SFIA Approved Assessment Schemes

Introduction

Skills and competency assessment using SFIA is is to be encouraged. It is a very powerful tool in developing capabilities and closing any skills gaps on both an individual and organisational level. Internal assessments are very valuable to an organisation, there are many useful resources available on this website.

Often there is a requirement for assessments to be carried out under a SFIA Foundation approved assessment scheme. The SFIA Foundation is currently establishing a number of approved schemes to be operated by SFIA Partner organisations.

Requirements for SFIA Approved Assessment Schemes

Only organisations that meet the SFIA assessment scheme requirements and have been explicitly approved by the SFIA Foundation to issue digital credentials may do so and use the SFIA Logo in a digital (or other) credential. The requirements for an approved scheme are summarised below:

1. The assessment partner must be a single entity and hold a current Global SFIA Accredited Partner Licence.
2. The assessment partner must operate in accordance with the SFIA Foundation Licence General Terms and Conditions and the SFIA Accredited Partner Licence.
3. The assessment partner will appoint a named individuals as the Scheme Manager and Scheme Lead Assessor
4. The assessment partner is wholly responsible for the conduct, results and quality of the assessments performed under their scheme.
5. The assessment partner is wholly responsible for the conduct of the assessors they use.
6. The assessment partner must not claim, nor give the impression, that they are assessing or accrediting on behalf of the SFIA Foundation.
7. The assessment partner must operate a defined (and documented) scheme in line with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024.
8. The assessment partner must assess Knowledge, Skill and Competence in line with SFIA Foundation definitions and ISO/IEC 24773.
9. The assessment partner must define the criteria it uses to assess Knowledge, Skill and Competence in line with SFIA Foundation requirements.
10. The assessment partner must maintain records of its assessments, the evidence provided to support an assessment, the decision of the assessor (based on that evidence) and the name of the individual assessor used.
11. The assessment partner must act professionally at all times and ensure that there is no conflict of interests in any assessments they perform.
12. The use of the SFIA Logo must be in line with the SFIA Foundation’s rules for use and any use in a credential, of any sort, must be approved by the SFIA Foundation.
13. ONLY assessments that result in a digital badge being issued under an approved assessment scheme may be considered approved assessments and may then be endorsed by the SFIA Foundation.
14. An assessment partner may not issue any credential (other than an approved digital badge) as if it is an approved assessment, nor should it allow a client to believe that such assessments are approved by the SFIA Foundation.
15. The SFIA Foundation reserves the right not to renew or to cancel the assessment partner's licence, at any time, if it is felt that the assessment partner is not acting within the requirements or spirit of the scheme.
16. The SFIA Foundation may, at its discretion, conduct surveillance reviews and/or an audit of the assessment partner's scheme. Costs involved to be met by the organisation.
17. The assessment partner must use licensed and current SFIA Accredited Assessors.
18. Knowledge may only be assessed as a result of a test against a published syllabus and learning objectives mapped to SFIA.
19. The assessment partner must ensure that its assessors are competent to assess skill and competency for the particular skills or attributes being assessed.
20. The assessment partner must ensure that its assessors are knowledgeable and experienced in assessment (of knowledge, skill and competency) and trained in the scheme under which they are operating.
21. The organisation must return Assessment Data to the SFIA Foundation on a regular basis.