Uncertainty for new farriers as exam approval withdrawn

There may be delays for those apprentices due to take their final exam after the regulator withdrew its approval

- BECKY MURRAY

APPRENTICE farriers due to take their final exam next month are facing uncertainty after the Farrier Registration Council (FRC) withdrew its approval of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF).

On 5 October, the FRC announced that as the national regulator for farriery, it had withdrawn its approval granted to the WFC – stating that it had “lost confidence in WCF’s ability to deliver the end point assessment (EPA) with the appropriate level of assurance”.

Apprentices must sit the EPA to complete their WCF diploma, known as DipWCF, following which they can apply to the FRC register. Farriers must be on the FRC register to legally shoe horses in the UK.

The FRC said the reason is that the WCF IT system used for planning and delivery of qualifications, exams and assessment “is not supported and its functionality cannot be guaranteed”.

“This places at risk candidates being able to access the EPA on an assured basis, complete their apprenticeship and seek registration,” said an FRC spokesman.