Stage 1 · ICEQC-CER-001 clauses 15–16
Pre-application understanding
Before an application is submitted, the prospective applicant can examine the published certification basis, select one certification object, consider the proposed scope, identify the applicable Foundation Conformity Requirements and review the evidence packages, fees and timeframes. Pre-application information explains the rules; it does not predict or reserve a certification outcome.
The prospective applicant remains responsible for determining whether it holds the legal authority, operational control, current records and access needed for verification. ICEQC may clarify the public process and the information required, but it does not design the applicant's controls, prepare its evidence or advise how to obtain conformity.
Applicant responsibility
Identify the accountable legal entity, the intended certification object, the proposed boundary and the current evidence available before committing to an application.
ICEQC responsibility
Make the standards, applicability conditions, evidence requirements, application materials, decision rule, fees and timeframes publicly accessible.
Formal output
No certification conclusion is produced. The applicant decides whether to proceed, revise the proposed scope or complete further readiness work.
Stage 2 · ICEQC-CER-001 clauses 17–23
Application, completeness and acceptance
The applicant submits the required legal identity, authorized contacts, certification object, proposed scope, operating information and application materials through the Online Application Centre. ICEQC checks whether the submission is identifiable, complete enough for application review and within the published certification programme.
ICEQC may return an incomplete submission, request specified information, refuse an ineligible application or close an application that cannot proceed. Acceptance means that the application can enter certification planning under the applicable agreement. It does not establish conformity and does not commit ICEQC to grant certification.
Applicant responsibility
Provide accurate, current and authorized information; identify all entities and third parties material to the proposed scope; and disclose known limitations affecting verification.
ICEQC responsibility
Check identity, eligibility, completeness, programme availability, impartiality considerations and whether the proposed object can be assessed under published ICEQC requirements.
Formal output
Accepted for planning, returned with identified information required, refused with reasons, withdrawn by the applicant or closed under the published rules.
Stage 3 · ICEQC-CER-001 clauses 24–31
Certification object, scope and applicability
ICEQC confirms one of three certification objects: an Education Organization, an Education Technology Service or an Educational Product. The confirmed scope defines the boundary within which conformity will be determined and later described on the certificate and in the Public Certificate Register.
The scope identifies, as applicable, legal entities, sites, activities, services, platforms, products, models, versions, user or learner groups, delivery modes, jurisdictions, material third-party arrangements and exclusions. An exclusion cannot remove an applicable requirement while leaving the related activity inside the certification scope.
Each Foundation Conformity Requirement in the baseline for the selected certification object is then identified as applicable or supported by an objective basis for Not Applicable. Commercial preference, inconvenience, lack of evidence or incomplete implementation is not a basis for Not Applicable.
Applicant responsibility
Describe the object and boundary completely, disclose dependencies and exclusions, and provide the facts needed to determine applicability.
ICEQC responsibility
Confirm that the object is eligible, the boundary is unambiguous and the applicability record covers every Foundation Conformity Requirement relevant to that object and scope.
Formal output
A controlled object, scope and applicability record used for the verification plan, findings, decision, certificate and public record.
Stage 4 · ICEQC-CER-001 clauses 32–53 and ICEQC-CER-002 clauses 41–60
Certification agreement and verification planning
The certification agreement records the confirmed work, responsibilities, access, confidentiality arrangements, fees, timeframes and conditions for use of certification. The verification plan translates the confirmed scope and applicability record into evidence and access activities without changing the published requirements.
Planning considers the object, size and distribution of the scope, operating methods, languages, material technologies, relevant jurisdictions, learner or user groups, third parties, evidence availability and conditions that cannot be established remotely. The planned depth must be sufficient to support a conclusion for every applicable requirement.
Applicant responsibility
Accept the confirmed basis, arrange timely access to people, records, systems, sites or products and identify confidentiality, safety or language constraints before verification begins.
ICEQC responsibility
Assign competent and impartial personnel, define the evidence request, methods, sampling basis and sequence, and identify where specialist or independent evidence is required.
Formal output
An executed certification agreement, controlled verification plan and evidence request linked to the applicable requirements and evidence packages.
Stage 5 · ICEQC-CER-001 clauses 41–63 and ICEQC-CER-002 clauses 61–109
Evidence verification and requirement-level conclusions
The applicant provides current controlled documents and corresponding implementation records. ICEQC verifies relevance, authenticity, reliability, completeness, currency and traceability through document review, source-record checks, interviews, demonstrations, observation, data analysis, remote tours, sampling and specialist evidence as appropriate.
Evidence is evaluated against the published conformity criteria for the individual requirement and across the complete confirmed scope. A policy or procedure does not by itself establish implementation. An unsupported statement, isolated screenshot, blank template, future plan or promotional claim does not by itself establish conformity.
ICEQC records Conforming, Nonconforming or objectively justified Not Applicable for each requirement. The conclusion identifies the requirement, verified evidence, scope coverage and any material limitation. Results are not averaged, weighted or offset.
Applicant responsibility
Provide complete, authentic and current evidence and access; explain the relationship between documents and implementation records; and respond accurately to verification questions.
ICEQC responsibility
Test evidence against the requirement, follow material inconsistencies to source, obtain sufficient representative coverage and document a reproducible conclusion.
Formal output
A traceable evidence record and a conclusion for every applicable requirement, including clearly stated nonconformities and evidence limitations.
Stage 6 · ICEQC-CER-003 clauses 18–50
Nonconformity, remediation and closure
A nonconformity identifies the published requirement that is not met, the verified facts supporting that conclusion, the part of the confirmed scope affected and the condition that must be corrected. It is not a consultancy instruction and does not prescribe the applicant's chosen solution.
The applicant determines the cause, corrects the condition, implements the necessary control and submits updated evidence. ICEQC verifies both correction and implementation against the original requirement. A plan, promise, administrative closure, expired deadline or deleted record cannot establish that remediation is complete.
If the evidence remains insufficient or the condition remains nonconforming, the finding stays open. Certification cannot proceed to a positive decision while any applicable nonconformity is open.
Applicant responsibility
Address the cause and affected scope, implement the correction, check its effectiveness and submit current evidence showing the corrected condition in operation.
ICEQC responsibility
Maintain the original requirement and finding, verify the updated evidence and record whether the remediation-complete criteria have been met.
Formal output
A closed finding supported by verified implementation evidence, an open finding requiring further action, or a record that the application cannot proceed.
Stage 7 · ICEQC-CER-001 clauses 64–71 and ICEQC-CER-003 clauses 51–68
Independent technical review and certification decision
Technical review checks whether the confirmed scope, applicability record, evidence, requirement-level conclusions and remediation record are complete, consistent and technically supported. The reviewer may return the record for specified verification work but cannot substitute preference for evidence or create a new requirement.
The certification decision is made by an authorized person who did not perform the evidence verification for the same application. A positive decision requires sufficient information, conformity of every applicable requirement and verified closure of every required remediation. A refusal or other adverse outcome states the decision and its basis and identifies the applicable appeal route.
No automated system, commercial consideration, reputation, membership, award or overall impression can make or determine the certification decision.
Technical review
Determines whether the certification record is complete and supports the proposed conclusion under the published rules.
Certification decision
Grants, refuses or otherwise resolves the application within the confirmed scope and records the reasons and effective date.
Formal output
A controlled certification decision, approved scope where applicable and notice of the decision and available appeal route.
Stage 8 · ICEQC-CER-001 clauses 72–101 and ICEQC-CER-003 clauses 87–110
Certificate, public record and continuing certification
Following a positive decision, ICEQC issues a certificate and publishes the certificate holder's legal identity, certification object, approved scope, applicable standards and editions, certificate number, issue and expiry dates and current status in the Public Certificate Register. The public record is the authoritative source for current status.
Certification normally operates through a 36-month cycle with scheduled surveillance at months 12 and 24. The certificate holder must maintain conformity, cooperate with surveillance, report material changes and incidents, and use certification claims only for the published scope and current status.
ICEQC may maintain, restore, suspend, reduce, withdraw or allow certification to expire under the published rules. Renewal requires a new application, verification and decision before expiry; it is not automatic continuation.
Certificate holder responsibility
Maintain the certified arrangements, preserve required records, report material changes promptly, cooperate with surveillance and control all certification claims.
ICEQC responsibility
Maintain the certificate record, conduct surveillance, evaluate changes and findings, take status action where required and publish the current status.
Formal output
A publicly verifiable certificate record and a continuing history of surveillance, approved changes, status actions and renewal or expiry.