The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Professional standards for delivering SFIA training

Approved SFIA Training Providers must adhere to these standards as part of their licensing agreement with the SFIA Foundation. This ensures that all SFIA training maintains the highest levels of quality and accurately represents the SFIA Framework and the operation of the SFIA Foundation. Internal training by SFIA Corporate users should comply with these standards as a reference of good practice.

Purpose and Value

The SFIA Foundation establishes comprehensive professional standards for organizations delivering SFIA training to ensure consistency, quality, and value for learners worldwide. These standards apply to all SFIA Partners offering SFIA training courses.

The only authoritative source of SFIA material and guidance is the SFIA Foundation website, a full understanding of SFIA can be gained from SFIA Foundation material readily available to all.

Approved SFIA Training Partners may add value to SFIA Foundation material through instructor-led training where delegates can ask questions, share their thoughts and discuss issues with an experienced SFIA Accredited Consultant who can explain essential concepts, through their own experiences. This is recognised as offering a significant value-add for those wishing to understand the SFIA Framework and its use in developing skills and competency of a professional workforce.

Important: SFIA Partners may only provide SFIA Training after obtaining formal approval from the SFIA Foundation and satisfying all requirements outlined in this document and the Code of Practice for Approved Training Services.

This Professional Standard is subject to change. It will continue to be refined to ensure the quality of SFIA training is continually improved. SFIA Training Partners should regularly consult this Professional Standard and update their training services accordingly. As a minimum this should be during the beta period of a new SFIA release or at their licence renewal.

Approved Training Services

The following training may be approved by the SFIA Foundation and then offered by the SFIA Training Partner as Approved SFIA training:

  • SFIA foundation understanding
  • Introduction to SFIA for practitioners
  • Introduction to SFIA for consultants
  • SFIA Assessor Training

The syllabus and learning objectives for these are provided <Enter Link>.

Approved SFIA Training results in a SFIA Foundation issued Digital Badge (if the candidate successfully completes the training). No other credential, such as an attendance certificate may be issued.

Following approval, the SFIA Training Partner may:

  • Use the SFIA Training Provider logo in marketing materials
  • Advertise as an "SFIA Training Provider"
  • Deliver approved SFIA training to clients

Suspension or Withdrawal: The SFIA Foundation may withdraw or suspend the right to provide Approved SFIA Training if a Training Provider does not comply with this professional standards.

Advertising the training offering

Once approved, the SFIA Training Partner may advertise the training offering as an approved course. This should address:

  • The course details
  • A schedule of courses and pricing
  • Clearly display for students:
    • Any pre-requisites (such as prior knowledge) for students
    • Course duration
    • Total hours of instruction
    • Contact details (where appropriate)

Delivering the training offering

Once approved, the SFIA Training Partner must deliver the training offering as it was approved. This should address:

  • Approved Format: Deliver courses in the exact form approved by the SFIA Foundation
  • Currency: Keep courses up-to-date and aligned with the current SFIA Framework version
  • Compliance: Fully comply with any regulations or syllabi issued by the SFIA Foundation
  • Changes to materials: Where there are substantial changes or additions to course materials, these should be submitted to The SFIA Foundation for re-approval.
  • Accuracy: Use and represent SFIA information with reasonable accuracy

Instructor Requirements

The instructors must be current licensed SFIA Accredited Consultants and must:

  • Have sufficient time and resources to plan and prepare for course delivery
  • Maintain their knowledge of the subject up-to-date and maintain their teaching skills
  • Ensure that they are aware of any regulation or approval requirements, syllabus changes, changes to teh SFIA Framework or operation of the SFIA Foundation

Resources and Facilities

Training Providers must ensure adequate resources in all of the following areas:

  • Teaching Staff: Sufficient qualified instructors for course delivery
  • Delivery environment: Appropriate physical or virtual learning environments
  • Equipment: Up-to-date technology and tools required for effective delivery

The training provider must match numbers of students to the delivery approach to ensure an effective learning environment for all.

    Quality of training

    The Training partner should:

    • Collect course attendee feedback reports after each course
    • Take action to resolve any unsatisfactory performance identified
    • Display clearly details of a complaints procedure

    Audit and Compliance

    • Agree to attendance on courses from time to time of a SFIA Foundation nominee (without charge), 
    • Allow the SFIA Foundation to audit attendance and feedback and provide evidence that this Professional Standard is being complied with
    • Maintain records that demonstrate compliance with all standards
    • Cooperate with Foundation audits and reviews
    • Subsequent to trading approval, provide copies of course presentations and handouts for inspection if requested

    Reporting to the SFIA Foundation

    • Quarterly Returns: Provide quarterly reports to the Foundation in the specified format showing:
      • Dates and locations of courses
      • Number of attendees per course
      • Names of all attendees
      • Requesting an invoice for appropriate SFIA Foundation fee due
    • Attendee Notification: Inform each attendee that their attendance may contribute to a subsequent application for accreditation but that the course, itself, is not the accreditation and it requires that their names are passed to the Foundation.
    • Invoice Management: Advise the SFIA Foundation of any invoice inaccuracies within 14 days of receipt

    Financial Obligations

    The SFIA Training Partner will:

    • Pay to the SFIA Foundation the per-delegate training fee, payable quarterly
    • Maintain accurate records of all course attendees for billing purposes
    • Training fees are published separately by the SFIA Foundation

    Training Certificates

    • SFIA Credentials: No credential other than those issued by the SFIA Foundation may be given as a result of training
    • Logo Usage: The SFIA logo may not be used in any certificate or credential without prior written approval from the SFIA Foundation

    Important Note: Training Providers must not offer non-accredited SFIA training as a way to avoid paying the per-delegate fee due to the SFIA Foundation. SFIA Accredited Training Provider must not appear on any attendance credential or in marketing non-accredited SFIA training.

    Before offering any SFIA Training Course, Partners must complete the following approval process:

    Pre-Approval Requirements

    • Notification: Notify the SFIA Foundation of your intention to provide SFIA Training
    • Course Submission: Submit all training materials for each type of course, including:
      • Course presentations
      • Handouts and student materials
      • Exercise materials and case studies
      • Assessment materials (if applicable)
    • Review Period: Allow time for the Foundation to review and approve materials
    • Prohibition: Do not run any SFIA Training courses until written approval is obtained