Certus Credentialing Programs
Qualifications for Issuance
Certus provides certificate or certification issuance to all users who successfully meet the requisites of credentialing programs. Program requisites may be determined by law, accreditation standards or Certus itself.
Certificates are issued only to qualified candidates of certificate programs who have fulfilled the following program requisites:
- Registration with the Company
- Completion of online course or training materials
- Successful completion of the assessment (i.e., receiving a passing score)
- No evidence of cheating or fraudulent behavior
Certifications are issued only to qualified candidates of certification programs who have fulfilled the following program requisites:
- Registration with the Company
- Acceptance of content usage policies
- Certification examination initiated, taken and completed in a proctored environment
- Successful completion of online certification examination (i.e., receiving a passing score)
- No evidence of cheating or fraudulent behavior
Certificate Issuance
Certificates and certifications are automatically generated when a user meets all requisites as outlined in 2.3.1. Company employees and customers may not artificially create or issue certificates or certifications in lieu of the honest fulfillment of a program's requisites.
The Company utilizes industry best practices to ensure the security and integrity of all certificate- and certification-issuing systems, documents and assets.
Certificates and certifications are issued to individuals and are nontransferable between individuals.
Certificate Use
Certificate or certification use may include, but is not limited to:
- Demonstrating achievement of stated knowledge, skills and abilities/attitudes as defined and dictated by partnered health department officials, state or local laws or regulations, certification program standards and/or legislative documents.
- Obtaining for educational purposes.
- Meeting employer requirements.
Acronyms and Credentials
Qualified candidates receiving certificates are not issued credentials or acronyms by the Company.
Qualified candidates receiving certifications from the Company are issued the Certified Food Protection Manager credential with the associated acronym CFPM.
Certificate Composition
Each credentialing program awards a unique certificate. Initial certificate design, and any subsequent changes, must be approved by the product manager and accreditations manager.
Certificates awarded for certificate programs must include:
- Name of the certificate holder
- Unique certificate number
- Title and scope of the certificate program
- Name of the certificate issuer
- Certificate issue date
- Certificate term of validity
- Certificate issuer's signature of authorization
Certificates awarded for certification programs must include:
- Name of the certified individual
- Unique certificate number
- Name of the certification
- Certification issue date
- Certification term of validity
- Examination form number
- Name and certification mark of certification organization
- Accrediting organization mark
- Contact information for the certification organization
Certificate Invalidation
Certus has the right to invalidate any certificate or certification found to be issued due to fraudulent behavior. Any claim of fraudulent behavior will be investigated. An investigation may be initiated due to:
- Fraudulent or otherwise dishonest completion of the online assessment or examination;
- Duplicated or otherwise "doctored" certificates;
- Request for investigation from a health department official, employer or other stakeholder that results in discovery or increased suspicion of fraudulent behavior;
- Other reasonable evidence to warrant suspicion that a certificate was improperly awarded.
When a certificate is invalidated, a note will be added to the student's account to keep record of the date and reason for invalidation, as well as the name of the staff member who deactivated the certificate. A representative of the Company will notify the appropriate health department partners, as applicable.
Certificate Invalidation Process
Steps to invalidate a certificate include:
- Invalidation proposed by Company employee or program stakeholder.
- Decision to invalidate is made by the accreditation committee.
- Certificate is invalidated by a member of the customer care team and notes are added to the student's account.
- Certificate holder is notified of the invalidation by a member of the customer care team or the accreditation committee. Information regarding how to appeal the invalidation shall be provided.