Competency Certification Processes

No Qualification no Problem.... 🤔 How to Register with ECSA Without a Formal Qualification Note. the "Alternative Route" of registration is difficult, very difficult! 😒 Many experienced engineers and technicians have built solid careers — yet never completed a formal qualification. Good news: you can still become professionally registered with ECSA (as Pr Techni or Pr Tech) — but it’s not a shortcut. It’s a structured, evidence-based journey. 🔹 Step 1: Know Your Route – The “Alternative Path” If you don’t hold an ECSA-accredited qualification, you’ll go through the Alternative Assessment Route. This process checks whether your knowledge and experience together match the outcomes of the accredited qualification for your level. 🔹 Step 2: Educational Evaluation Before you even apply for registration, ECSA must first evaluate your education. You’ll need to submit: ❗ A detailed CV of your technical career ❗ Certified copies of certificates or courses completed ❗ A summary comparing your knowledge to NQF Level 6 (Pr Techni) or Level 7 (Pr Tech) ❗ Proof of lifelong learning – CPD, training, or manufacturer courses ECSA uses this to confirm that your learning is equivalent to the required qualification level. Key documents: R-01-P: Registration Policy E-17-P: Educational Evaluation Guideline R-02-TEC / R-02-PT: Competency Standards R-03 Forms: Application Forms 🔹 Step 3: Prove Your Competence Once your educational evaluation is approved, you’ll submit: ✅ Your application form (R-03-TEC or R-03-PT) ✅ Training and Experience Reports (TERs) for each role or project ✅ An Engineering Report demonstrating your professional judgement and responsibility ✅ Referee Reports from registered professionals Your reports must prove you meet ECSA’s 11 Outcomes — from applying engineering theory to managing risk and acting ethically. ⚠️ Why It’s So Challenging ECSA protects the integrity of the profession. Without formal studies, proving equivalent engineering knowledge can be tough. Many candidates struggle to connect their practical experience to underlying theory or structured problem-solving— but that’s exactly what ECSA looks for. ✅ What’s Important Use ECSA’s standards as your checklist. Show independent problem-solving and decision-making at the correct level of responsibility. Choose registered referees who understand your work. Keep your reports concise, technical, and clear. ❌ What Not to Do Don’t apply before your educational evaluation is approved. Don’t rely on years of service — ECSA measures competence, not time. Don’t submit vague, task-based TERs — show engineering thinking. 💡 Final Thought Becoming a registered professional without a formal qualification is possible — but it’s not automatic. It takes structure, reflection, and strong evidence of your competence. If you’ve built your career through experience, this is your chance to formalise your professional status. Not easy but possible.

How Do Certification Bodies Really Work? You have seen ISO certificates on walls, websites, and product packaging. But have you ever asked: What system actually stands behind that certification? Most clients never see the process. Many auditors only experience part of it. But if you are in the TIC industry or rely on certified systems you should understand it end-to-end. That is why I wrote this. In this week's edition of The Conformity Edge, I break down the entire ISO/IEC 17021-1 certification process from enquiry to certificate issuance and beyond. ↳ Application review is not just admin it is your first impartiality checkpoint. ↳ Stage 1 is not just a doc review it is a strategic risk lens. ↳ Certification decisions are not routine they are legal commitments. We cover all 10 stages, including: ↳Enquiry & Application ↳Risk-Based Application Review ↳3-Year Audit Program Design ↳Stage 1 Readiness Assessment ↳Stage 2 System Evaluation ↳Nonconformity Handling ↳Technical Review ↳Certification Decision ↳Certificate Issuance ↳Surveillance & Recertification Oversight Because a certificate is not just a symbol it is a structured promise. And trust in that promise depends on how well your system delivers it. Want help strengthening your ISO/IEC 17021 system? Read the full breakdown here. #ISO17021 #CertificationBody #AuditProcess #Accreditation #ConformityAssessment #JasminDhakaan #TICIndustry #ISOCertification #ISOCompliance #TheConformityEdge #LeadAuditorTraining #ManagementSystemAudit

So you want to get your FEES competency? SPA have not endorsed a competency document, however, we can use competency frameworks from NZSTA and RCSLT as a base. Competency sign-off should be completed by an experienced Speech Pathologist FEES trainer who has completed at least 150 FEES procedures as the endoscopist and proceduralist. There are two pathways to obtaining competency. One that includes nasendoscopy, and the other without. The pathway you choose will depend on your service model. Assessment of competency will involve examining knowledge and observing skill in performing FEES both as the endoscopist (as appropriate) and the proceduralist. For nasendoscopy, knowledge required includes normal anatomy and when to refer on, risk management, optimal positioning of the scope for assessing swallowing, cleaning the scope in situ and other troubleshooting techniques. For assessment of nasendoscopy skill it is suggested that supervised practice of mock FEES procedures is completed on at least 10 non-dysphagic subjects followed by 10-15 directly supervised FEES procedures. Performing FEES on a non-dysphagic subject is very different to performing FEES on a dysphagic client! For FEES interpretation competency, assessment requires knowledge of the equipment, indications for FEES, assessment techniques and compensatory strategies, scoring approaches and using rating scales, interpretation of findings and reporting. It is suggested that 10-15 FEES procedures are performed under direct supervision including production of reports. Once competency is achieved, you need to be credentialled to perform FEES by your employer. It is also recommended to continue to receive non-direct supervision on an ongoing basis. Reach out if you need more info. Pictured here is supervised practice of a FEES procedure on the lovely Natalie Grainger of SPIN Clinic

Question of the Day: What “competence” is required for implementing an ISMS according to ISO 27001:2022? The 2022 version of ISO 27001, clause 7.2 states that the organization shall determine the necessary competence of people who affect the performance of information security. It requires appropriate education, training & experience and says the organization must take actions to ensure personnel acquire the appropriate competence. This post details the requirements for “implementers” or “internal auditors” and is not a deep-dive into the technical competencies in information security / cybersecurity or IT operations. Individuals must have knowledge of the standard, its clauses and the controls under Annex A. Regarding the organization, an understanding of the purpose of the ISMS, its scope and objectives are necessary. To ensure continual improvement, the ability to apply the PDCA methodology (Plan, Do, Check, Act) is essential. Skills necessary include: ✔️ skills to identify and assess risks and apply controls for the acceptable risk treatment for systems, services, people and processes. ✔️ understanding of legal, regulatory and contractual requirements applicable to the organization, including industry specific requirements, data protection and privacy. ✔️ Core competencies in information technology / information security including, but not limited to, awareness of threats, vulnerabilities, common attack methods, technical & organizational security measures for access control, incident response, cryptography, logging, monitoring, etc. ✔️ Ability to develop & implement policies, procedures and guidelines for the implementation and operation of the ISMS ✔️ Change management and project management skills (see previous post on the role of the project manager). ✔️ Ability to objectively evaluate the performance of the ISMS by applying audit principles to gather, analyze and interpret data. ✔️ Communication skills for conducting management reviews, raising awareness, collaboration, documentation and presentation of the ISMS processes. There are many good providers that can ensure your ISMS personnel are provided with the necessary knowledge & skills. Examples include #BSI and #PECB. Courses are available for Implementers and Internal Auditors to teach the fundamental concepts and requirements of the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard, practical processes for planning, implementing, and maintaining an ISMS, basic risk assessment / treatment skills and providing understanding of how to apply security controls to protect information assets. To become a certified Internal Auditor or Lead Implementer, select a provider who is accredited, attend the course, pass the exam; and apply for certification showing you possess the required experience and professional references. Maintaining certification requires ongoing professional development. Certifications are valid for three years and re-certification is required. #ISO27001 #EmagineIT