Accreditation
Competence and Impartiality
How technical capability and protection from improper influence support credible accreditation.
Two foundations
Competence enables a valid technical conclusion. Impartiality protects that conclusion.
Competence
Competence is the demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skill to achieve intended results. It is defined for roles and activities, not inferred from a job title alone.
- Relevant education, training and experience
- Activity-specific evaluation and authorization
- Observed performance and continuing monitoring
- Access to current methods, resources and technical support
Impartiality
Impartiality is the presence of objectivity. Organizations identify relationships, pressures and incentives that could affect technical judgement and demonstrate effective controls.
- Conflict identification and disclosure
- Separation of incompatible responsibilities
- Protection of technical and decision functions
- Escalation, review and documented safeguards
Understand the distinction
Capability and objectivity must both be credible.
Being technically qualified does not remove a conflict; being independent does not establish technical competence.
Competence is activity-specific
Education and experience provide context, but the ability to perform the defined work also depends on methods, resources, authorization and demonstrated practice.
Competence evidenceImpartiality needs effective controls
Identify relationships, pressures and incompatible responsibilities that could affect judgement. Controls should protect the technical conclusion, not simply collect declarations.
Institutional integrityPublic scope and confidential evidence
The public record states the approved scope and status. Assessment evidence and unnecessary personal, proprietary or sensitive information are not automatically published.
Information handlingAF safeguards
The accreditation decision remains independent from participation relationships.
AF selects assessors for relevant competence and absence of conflicts. Assessment evidence is reviewed independently before an authorized decision. Fees support the assessment service but do not purchase an outcome. Membership, sponsorship or Recognition status cannot create entitlement to accreditation or preferential treatment.
Confidential evidence, controlled public record
Application and assessment evidence is handled as controlled information. Public disclosure is limited to the approved status, scope, dates, locations and any necessary limitations or public notes.