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:

A. Eligibility and licensing:

• The assessment partner must be a single legal entity
• The assessment partner must hold a current Global SFIA Accredited Partner Licence.
• The assessment partner must comply with the SFIA Foundation Licence General Terms and Conditions and the SFIA Accredited Partner Licence.
• The assessment partner must not claim, nor give the impression, that they are assessing or accrediting 'on behalf of' the SFIA Foundation.

B. Scheme governance and accountability:

• The assessment partner must operate a defined (and documented) scheme in line with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024.
• The assessment partner must appoint named individuals as the Scheme Manager and Scheme Lead Assessor.
• The assessment partner is wholly responsible for the conduct, results and quality of the assessments it conducts.
• The assessment partner is wholly responsible for the conduct its assessors.
• The assessment partner must ensure its assessors act professionally at all times and ensure no conflicts of interest.

C. Assessment design and evidence handling:

• The assessment partner must assess Knowledge, Skill and Competence in line with SFIA Foundation definitions and ISO/IEC 24773.
• The assessment partner must define the criteria used for assessment.
• The assessment partner must use licensed and current SFIA Accredited Assessors.
• The assessment partner must ensure that its assessors are competent, trained in the scheme, and able to assess skill and competency for the particular skills or attributes being assessed.
• The assessment partner must maintain full records of:
  • Each assessment conducted
  • Each assessment decision
  • The evidence submitted
  • The assessor responsible
• Knowledge may only be assessed as a result of a test with a published syllabus and learning objectives mapped to SFIA.
• Any use of AI in an assessment scheme must be documented and validated.

D. Credentials and branding:

• ONLY digital badges issued under an approved scheme may described as 'approved assessments'.
• The design of the digital badges issued must be approved by the SFIA Foundation.
• No other credentials may be presented as SFIA-approved, nor should clients be led to believe so.
• No other credentials may contain a SFIA Approved Assessment or SFIA Accredited Assessor logo.

E. Oversight, audit, and data submission

• The assessment partner must return assessment data to the SFIA Foundation on a regular basis.
• 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.
• The SFIA Foundation may choose not to renew, or may cancel, a partner's licence, at any time, if requirements are not met.

External or third-party assessments can provide a level of independence. This is commonly provided by a professional body, sector  body or certification organisation.

Key ideas:

• External, independence when it matters
• Objective, trusted validation of your workforce capabilities
• Support development, hiring, or mobility decisions with credible evidence

Benefits:

• Independent validation: External third-party SFIA assessments can remove internal bias and support fair, evidence-based decisions.
• Portable credentials: Individuals assessed under approved schemes can receive digital credentials that recognise their skills - useful for recognition, mobility and engagement.
• Trusted framework: Assessments are aligned to the tried-and-tested SFIA Framework, used globally across digital, technology, and business roles.
• Flexible, integration: Can be used to complement existing L&D, recruitment, or skills strategy initiatives.

Assessments can be performed internally and play an important role in both individual personal development and organisational workforce development. For some organisations, external assessments may not be possible and so an internal scheme may be approved by the SFIA Foundation and therefore issue digital credentials accordingly.

Key ideas:

• Embed trusted skills assessment into your internal people processes
• Support internal mobility, development and skills planning - your way, but with SFIA

Benefits:

• Integrated into your way of working: Internal schemes can align with your appraisal cycles, development pathways, and internal roles.
• Recognised, not reinvented: You gain external validation and structure without outsourcing your internal expertise.
• Issue credentials with confidence: Approved schemes can issue SFIA-endorsed digital credentials internally - powerful for staff recognition and motivation.
• Flexible, cost-effective: Avoid the time and expense of relying on external assessment partners for all assessments.

We would encourage any organisation wishing to establish an approved scheme to discuss their plans with the SFIA Foundation at an early stage rather than to try to gain approval for a scheme that has not considered the SFIA Foundation Requirements throughout.

Contact the SFIA Foundation.