ASTM E2659 Addresses Standard Practice for Certificate Programs
April 5, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
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ASTM International published ASTM E2659 - Standard Practice for Certificate Programs, which provides guidance to certificate issuers on how to develop a quality certificate program and to consumers on how to identify such a program.
The standard is designed to serve as a "benchmark of quality" for industry accreditation of certificate programs, according to ASTM.
Technical lead on the standard, Mickie Rops, said prior to the development of ASTM E2659, there was no industry consensus for what a quality certificate program entailed.
Certificate program was a term often inaccurately used to refer to any type of training program that issued a certificate at the end, according to ASTM. ASTM E2659 is designed to delineate the outcomes-focus of certificate programs.
"This move from a theoretical to a practical model of outcomes-based learning will significantly enhance the quality and impact of training overall," said Rops.
In addition, ASTM E2659 outlines what the key distinguishing factors are between certification and certificate programs.
The confusion between certification and certificate programs leads organizations to develop hybrids of the two models that include both a learning component (a core design element of certificate programs) and ongoing competency requirements (a core design element of certification).
ASTM E2659 will help organizations make an informed judgment about which program type to develop and should they choose to develop a certificate program, provide guidance on how to do so, according to ASTM.
"With the distinctions between certification and certificate programs made clear, there will be fewer hybrid programs created, which will significantly lessen the confusion of all stakeholders involved," Rops said.
ASTM E2659 provides a guide for educators in all sectors and settings to develop and administer certificate programs to accomplish their training and education goals.
The standard will be useful to certificate issuers, such as community colleges and universities, government agencies, employers, independent for-profit training organizations and professional and trade associations. Consumers and employers will find ASTM E2659 helpful in determining the quality of certificate programs.
ASTM E2659 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E36.30 on Personnel Certificate Programs, part of ASTM's Committee E36 on Laboratory and Inspection Agency Accreditation.
Source: ASTM International.