ASTM E2659-15
(Practice)Standard Practice for Certificate Programs
Standard Practice for Certificate Programs
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Certificate programs are typically offered by community colleges and universities, government agencies, employers, independent for-profit training organizations, and professional and trade associations. While quality guidelines do exist for continuing education and training providers in general (for example, ANSI/IACET 1-2013) and for entities offering personnel certification programs (for example, ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012), currently, no quality guidelines exist specifically to aid entities offering certificate programs. This practice aims to change that and has been developed to:
4.1.1 Provide certificate program developers and certificate issuers guidelines for quality program development and administration;
4.1.2 Form the foundation for a recognition or accreditation system or both that enable consumers, employers, government agencies, and others who rely upon a skilled workforce to distinguish between qualified workers and those with fraudulent or less-than-quality credentials;
4.1.3 Assist stakeholders in differentiating between certificate programs from personnel certification; and
4.1.4 Assist stakeholders in differentiating certificate programs from other programs that confer certificates, including but not limited to certificates of attendance or certificates of participation.
4.2 Currently, it is challenging to distinguish a certificate earned through the focused learning and assessment offered through a certificate program from one granted through other means. That a certificate is issued is not a distinguishing factor. The word“ certificate” is used broadly as a document awarded to designate the attainment or completion of something. An individual might receive a certificate from an education or training provider as verification of attendance at a learning event (often called a certificate of attendance) or receive a certificate as verification of active participation in a learning event’s learning experiences (often called a certifica...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides guidance to certificate issuers for developing and administering quality certificate programs and to stakeholders for determining the quality of certificate programs.
1.2 This practice includes requirements for both the entity issuing the certificate and requirements for the specific certificate programs for which it issues certificates.
1.3 This practice provides the foundation for the recognition or accreditation or both of a specific entity to issue a specific certificate or certificates to individuals after successful completion of a certificate program.
1.4 This practice does not address guidance pertaining to certification of individuals nor does it address guidance pertaining to education or training programs in general, including those that issue certificates of participation or certificates of attendance.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2659 −15 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
1
Certificate Programs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2659; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice provides guidance to certificate issuers for 3.1 Definitions:
developing and administering quality certificate programs and 3.1.1 For the purposes of this practice, the following apply.
to stakeholders for determining the quality of certificate 3.1.2 appeal, n—written request made to the certificate
programs. issuer by a primary stakeholder for reconsideration of any
adverse decision made by the certificate issuer related to the
1.2 This practice includes requirements for both the entity
certificate program requisites or certificate program process.
issuing the certificate and requirements for the specific certifi-
3.1.3 assessment, n—instrument or method used to measure
cate programs for which it issues certificates.
learner attainment of intended learning outcomes (including
1.3 Thispracticeprovidesthefoundationfortherecognition
but not limited to oral or written tests, skill demonstrations,
or accreditation or both of a specific entity to issue a specific
portfolios, or work products).
certificateorcertificatestoindividualsaftersuccessfulcomple-
3.1.4 certificate, n—document (letter, card, or other me-
tion of a certificate program.
dium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the suc-
1.4 This practice does not address guidance pertaining to
cessful completion of a certificate program’s requisites.
certification of individuals nor does it address guidance per-
3.1.5 certificate holder, n—individual who has been issued a
taining to education or training programs in general, including
certificate after successfully meeting a certificate program’s
those that issue certificates of participation or certificates of
requisites.
attendance.
3.1.6 certificate issuer, n—legal business entity or govern-
2. Referenced Documents
ment agency, or operating unit thereof, that has ultimate
responsibility for administering a certificate program and
2.1 ANSI/IACET Standard:
issuing certificates to individuals successfully meeting certifi-
ANSI/IACET 1-2013 Standard for Continuing Education
2,3
cate program requisites.
and Training
3.1.7 certificate program, n—nondegree-granting education
2.2 ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard:
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 Conformity Assessment— or training program consisting of (1) a learning event or series
of events designed to educate or train individuals to achieve
General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification
4,5
of Persons specified learning outcomes within a defined scope, and (2) a
system designed to ensure individuals receive a certificate only
after verification of successful completion of all program
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E36 on Accredi-
requisites including but not limited to an assessment of learner
tation & Certification and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E36.30 on
attainment of intended learning outcomes.
Personnel Certificate Programs.
Current edition approved March 1, 2015. Published April 2015. Originally
3.1.8 certificate program plan, n—documented plan by
ε1
approved in 2009. Last previous edition approved as E2659 – 09 . DOI:
which the certificate issuer develops and administers the
10.1520/E2659-15.
2
certificate program, including the essential elements of
Available from the International Association for Continuing Education and
Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Rd., Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102,
analysis, program design, development, implementation, and
http://www.iacet.org.
evaluation.
3
ANSI/IACET 1-2013 is a valuable document with detailed guidance for all
providers of continuing education and training. It provides a descriptive framework
3.1.9 certificate program process, n—all activities by which
to assist organizations in adhering to quality practices for all types of continuing
the certificate issuer establishes that a person fulfills specified
education and training programs. In contrast, this practice outlines a framework of
requisites to earn the certificate, including but not limited to
quality for one specific type of program, the certificate program.
4
prerequisites (if applicable), completion of a learning event or
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
events, the learner assessment(s), and the certificate decision.
5
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 serves as a valuable standard document providing
3.1.10 certificate pro
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: E2659 − 09 E2659 − 15 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
1
Certificate Programs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2659; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorial corrections were made throughout in February 2010.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice provides guidance to certificate issuers for developing and administering quality certificate programs and to
stakeholders for determining the quality of certificate programs.
1.2 This practice includes requirements for both the entity issuing the certificate and requirements for the specific certificate
programs for which it issues certificates.
1.3 This practice provides the foundation for the recognition or accreditation or both of a specific entity to issue a specific
certificate or certificates to individuals after successful completion of a certificate program.
1.4 This practice does not address guidance pertaining to certification of individuals nor does it address guidance pertaining to
education or training programs in general, including those that issue certificates of participation or certificates of attendance.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ANSI/IACET Standard:
2,3
ANSI/IACET 1-2007 ANSI/IACET 1-2013 Standard for Continuing Education and Training
2.2 ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard:
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2003 ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 Conformity Assessment—General Requirements for Bodies Operating
4,5
Certification of PersonnelPersons
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For the purposes of this practice, the following apply.
3.1.2 appeal, n—written request made to the certificate issuer by a primary stakeholder for reconsideration of any adverse
decision made by the certificate issuer related to the certificate program requisites or certificate program process.
3.1.3 assessment, n—instrument or method used to measure learner attainment of intended learning outcomes (including but not
limited to oral or written tests, skill demonstrations, portfolios, or work products).
3.1.4 certificate, n—document (letter, card, or other medium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the successful
completion of a certificate program’s requisites.
3.1.5 certificate holder, n—individual who has been issued a certificate after successfully meeting a certificate program’s
requisites.
3.1.6 certificate issuer, n—legal business entity or government agency, or operating unit thereof, that has ultimate responsibility
for administering a certificate program and issuing certificates to individuals successfully meeting certificate program requisites.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E36 on Accreditation & Certification and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E36.30 on Personnel
Certificate Programs.
ε1
Current edition approved April 1, 2009March 1, 2015. Published April 2009April 2015. Originally approved in 2009. Last previous edition approved as E2659 – 09 .
DOI: 10.1520/E2659-09E01.10.1520/E2659-15.
2
Available from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Rd., Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102,
http://www.iacet.org.
3
ANSI/IACET 1-2007ANSI/IACET 1-2013 is a valuable document with detailed guidance for all providers of continuing education and training. It provides a descriptive
framework to assist organizations in adhering to quality practices for all types of continuing education and training programs. In contrast, this practice outlines a framework
of quality for one specific type of program, the certificate program.
4
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
5
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2003ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 serves as a valuable standard document providing a framework of quality for personnel certification programs.
In contrast, this practice serves as a framework of quality for certificate programs.
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E2659 − 15
3.1.7 certificate program, n—nondegree-granting education or training program consisting of (1) a learning event or series of
events designed to educate or train individuals to achieve specified learning outcomes within a
...
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