ASTM E2708-10
(Terminology)Standard Terminology for Personnel Credentialing
Standard Terminology for Personnel Credentialing
SCOPE
1.1 This terminology defines terms related to the credentialing of persons. These terms are offered to enable the development of future ASTM documents relating to personnel certificate and certification programs. The source document for each definition is cited when an appropriate document is available. Many definitions are the product of the committee that compiled this terminology, and as such, are the result of the collected knowledge and experience of the committee members.
1.1.1 Since credentialing of persons is being carried out by many different bodies in many career fields, usage of descriptive terms can vary. There is no attempt to include all credentialing terms in this terminology. Rather, this terminology contains those terms most commonly encountered in the credentialing process.
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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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: E2708 − 10 AnAmerican National Standard
Standard Terminology for
Personnel Credentialing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2708; 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 E2135 Terminology for Property and Asset Management
E2159 Guide for Selection, Assignment, and Monitoring of
1.1 This terminology defines terms related to the credential-
PersonsToBeUtilizedasAssessors/AuditorsorTechnical
ing of persons. These terms are offered to enable the develop-
Experts
ment of future ASTM documents relating to personnel certifi-
E2161 Terminology Relating to Performance Validation in
cate and certification programs. The source document for each
Thermal Analysis
definition is cited when an appropriate document is available.
E2659 Practice for Certificate Programs
Many definitions are the product of the committee that com-
2.2 Other Standards:
piled this terminology, and as such, are the result of the
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17011 Conformity Assessment—General
collected knowledge and experience of the committee mem-
Requirements for Accreditation Bodies Accrediting Con-
bers.
formity Assessment Bodies, 2004
1.1.1 Since credentialing of persons is being carried out by
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 Conformity Assessment—General
many different bodies in many career fields, usage of descrip-
Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of
tive terms can vary. There is no attempt to include all
Persons, 2003
credentialing terms in this terminology. Rather, this terminol-
ASAE Certification and Accreditation Law Handbook, Sec-
ogy contains those terms most commonly encountered in the
ond Edition, 2004
credentialing process.
ISO/IEC 17000 Conformity Assessment—Vocabulary and
General Principles, 2004
2. Referenced Documents
2 ICE Basic Guide to Credentialing Terminology, 2006
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4538 Terminology Relating to Protective Coating and
3. Definitions
Lining Work for Power Generation Facilities
E1187 Terminology Relating to Conformity Assessment access/access to a system or scheme—opportunity for an
(Withdrawn 2006)
applicant to obtain conformity assessment under the rules of
E1424 TestMethodforDeterminingtheRateofAirLeakage the system or scheme. ISO/IEC 17000
Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors
accommodation—a reasonable modification in an assessment
Under Specified Pressure and Temperature Differences
instrument or its administration made to compensate for the
Across the Specimen
effects of a qualified disability without altering the purpose
E1480 Terminology of Facility Management (Building-
of the assessment instrument. ISO/IEC 17000 and ICE
Related)
E1605 Terminology Relating to Lead in Buildings accountability—the responsibility of a governing board,
E1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
committee, or other sponsor of a credentialing program to
E1986 Guide for Information Access Privileges to Health demonstratetheefficacyandfairnessofpolicies,procedures,
Information
and assessment instruments to its stakeholders. ICE
acts—statutes set by a governmental body.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E36 on
Accreditation & Certification and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
E36.95 on Terminology. Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2010. Published March 2010. DOI: 10.1520/ 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
E2708-10. AvailablefromAmericanSocietyofAssociationExecutives(ASAE),1575ISt.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or NW, Washington, DC 20005, http://www.asaecenter.org.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on la Voie-Creuse, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://
the ASTM website. www.iso.ch.
3 7
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on Available from Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), 2025 M Street,
www.astm.org. N.W. Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036, http://www.credentialingexcellence.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2708 − 10
administration—the process by which a person or group board/regulatory board—the authority responsible for
oversees a process governed by a specific set of rules or preparing/developing and adopting regulations, policies,
procedures to ensure proper adherence to those rules or processes, and procedures to carry out the regulation; judg-
procedures. ing whether an individual or entity has met and continues to
meet regulatory requirements; and recognizing the indi-
adverse action or decision—an action or decision signifying
vidual (certificant or license holder) or body (certification or
opposition.
licensure) as doing so.
DISCUSSION—Adverse decisions include:
(1) Refusal to accept an application,
candidate—an applicant who has fulfilled specified
(2) Refusal to proceed with an assessment,
prerequisites, establishing eligibility to participate in the
(3) Refusal to grant a credential,
credentialing process. ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024
(4)Any other action that impedes the attainment of a credential, and
(5) Revoking a credential.
certificant—an individual who has earned a credential
adverse impact—a significantly higher failure rate for candi- awarded through a certification program. ICE
dates in legally ‘protected classes’ of people, such as
certificate—a document (letter, card, or other medium)
females, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans.
awarded to certificate holders that designates the successful
agreement—a document that sets forth the terms of an
completion of a credentialing program’s requisites. E2659
arrangement and to which the parties in the arrangement are
certificate holder—an individual who has been issued a
signatories.
certificate after successfully completing a credentialing pro-
agreement group—bodies that are signatories to the agree-
gram’s requisites. E2659
ment on which an arrangement is based. ISO/IEC 17000
certificate of attendance/certificate of participation—a
appeal—request by an applicant, candidate, certificant, or
document issued after an individual attends or participates in
license holder for reconsideration of any adverse decision
a particular meeting or course. ICE
made by the credentialing body related to her or his desired
DISCUSSION—Typically, there is no knowledge assessed prior to
status. ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024
issuing this type of document. A certificate of attendance or participa-
tion is not a credential, because the recipients are not required to
applicant—an individual declaring interest in earning a cre-
demonstrate competence through assessment or meet agreed upon
dential offered by a program, usually through a request for
professional or trade standards.
information and the submission of materials. ICE
certificate program—a nondegree-granting education or
assessment instruments—any one of several standardized
training program consisting of (1) a learning event or series
methods or tools for determining if individuals possess the
of events designed to educate or train individuals to achieve
necessary knowledge or skill, or both, related to the purpose
specified learning outcomes within a defined scope, and (2)
of the credential. ICE
a system designed to ensure individuals receive a certificate
only after verification of successful completion of all pro-
assessment of conformity—a process whereby an individual’s
gram requisites, including but not limited to an evaluation of
knowledge, experience, and skills are evaluated or measured
learner attainment of intended learning outcomes. E2659
against a standard.
DISCUSSION—Activities associated with conformity assessment in-
certification—procedure and action by a duly authorized body
clude testing, certification, accreditation, and quality assurance system
of determining, verifying, and attesting in writing to the
registration.
qualifications of individuals, processes, procedures, or items
assessor—an individual who has the knowledge, experience
in accordance with applicable requirements. E1424
and skills necessary to perform a comprehensive assessment
professional certification—procedure and action by a duly
of another body, which includes assessment of the quality
authorized body of determining, verifying, and attesting in
management system, policies and procedures, etc. E2159
writing to the qualifications of individuals in a profession, in
DISCUSSION—An assessor/auditor should be fully qualified in the
accordance with applicable requirements associated with that
performance of a full assessment/audit, with the exception of evaluat-
ing specific technical areas. An assessor may also be qualified as a profession.
technical expert and bring such additional skills to the assessment/
certification agency—theorganizationaloradministrativeunit
audit.
that offers or operates, or both, a certification program. ICE
attestation—issuance of a statement, based on a decision
following a review, that fulfillment of specified requirements
certification board—a group of individuals appointed or
has been demonstrated. ISO/IEC 17000 elected to govern one or more certification programs, as well
as the certification agency, and responsible for all certifica-
scope of attestation—range of characteristics of conformity
tion decision making, including governance. ICE
assessment covered by attestation. ISO/IEC 17000
certification body/entity—a body that conducts certifications
authority—a body that has legal powers and rights. E1187
of conformity. E1187
autonomy—organizational control over all essential creden-
tialing decisions without being subject to approval by or certification mark—the symbol and use thereof which has
undue influence from any other body. ICE been authorized by a certification body.
E2708 − 10
(2) Participating in the operation or management of the system of a
certification process—all activities by which a certification
CAB;
body establishes that an individual fulfills specified
(3) Giving specific advice or specific training towards the develop-
requirements, including application, evaluation, decision on
ment and implementation of the management system or competence of
certification, surveillance, and recertification.
a CAB, or both; and
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024
(4) Giving specific advice or specific training for the development
and implementation of the operational procedures of a CAB.
certification program—the standards, policies, procedures,
assessment instruments, and related products and activities
content domains—the set of organized categories character-
throughwhichindividualsarepubliclyidentifiedasqualified
izing subject matter under which knowledge and skills may
in a profession, occupation, role, or skill. ICE
be represented in specifications for assessment instruments.
ICE
committee/certification committee—a group of individuals
appointed or elected to recommend and implement policy
continuing competence—the ability to provide service at
related to certification program operations. ICE
specified levels of knowledge and skill, not only at the time
of initial certification/licensure but throughout an individu-
complaint—expression of dissatisfaction below the level of an
al’s professional career. ICE
appeal by any individual or organization to a credentialing
body, relating to the activities of that body to which a
continuing education—activities, often short courses, that
response is expected.
certified or licensed professionals engage in to receive credit
for the purpose of maintaining continuing competence and
computer-based testing (CBT)—use of computers to deliver
assessments, and sometimes the scoring and reporting of renewing certification or licensure. ICE
these assessments.
credentialing—the process by which an entity authorized and
conflict of interest—a conflict between the private interests
qualified to do so, grants formal recognition to, or records
and the official or professional responsibilities of an indi- the recognition status of individuals, organizations,
vidual in a position of influence and trust.
institutions, programs, processes, services, or products that
meet predetermined and standardized criteria. ASAE
confidentiality—the property that information is not made
available or disclosed to unauthorized individuals, entities,
credentialing (licensing) authority—an entity authorized and
or processes. E1986
qualified to do so, that grants formal recognition to, or
records the recognition status of individuals, organizations,
conformity assessment—demonstration that specified re-
institutions, programs, processes, services, or products that
quirements relating to a product, process, system, person, or
meet predetermined and standardized criteria. ASAE
body are fulfilled. ISO/IEC 17000
third-party conformity assessment—for purposes of the cer- credentialing process—a method for maintaining quality
tification of persons, a conformity assessment activity that is standardsofknowledgeandperformance,andinsomecases,
performed by a person or body independent of the person or
for stimulating continued self-improvement. ICE
organization being assessed. ISO/IEC 17000
criterion-referenced standard—a pass-fail standard deter-
conformity assessment system—procedures and management
mined by characteristics of the test (for example, the
for carrying out conformity assessment. ISO/IEC 17000
difficulty) rather than characteristics of the candidates (for
example, the ability).
conformity surveillance—evaluation of conformity to deter-
mine the continuing conformity with specified requirements.
decertify/decertification—to withdraw certification from an
E1187
individual.
consensus—general agreement or accord on a matter that all
designation—the title or trademarked label applied to the
can support; a majority of opinion, but not necessarily
achievement of a credential. ISO/IEC 17000
unanimity.
discipline/disciplinary action—a formal, published process
consensus process—a formal procedure for reaching general
for the enforcement of standards governing the professional
agreement or accord, which includes the elements of due
behavior (that is, ethics, standards of practice) of certificants
process.
or licensees. ICE
constructed-response question—a type of test item in which
document—(1) v, to confirm (usu
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