ASTM E2659-18
(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 certifi...
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.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2659 −18 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 2.2 ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard:
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 Conformity Assessment—
1.1 This practice provides guidance to certificate issuers for
General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification
developing and administering quality certificate programs and
4,5
of Persons
to stakeholders for determining the quality of certificate
programs.
3. Terminology
1.2 This practice includes requirements for both the entity
3.1 Definitions:
issuing the certificate and requirements for the specific certifi-
3.1.1 For the purposes of this practice, the following apply.
cate programs for which it issues certificates.
3.1.2 advisory group, n—group responsible for advising
certificate program management on creating and maintaining a
1.3 Thispracticeprovidesthefoundationfortherecognition
certificate program that is current, relevant, and valued.
or accreditation, or both, of a specific entity to issue a specific
certificateorcertificatestoindividualsaftersuccessfulcomple-
3.1.3 appeal, n—written request made to the certificate
tion of a certificate program.
issuer for reconsideration of an adverse decision made by the
certificate issuer related to the certificate program
1.4 This practice does not address guidance pertaining to
3.1.4 assessment, n—instrument or method used to measure
certification of individuals nor does it address guidance per-
learner attainment of intended learning outcomes (including
taining to education or training programs in general, including
but not limited to oral or written tests, skill demonstrations,
those that issue certificates of participation or certificates of
portfolios, or work products).
attendance.
3.1.5 certificate, n—document (letter, card, or other me-
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the suc-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
cessful completion of a certificate program’s requisites.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3.1.6 certificate holder, n—individual who has been issued a
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
certificate after successfully meeting a certificate program’s
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. requisites.
3.1.7 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
3.1.8 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
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E36 on Accredi-
specified learning outcomes within a defined scope, and (2) a
tation & Certification and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E36.30 on
system designed to ensure individuals receive a certificate only
Personnel Certificate Programs.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2018. Published February 2018. Originally
after verification of successful completion of all program
approved in 2009. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as E2659 – 17. DOI:
requisites including but not limited to an assessment of learner
10.1520/E2659-18.
attainment of intended learning outcomes.
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 4
ANSI/IACET 1-2013 is a valuable document with detailed guidance for all Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
providers of continuing education and training. It provides a descriptive framework 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
5
to assist organizations in adhering to quality practices for all types of continuing ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 serves as a valuable standard document providing
education and training programs. In contrast, this practice outlines a framework of aframeworkofqualityforpersonnelcertificat
...
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.
Designation: E2659 − 17 E2659 − 18 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
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.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ANSI/IACET Standard:
2,3
ANSI/IACET 1-2013 Standard for Continuing Education and Training
2.2 ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard:
4,5
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 Conformity Assessment—General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For the purposes of this practice, the following apply.
3.1.2 advisory group, n—group responsible for advising certificate program management on creating and maintaining a
certificate program that is current, relevant, and valued.
3.1.3 appeal, n—written request made to the certificate issuer by a primary stakeholder for reconsideration of anyan adverse
decision made by the certificate issuer related to the certificate program requisites or certificate program process.
3.1.4 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).
3.1.5 certificate, n—document (letter, card, or other medium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the successful
completion of a certificate program’s 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.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2017Jan. 1, 2018. Published January 2017February 2018. Originally approved in 2009. Last previous edition approved in 20152017 as
E2659 – 15.17. DOI: 10.1520/E2659-17.10.1520/E2659-18.
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 1-2013 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 17024:2012 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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2659 − 18
3.1.6 certificate holder, n—individual who has been issued a certificate after successfully meeting a certificate program’s
requisites.
3.1.7 certificate issuer, n—legal business entity or government agency, or operating unit thereof, that has ultimate responsibility
for
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.