SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor

NOTE: Following a successful pilot in 2021, this offering is now being made more widely available while at the same time continuing development. PLEASE read below carefully and contact the SFIA Foundation BEFORE making an application.

During this development period:
 - we will take small numbers of applications and only by prior agreement.
 - priority will be given to existing SFIA accredited practitioners and consultants operating within those partner organisations operating assessment schemes.

Introduction

The industry has always needed effective ways of assessing and diagnosing professional skills and competencies. Since its launch, SFIA has been used extensively and successfully for this purpose. 

Interest in formal and rigorous assessment of skills and competency using SFIA has increased. To support this the SFIA Foundation is introducing an accreditation scheme for individuals performing SFIA skills and competency assessments.

Note: The individual Accredited Assessors must operate within a scheme accredited by the SFIA Foundation in order to use the SFIA logo within any assessment credential. Assessors may, of course, operate internally assessing the workforce within an organisation for the internal benefit of that organisation.

Summary of the Accreditation

This accreditation may be  

• achieved as a stand-alone process, or 
• added to any accreditation of SFIA Practitioner or SFIA Consultant. 

Note: This accreditation is for the specific application of the SFIA Framework for the conduct of a skills or competency assessment of an individual.

The requirements for accreditation as a SFIA Skills Assessor are summarised below:

• Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with the SFIA Framework
• Evidence of operating at SFIA Level 4 as a minimum
• Demonstrated understanding of the different purposes and types of assessment
  (The SFIA guidance as a minimum)
• SFIA Accredited Assessor Training or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience of applying and using the SFIA framework
• Evidence of Competence Assessment (LEDA) at Level 4 and Level 3
• Evidence conducting assessments within an assessment framework
  (With policies and processes in place to support assessment practices)
• Completion of N SFIA skills and competency assessments
  (Candidates remain 'provisional' until this has been met)

The value of recent experience

To be accredited you will need to demonstrate… 

• up-to-date familiarity with the SFIA Framework 
• an understanding of the difference of knowledge, skill and competence
• continued and recent experience of performing skills assessments. 

To retain their accreditation as a SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor the individual must… 

• conduct a minimum number of assessments each year 
• confirm they are familiar with the current release of SFIA assessment guidance and both the current release of the SFIA Framework and any previous releases used. 
• Confirm that they have read and agree to work to the rules of practice  
• report key assessment data to the SFIA Foundation either individually or through a licensed partner organisation. 

Application

Application for SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor should be made by providing the evidence below. An application may be made stand-alone or as part of a standard Practitioner or Consultant application. 

It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that they meet the requirements for accreditation. Success in an application is more likely if evidence to demonstrate experience is readily available and clear to the assessor. 

An application should consist of: 

• A completed application form detailing experience in SFIA Skills assessments 
• A detailed career history or CV* 
• Details of the assessments performed 
• References 
• Evidence of successful completion of appropriate level of SFIA training (or equivalent) 

SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor - Role Description

Introduction

This role is at SFIA Level 4 or above.  A SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor role performs assessments using the SFIA Framework and so must demonstrate actual practice of carrying out assessments (not just the management of assessments).

Supporting documents...

• A SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor generic profile may be found here
• A SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor application form - contact SFIA Foundation
  (Guidance is included on the application form)
• The SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor rules of conduct many be found here

Note: An individual may, of course, have SFIA responsibilities beyond the SFIA Accredited Assessor role as the scope of SFIA activities within an organisation can be very broad, however experience of conducting assessments is necessary for accreditation in this role.

Mandatory Requirements

This role has the following requirements. It is up to the applicant to provide evidence that these requirements are met: 

• Understanding SFIA and assessment using SFIA 
  (Typically, from Accredited SFIA Training. Practitioner course plus Assessor course) 
  (Confirmation, that the SFIA guidance has been read and understood) 
• Experience of conducting SFIA Assessments. 
  (Specifically, Competency Assessment at Level 4 and Level 3) 
  (Number and type of Assessments performed) 
• Confirmation that an applicant will comply with assessment requirements and practice. 
• Confirmation that an applicant will comply with an assessment rules of conduct. 

Your application should provide evidence that demonstrates experience relating to: 

• human capital management 
• hands-on involvement in skills activities 
• appreciation of the HR issues relating to skills assessment 
• IT industry knowledge 
• any relevant qualifications

It is necessary that assessors can exercise sound judgement and act with high degrees of personal integrity. 

*The CV should provide a general picture of the applicant's background and should include evidence of autonomy and influence in wider HR and IT related areas. 

Desirable Characteristics

It is desirable that individuals have both HR related and people management experience such as recruitment, appraisal or professional development experience. Familiarity of how IT organisations operate and the characteristics of technology and business focussed knowledge workers would be advantageous.

SFIA Levels of Responsibility

It is a mandatory requirement that a SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor is able to demonstrate that they have operated, as a minimum, at the levels below for the Generic Attributes:

• Autonomy Level 4
• Influence Level 4
• Complexity Level 4
• Knowledge level 4
• Business Skills Level 4

Professional Skills

The scope of SFIA related work may be very broad but for the context of the SFIA Accredited Skills Assessor it is necessary to demonstrate evidence of performing a number of professional skills including Competency Assessment at level 4.  

A minimum of 3 professional skills must be demonstrated, Competency Assessment is mandatory. (The SFIA Accredited Assessor Generic Profile lists a number of professional skills that are the most likely to be able to be demonstrated). This is summarised below: 

1. Competency Assessment (LEDA) at Level 4 - Mandatory
2. At least two other SFIA Professional skills at level 4
3. While not essential, Professional Development (PDSV) at Level 4 would add weight to any application.