How to Activate the ESFA Certification API in ACE360: A Step-by-Step Guide for EPAOs
If you have not activated the API, here are some details to get it set up. For the certification link to work, we need your API code from the ESFA portal. Login to your ESFA portal (details below) and send the API code to us with confirmation that you would like the API activated.
To gain access to your API Key, there is a section on your Assessment Service – https://assessors.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/.
- Click on Organisation Details (some users do not have access to this and may need to request permissions)
- Click API Subscriptions
- Click Generate Key (see below)
- Copy and Paste your API key into ACE360 to activate your API Key.
How does it work?
If the apprentice achieves the highest possible overall grade the certificate is applied for after 7 days. The certificate number is generated by the ESFA and it appears on the ACE360 apprentice record (just below the apprentice’s name).
If the apprentice achieves any grade other than the highest grade, the ESFA API requires that the 20 working day appeal period passes before applying for the certificate. Once this appeal period has passed the certificate is applied for.
What if there is an error? It is common to get a name mismatch on the ULN and the name on any system, if this or any other error occurs it will be displayed on the ACE360 export report. You will need to fix the error before the certificate can be claimed. Once an error is fixed ACE360 will try again to claim the certificate.
ESFA Certification API Updates
There have been a few recent updates from ACE360.
Manual Claims
Where a manual claim has been made through the Assessment Service portal, ACE360 will request the certificate number and populate the ACE360 system.
Errors
Where there has been an error, and the error has been resolved ACE360 will attempt to resolve the error and claim the certificate, please allow up to 7 days for the certificate/error to be resolved.
Resits
The ACE360 Certification API handles resits in a slightly different way, these will be updated after the 20 working day appeals process has expired and up to 7 days after this date. Learn how to conduct a Resit on ACE360.
