If the ground still feels soft I lay timber mats or choose a firmer route. If the machine begins to lean I stop, lower the load and reassess.

Assessor: Which personal protective equipment do you wear on this site, and why?

Learner: I keep my seat-belt fastened in the cab so I’m restrained if the machine jerks or tips. I also wear a hard hat for overhead work, safety boots for foot protection and a hi-vis vest because I’m on and off the machine during the shift—ground staff can spot me quickly when I’m walking to marshal a load or checking forks. If the materials are dusty I add a face mask, and in high-noise areas I use ear defenders.

Assessor: How does following the lifting plan improve productivity?

Learner: The plan sets the lift sequence, load weights and set-down points. By sticking to it I avoid re-handling, keep clear routes for other plant and place each pallet first time, which cuts delays and prevents damage.

What kind of evidence will I need?

Think of evidence as anything that shows you operating the telescopic handler safely and in line with site rules.

Visual proof

Upload clear phone photos and short videos of your daily walk-round checks, lifting and travelling with palletised or suspended loads, placing the load at height, cleaning down and parking at the end of the shift.

Site paperwork

Include routine documents that carry your name or signature and show you follow company procedures—pre-start or weekly inspection sheets for the tele-handler, RAMS or method statements you have signed, daily briefings, maintenance or fuel logs, and even hazard or near-miss cards you have completed.

Witness statement

Add a brief note from a supervisor or manager confirming they have watched you operate the tele-handler competently on a live site.

General safety and productivity

Anything that shows you play an active part in site safety and smooth workflow counts: hazard or near-miss reports you have raised, toolbox-talk attendance sheets, briefings you have delivered, and records of radio calls or emails where you helped reroute plant or solve a delivery issue.

How long does it take?

The timing is largely up to you. Your assessor can only start reviewing your portfolio once you’ve uploaded your evidence, so the sooner everything is in the e-Portfolio, the sooner the process moves forward.

Some learners upload all their photos, videos and paperwork in a couple of days, schedule their discussion straight away and finish in less than one week. Others spread it out over several weeks because of shifts or site access.

In short, the pace is in your hands—submit your evidence promptly, respond to feedback quickly, and you can complete the NVQ just as fast.

What happens when I apply?

Click the “Book your NVQ” button and you’ll be taken to our short online profiling form. The form collects the details we need to register you and asks you to attach a clear photo of the front and back of your CPCS or NPORS card.

When the form arrives, one of our assessors phones you for a brief chat. The call confirms that the NVQ is a good fit—that you have the right skills, site access, machine availability and can gather the required evidence.

If the assessor is happy, we email an invoice. The profiling call is free and there is no obligation: if you decide not to go ahead, simply ignore the invoice. If you do want to proceed, pay the invoice and we will enrol you and pass your details to the assessor the same day, so you can start collecting evidence straight away.

Can I claim the CITB grant for this NVQ?

Yes, if you are a CITB-registered employer. This NVQ is eligible for the short-qualification grant of £600 (claimable on completion by the employer).

Only the company (not the individual learner) can make the claim, and the application must be submitted to CITB within 52 weeks of the achievement date.

If you are a sole trader or limited company already on the CITB register, you can still claim; private individuals who are not levy-registered cannot.

To confirm eligibility, call the CITB Levy & Grants team on 0344 994 4455 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00) or email levy.grant@citb.co.uk to confirm your registration and grant status.

Is there a multi category discount?

Yes. If you take more than one Level 2 Plant Operations NVQ with us at the same time, we knock £100 off each additional category.

• £745 + VAT for the first NVQ
• £645 + VAT for every extra NVQ booked together