Beyond Certification

Developing a Certificate Program or Considering Getting Yours Accredited?

Mark your calendars for February 7-8 for ANSI's Certificate Issuers’ Accreditation Workshop.  The two-day workshop in DC is primarily designed to introduce potential accreditation applicants to the American National Standard ASTM E2659-09 Standard Practice for Certificate Programs and the ANSI certificate accreditation program process.

You'll learn:

• the requirements of the standard
• what types of documents and data will be helpful in demonstrating compliance with each requirement and how this content will be reviewed during the application/document review and accreditation visit
• the elements of the ANSI accreditation process (application, document review, site visit, surveillance, fees, timelines, etc.) 

Turan Ayvez, ANSI's program manager for certificate program accreditation, and I are the instructors. Hope to see you there.

The full registration fee is applied to your future accreditation application fee! More information here.

ASTM International initiates plan to develop certificate programs

You know it's been a long time since you've blogged when you can't remember your username and password...sorry to readers out there.  It's not that there's no exciting news or tidbits to share, it's that there's just no time to write about them. I'm actually in my office for a marathon six-week stretch so hopefully I'll fit in some time for writing.

For now, I wanted to share that ASTM International has ventured into offering certificate programs (and has a system in place to consider certifications proposed by its membership).  See more on the related press release.

Going to ASAE 2010?

On Monday morning of ASAE's Annual Meeting & Expo there will be three sessions targeted for the same audience:  association execs in learning / professional development roles. 

There will be free chocolate goodies at only one.  I'm just saying. ;-)

Creating a Certificate Program with Meaning, Monday 8/23, 8:30 a.m., Room 405.  Be there!

Besides, how good could sessions on portable learning or engaging learners be? (Oh, if you happen to go to one them, could I borrow your notes?) ;-) 

ANSI Accredits Two More Certificate Programs / Issuers

Two more organizations have been accredited under ANSI’s Certificate Accreditation Program (ANSI-CAP):

• National Apartment Association Education Institute for its Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT)
• The National Graduate School of Quality Management for its Homeland Security Certificate, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate

I love Robert Gee's (president and founder of The National Graduate School) quote:

“Our work with ANSI on the accreditation of our Homeland Security and Lean Six Sigma certificates was a challenging, educational, and highly productive process. The ANSI system of analysis and review is unparalleled in the industry. We teach quality systems in our curriculum, and were able to demonstrate the same level of quality in our processes for ANSI. Being recognized by your peers as a leader, especially in our field of endeavor, is the highest honor.”

Read more here.

If you are considering developing a certificate program, improving an existing one, and/or applying for ANSI accreditation, here are two upcoming events for you:

Creating a Certificate Program with Meaning at ASAE's Annual Meeting & Expo on Monday at 8:30 in room 405. 

ANSI's Certificate Issuers Acceditation Workshop, September 23, 2010 to September 24, 2010 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in DC.  The two-day workshop is designed to introduce interested stakeholders to the American National Standard ASTM E2659-09 and the requirements for achieving ANSI accreditation.  Limited to 12 attendees to ensure everyone's program-specific questions can be addressed.  Remember if  you pay for the workshop and then apply for accreditation, the course fee will be applied to your application fee!  Hope to see you there.

Looking forward to ASAE 2010

On Friday I'll be heading out the door to Los Angeles for the American Society of Association Executives 2010 annual meeting & expo. I've only missed one ASAE annual in probably 15 years (Honolulu 2003 - opted to stay home with a newborn!). It's an event I always look forward to and this year is no different. Here's a little bit of what I'll be up to. I hope to see you there!

On Saturday, I'll spend the day with my Professional Development Section Council colleagues at our council meeting (I'm chair this year.) We'll be discussing priorities for the upcoming year so if you are an association educator or credentialer, please let me know (mickie@msrops.com) what keeps you up at night (okay, job-related only please!) and maybe we can help you!

On Sunday, I'll be joining the flashmob at booth 921 on the expo floor!  Then, toasting champagne with other Decision to Learn contributors at the bookstore at 11:45 a.m. (The book will be available for sale at the bookstore.)  At 3:15 in room 507 I'll be co-facilitating a session on Credentialing Feasibility Faux Pas.  If you are considering a certification, certificate or accreditation program, this session is for you!

On Monday I'll be co-leading a session on Creating a Certificate Program at 8:30 in room 405.  This session is for those planning to develop or who already have certificate program.  Or if you're wanting to improve your existing workshops or symposia, there'll be good stuff for you too (we'll focus on outcomes-based learning).  In the evening I'll be at the Young Association Professional (YAP) party at the Broadway Bar.   So, get your glam on and join us - and remember that youth is a state of mind - otherwise I wouldn't be allowed in either! ;-)

The ASAE Annual Meeting Silent Auction is back, and I have two prizes available for bid:  A Certification Board Orientation and a Considering Certification Coaching Session.  Both include copies of my books (either Certification Simplified or Considering Certification?) for you and your leadership, and these books will also be for sale in the onsite bookstore so stop by and check them out.  The Silent Auction is virtual; you can bid from home too!  All contributions support the ASAE Foundation.  Also see Jeff De Cagna's Business Model Innovation Mini-Workshop and a keynote talk, “What If We…Designing 21st Century Association Leadership.”

Well, that's my line-up but I have even looked at the learning session line-up yet or included any of the excellent receptions and dinners planned.  It'll be a jam-packed time but I can't wait.  I look forward to seeing many of you!  

Credentialing Trademark Search

If you are in the process of developing a new credentialing program, one thing you'll want to do when considering a designation and associated acronym for the certificants or certificate holders is to conduct a a trademark search.  In case you don't know where to start, here's the link to conduct the search.

Many associations have their legal counsel conduct an official search for them, which is great, but it's still a good idea to do your own search so you can rule out some obviously "taken" choices early on.

Can Certificates be Required?

I received a question yesterday about the ASTM E2659 Standard Practice for Certificate Programs and thought others might benefit from hearing the answer.

The question was related to the clause:

5.2.4.2 (1) The certificate issuer shall not state or in any way imply that certificate holders are certified, licensed, accredited, or registered to engage in a specific occupation or profession.

The question asked if it was a violation of 5.2.4.2 if if the certificate is required to practice a certain aspect of a profession?  The answer is no.  This clause prevents a certificate issuer from making misleading and confusing claims about the type of credential granted.  The certificate issuer should state that a certificate is issued for the attainment of a training program's intended learning.  They should not state the certificate holder is certified or licensed (or anything other than that a certificate was issued) since those credentials are not the outcome of a certificate program.  However, if attainment of a certificate is required by some entity for individuals to act in a certain role, that is a different issue and is fine.  An certificate issuer can state what what the role of the certificate is since these are truthful and not misleading statements.

As real life examples, two of organizations that recently had their certificate programs accredited by ANSI operate under this scenario. FDA’s “New Hire Investigator Training Certificate” is required to become an FDA Investigator and the US Army’s “CP 12 Safety Professional Certificate” is required to become a Safety Officer in the US Army.

First Certificate Issuers Accredited!

The American National Standards Institute recently announced the first certificate-issuing organizations that have been accredited through its Certificate Accreditation Program (ANSI-CAP); they include:  

U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center for its CP 12 Safety Professional Certificate

U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its New Hire Investigator Training Program

National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) for its Boating Under the Influence Detection and Enforcement Certificate

SCIPP International for its End-User Security Awareness (EUSA) Certificate, Secure Web Application Development Awareness (SWADA) Certificate

Sullivan University for its Network Support and Administration Certificate

Says Lane Hallenbeck, ANSI vice president of accreditation services. "ANSI-CAP is the first program of its kind to offer a formal, third-party process for review and recognition of quality certificate programs. This effort marks a significant step forward in improving the quality of the American workforce, and we are very proud to add value to the process through third-party accreditation, helping to assure integrity and consistency within the credentialing field."  See the press release for more information, and look for more anticipated accreditation announcements of pilot participants in March.

Also see this press release for the results of the validation meeting hosted by ANSI of the pilot test participants, ANSI assessors, ANSI accreditation committee and ASTM certificate program experts.  In a future post, I'll highlight some things we learned from the pilot.

Also, beginning on March 1, 2010, ANSI will be accepting certificate program applications from all interested certificate-issuing organizations. Questions about ANSI-CAP can be directed to Turan Ayvaz, program manager, Certificate Accreditation Program (tayvaz@ansi.org; 202.331.3635).

ANSI Certificate Program Workshop Canceled

For those of you planning to attend the American National Standards Institute workshop on the ASTM Standard Practice for Certificate Programs and ANSI's accreditation program, it has been canceled for this Thursday and Friday, but will be rescheduled to occur within the next 30 days.  Details will be provided directly from ANSI.

Guidance on Developing a Quality Certificate Program

What's the difference between certification and certificate programs?

What are the components of a quality certificate program?

How can we develop a program that conforms to an American National Standard?

What's involved in developing the curriculum and the assessment?

How does the assessment design, delivery and scoring for a certificate program differ from certification?

How can we assess our readiness for ANSI accreditation? 

What's the value of accreditation?  Who's been accredited by ANSI so far?  (There have been several organizations accredited through the pilot test of the accreditation system; details coming as soon as the press release is posted!)

If you are looking for answers to these questions, there's a workshop next week (Feb. 11-12)  in DC that has a seat waiting for you.  The American National Standards Institute is holding its first workshop on the American National Standard ASTM E2659-09 Standard Practice for Certificate Programs and the ANSI accreditation program for certificate issuers.  We'll walk through the entire standard, discussing the intent of each requirement as well as how organizations can meet the standard's requirements.  There will be lots of case studies woven throughout and plenty of opportunity to discuss your organization's particular program.

Get details and register here!

ANSI workshops are limited to 12 and usually sell out, but because this one is so new and the word hasn't spread far yet, there are still some seats left.  Consider joining us! 

I'm serving as faculty so if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.