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CQ-PC-01 · Certiqual Professional Qualifications

Professional Programme Design and Assessment Standard

The design, approval, delivery, assessment, award and version control of each Certiqual professional qualification. This standard governs Certiqual-issued programmes; it is not an external programme-certification service.

CurrentVersion 1.0 Effective 10 Mar 2026

Scope

What this standard applies to

The design, approval, delivery, assessment, award and version control of each Certiqual professional qualification. This standard governs Certiqual-issued programmes; it is not an external programme-certification service.

Structure

Sections, requirements and evidence

CQ-PC-01.1Purpose, level and outcomes2 requirements
  1. The target population, entry requirements, intended outcomes, claimed level and progression routes are explicit and mutually coherent.
  2. Any relationship to the CEFR or a qualifications framework states the method, evidence and limitations of the claim.
Illustrative audit evidence
  • Programme rationale, stakeholder-needs analysis, outcome map and documented level rationale.

Evidence is sampled according to scope, risk and delivery model; this list is not exhaustive.

CQ-PC-01.2Curriculum, volume and delivery2 requirements
  1. Content, sequence, guided learning, independent work and total learning volume are sufficient for the intended outcomes and target learners.
  2. Delivery requirements define staff competence, resources, group conditions, access arrangements and controls for every approved mode and site.
Illustrative audit evidence
  • Curriculum map, session plans, learning-volume calculation, delivery manual, resource sample and staff criteria.

Evidence is sampled according to scope, risk and delivery model; this list is not exhaustive.

CQ-PC-01.3Assessment and certification2 requirements
  1. The assessment strategy maps every intended outcome to proportionate tasks, criteria, decision rules and quality controls.
  2. Authenticity, marking consistency, reasonable adjustments, resubmission, appeals, records and certificate wording are controlled and traceable.
Illustrative audit evidence
  • Assessment blueprint, task and criterion samples, moderation records, adjustment decisions, appeals process and certificate template.

Evidence is sampled according to scope, risk and delivery model; this list is not exhaustive.

CQ-PC-01.4Evaluation, review and version control2 requirements
  1. Completion, achievement, progression, learner feedback and delivery evidence are reviewed against defined indicators and lead to recorded action.
  2. Every approved version has an owner, change record and effective date; material changes require academic review before enrolment or award under the revised specification.
Illustrative audit evidence
  • Evaluation dashboard, review minutes, action log, version register, change-impact assessments and withdrawal controls.

Evidence is sampled according to scope, risk and delivery model; this list is not exhaustive.

Indicators

What effective implementation looks like

  • Each qualification claim is limited to the published Certiqual title, code, version, learning volume, assessment requirements and award record.
  • Outcome, curriculum, learning volume, delivery and assessment form one documented chain of alignment.

Related Certiqual guidance

How the requirements are interpreted in practice.

Certiqual

Professional qualification specification protocol

Public programme pages state entry profile, outcomes, learning volume, workload, assessment and award conditions for each current qualification.

Open the guidance

Version history

Decisions remain linked to their basis.

10 Mar 2026Version 1.0

Current published version.

No earlier versionHistorical integrity

Future versions will be added without overwriting this record.