Controlled scope
What this document governs
Applies to the Certi Mark – Examination and Certi Mark – Examination Body award subjects. The approved scope identifies exactly which examination, suite, versions and body controls were assessed.
Use CQ-SHB-02 version 1.0 for work started against this publication. Retain the code and version with any saved or shared copy; a later version does not silently rewrite an earlier decision record.
CQ-SHB-02.01
Purpose and award subjects
This handbook governs application of CQ-EX-01. It separates two possible award subjects: a named examination and an examination body. The technical standard is common, but the unit of accountability, scope and sampling differ.
Certi Mark confirms that sufficient evidence was assessed for the approved subject and scope at the decision date. It is not a guarantee of every future administration, every candidate result, regulatory acceptance or recognition by another organisation.
CQ-SHB-02.02
Eligibility and evidence maturity
The applicant must control the examination or body submitted and have authority to provide technical and operational records. The subject must have sufficient design, administration, scoring and monitoring evidence to support evaluation of the claims it makes.
A new or materially redesigned examination may be eligible only where the available validation strategy, pilot evidence and implementation controls are adequate for the proposed claims. Certiqual may defer formal assessment until the evidence base is mature enough.
CQ-SHB-02.03
Defining Examination and Examination Body scope
An Examination scope names the exact product, suite, levels, skills, intended uses, delivery modes, versions, candidate populations, territories and operational arrangements assessed. Related products are excluded unless expressly named.
An Examination Body scope assesses the accountable organisation and its system of governance and technical control across a defined portfolio. It does not automatically award Certi Mark to every current or future examination. The decision record names the portfolio boundaries and the samples supporting the body-level conclusion.
CQ-SHB-02.04
Application and technical file
The application identifies the accountable entity, award subject, exact scope, ownership and partner arrangements, examination history, intended interpretations and uses, candidate populations and material access or security constraints.
The controlled technical file links purpose and construct to specifications, development, form assembly, administration, access arrangements, scoring, standard setting, reporting, validation, fairness, security, incidents and change control. It identifies versions, owners, populations, limitations and source-record locations.
CQ-SHB-02.05
Planning, competence and conflicts
Certiqual plans technical and operational review according to the award subject, claims, delivery model, portfolio size, candidate risk, subcontracting and evidence maturity. The plan identifies specialist competence, required data, sampled administrations or products, interviews and access arrangements.
Reviewers disclose conflicts and work within assigned competence. Technical advice or development support is separated from assessment and decision. The applicant may raise a reasoned concern about assignment, but cannot select the reviewer or decision-maker.
CQ-SHB-02.06
Technical review domains
The review examines the coherence of the argument from intended use to score interpretation. It considers construct definition, specifications, development controls, scoring quality, standard setting, reliability or consistency, validity evidence, fairness, access arrangements and monitoring. The relevance and strength of each evidence type depend on the claims and context.
- Claims must be specific enough to be examined and supported by relevant evidence.
- Known limitations and contrary evidence are included in the technical account.
- Monitoring must be capable of detecting drift, subgroup effects and operational threats.
CQ-SHB-02.07
Examination Body portfolio sampling
For an Examination Body application, Certiqual first defines the portfolio universe and the common governance and technical controls claimed. Samples are selected to test those controls across material variation, which may include purpose, language, level, skill, delivery mode, scale, age group, territory, development stage and partner model.
Sampling never removes the body’s responsibility for the full approved scope. Certiqual records the selection rationale and limitations and may expand the sample where a control is not consistently applied or a risk is concentrated. New product families are not automatically included.
CQ-SHB-02.08
Operations, security, centres and partners
Technical quality must be preserved in live operation. The assessment therefore examines identity and registration controls, secure material handling, administration consistency, incident management, malpractice controls, access arrangements, scoring or rating operations, results release and complaints or appeals affecting candidates.
Delegation to centres, platforms, raters, item writers or other partners does not transfer accountability. The applicant defines responsibilities, competence, monitoring, data flows, escalation and termination controls and can obtain the records needed for assessment and oversight.
CQ-SHB-02.09
Findings and corrective action
Every finding identifies the CQ-EX-01 requirement, affected examination or body control and objective evidence. Its significance considers candidate impact, validity of interpretations, security, scale, recurrence and whether the weakness is isolated or systemic.
Corrective action addresses immediate control, affected results or administrations where relevant, supported cause, systemic remediation and effectiveness. Certiqual may require further technical analysis, resampling or observation before closure. A submitted plan is not evidence that the issue is resolved.
CQ-SHB-02.10
Independent decision and award
An independent decision-maker reviews the defined award subject, technical and operational report, samples, limitations, findings and corrective-action evidence. For an Examination Body, the decision explicitly considers whether sampled evidence supports a conclusion about the common controls across the approved portfolio.
The outcome may be award, award with stated conditions, deferral for specified evidence or refusal. The decision record identifies the exact scope, standard and handbook versions, limitations and any monitoring conditions. Certi Mark is not awarded by completion of review activity alone.
CQ-SHB-02.11
Public register and communication boundaries
The public record names the accountable entity, award subject, approved examination or body scope, record code, status and decision basis. Users should rely on that record rather than a logo displayed without context.
The mark must not be applied to an unlisted examination, version, level, delivery mode, territory or partner arrangement. Body-level recognition must not be represented as individual product recognition unless the public record says so. Claims of guaranteed acceptance, universal equivalence or endorsement by another body are prohibited.
CQ-SHB-02.12
Monitoring, change and incidents
Continued recognition depends on effective monitoring of performance and risk. Certiqual may request data, technical updates, incident records, partner monitoring, new forms or targeted samples and may conduct additional review where confidence changes.
Material changes are reported before implementation where practicable and otherwise without avoidable delay. They include changes to purpose, construct, specifications, delivery or scoring model, standards, security architecture, ownership, key suppliers, portfolio composition or any serious incident affecting results, fairness, confidentiality or public confidence.
CQ-SHB-02.13
Renewal, suspension and withdrawal
Renewal is based on a fresh appraisal of current technical and operational evidence. Previous findings, performance trends, product changes, portfolio evolution, incidents, complaints and monitoring results inform its depth and sampling.
Certiqual may suspend a product, part of a portfolio or the full award when evidence is insufficient, controls fail, access is denied, serious incidents remain unresolved or claims are misleading. Withdrawal may follow serious or persistent failure, misuse, misrepresentation or failure to restore confidence. Affected mark use and claims must stop when notified.
CQ-SHB-02.14
Complaints, appeals, confidentiality and records
Service or conduct complaints and appeals against formal decisions follow the applicable published policies. Review is assigned with appropriate independence. An appeal identifies the decision, grounds and relevant evidence; it is not a new application and does not automatically stay the decision.
Technical and candidate information is handled under applicable confidentiality, data-protection and security arrangements. The applicant must provide appropriately protected access while Certiqual retains records sufficient to demonstrate scope, methods, samples, findings, decision basis and later status changes. Public disclosure is limited to the authorised register record and information required by law or agreement.