ATU |Council for Professional Accreditation and Certification

1. Document Control

Document Title: ATU-CPAC Provider Accreditation Policy
Document Owner: ATU-CPAC Provider Accreditation Committee
Issuing Authority: Arab Trainers Union
Policy Authority: ATU-CPAC Governing Council
Approval Authority: Arab Trainers Union Board of Directors, where required
Effective Date: 1 June 2026
Review Date: Every three years, or earlier where required
Applicability: Accredited, approved, and applicant training providers operating under the ATU-CPAC framework

2. Introduction

The Arab Trainers Union Council for Professional Accreditation and Certification, referred to as ATU-CPAC, is a specialized council operating within the Arab Trainers Union.

ATU-CPAC is responsible for regulating, accrediting, monitoring, and quality assuring professional training providers, assessment centers, professional programs, assessed training programs, and delivery partners operating under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

All certificates, professional certifications, accreditation certificates, assessed certificates, registry confirmations, and verification records governed by ATU-CPAC are issued in the name and under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

Provider accreditation is used to confirm that a training provider meets ATU-CPAC requirements within an approved scope and is capable of delivering quality professional training, assessment, and certification-related services.

3. Purpose

This policy sets out how ATU-CPAC assesses, approves, accredits, monitors, renews, suspends, withdraws, or revokes training provider accreditation.

The policy aims to:

1. Protect the credibility of ATU-issued credentials.
2. Ensure providers meet ATU-CPAC standards.
3. Support quality professional training and assessment.
4. Promote transparent and evidence-based accreditation decisions.
5. Encourage continuous improvement among providers.
6. Ensure accurate public information, registry listing, and verification.
7. Support the transition of current ATU accredited centers into the ATU-CPAC framework.

4. Scope

This policy applies to:

1. ATU-CPAC bodies, committees, reviewers, quality assurers, and decision-makers involved in provider accreditation.
2. Training providers applying for ATU-CPAC approval or accreditation.
3. Existing ATU accredited centers transitioning to ATU-CPAC.
4. Authorized assessment centers.
5. Accredited training program providers.
6. Accredited professional program providers.
7. Authorized delivery partners.
8. Providers delivering ATU-CPAC-governed assessed training or professional certification pathways.

This policy does not replace governmental licensing, academic degree approval, statutory professional registration, or regulated-sector authorization unless recognized by the competent authority.

5. Accreditation Categories

ATU-CPAC may approve or accredit providers under one or more of the following categories:

1. Approved Provider
   A provider approved to deliver specified ATU-CPAC-governed training activities within a defined scope.
2. Accredited Provider
   A provider that demonstrates stronger institutional capacity, quality assurance, trainer competence, learner support, records management, and compliance with ATU-CPAC standards.
3. Premier Accredited Provider
   A provider with advanced quality maturity, strong governance, proven performance, effective internal quality assurance, and sustained compliance.
4. Authorized Assessment Center
   A center approved to administer assessments, examinations, assignments, practical assessments, portfolios, interviews, or other approved assessment methods.
5. Accredited Training Program
   A specific training program reviewed and approved against ATU-CPAC requirements.
6. Accredited Professional Program
   A structured professional program aligned to professional competencies, assessment requirements, and certification pathways.
7. Authorized Delivery Partner
   An organization authorized to deliver approved ATU or ATU-CPAC programs under defined contractual, quality assurance, branding, and reporting conditions.

6. Accreditation Principles

ATU-CPAC provider accreditation shall be guided by the following principles:

6.1 Quality Improvement

Accreditation is a quality improvement process. It identifies strengths, areas for improvement, and actions needed to strengthen professional training and assessment.

6.2 Fitness for Purpose

Accreditation focuses on whether the provider has the systems, people, resources, and controls needed to deliver the approved scope.

6.3 Evidence-Based Decision-Making

Accreditation decisions shall be based on documented evidence, approved standards, review findings, quality assurance reports, and risk assessment.

6.4 Impartiality

Accreditation decisions shall be free from bias, conflict of interest, improper influence, or commercial pressure.

6.5 Proportionality

The accreditation process shall be proportionate to the provider category, delivery mode, program risk, assessment risk, and scale of activity.

6.6 Transparency

Providers shall receive clear information about requirements, process, outcomes, conditions, monitoring, renewal, complaints, and appeals.

6.7 Collaboration

ATU-CPAC and providers shall work collaboratively while maintaining clear accountability and compliance with approved standards.

6.8 Continuous Monitoring

Accreditation is not a one-time approval. Accredited providers remain subject to monitoring, quality assurance, corrective action, and renewal.

7. Accreditation Requirements

To be approved or accredited, a provider must demonstrate compliance with ATU-CPAC requirements in the following areas:

1. Legal or institutional status.
2. Governance and leadership.
3. Administrative capacity.
4. Quality assurance system.
5. Qualified and approved trainers.
6. Trainers certified by the Arab Trainers Union where required.
7. Qualified assessors where assessment is included.
8. Internal quality assurance arrangements.
9. Program design and delivery capacity.
10. Assessment security and integrity where applicable.
11. Learner admission, support, and feedback.
12. Facilities or digital learning platform.
13. Records management.
14. Data protection and confidentiality.
15. Complaints and appeals procedures.
16. Malpractice and maladministration procedures.
17. Accurate public information and marketing.
18. Compliance with ATU-CPAC standards.
19. Partner compliance where applicable.
20. Willingness to cooperate with ATU-CPAC monitoring and external quality assurance.

8. Accreditation Process

The normal accreditation process includes:

1. Application Submission
   The provider submits the official application and required evidence.
2. Administrative Screening
   ATU-CPAC checks completeness, eligibility, category requested, scope requested, and required fees where applicable.
3. Document Review
   ATU-CPAC reviews governance documents, policies, trainer records, assessor records, program documents, assessment arrangements, quality assurance records, facilities evidence, and public information.
4. Evaluation and Assessment
   The provider is assessed against ATU-CPAC Provider Accreditation Standards. This may include desktop review, remote review, interview, site visit, or external quality assurance review.
5. Committee Recommendation
   The Provider Accreditation Committee reviews the findings and makes a recommendation.
6. Decision and Approval
   The accreditation decision is made according to the approved delegation of authority.
7. Issuance and Registry Listing
   Approved providers receive an official ATU accreditation certificate or approval letter and may be listed in the relevant registry.
8. Monitoring and Renewal
   Accredited providers are monitored during the accreditation period and must apply for renewal before expiry.

9. Accreditation Outcomes

ATU-CPAC may issue one of the following decisions:

1. Approved
   The provider meets the requirements within the approved scope.
2. Approved with Conditions
   The provider is approved but must complete specified actions within a defined timeframe.
3. Deferred Pending Evidence
   The decision is delayed until missing or additional evidence is submitted.
4. Limited Scope Approval
   The provider is approved for part of the requested scope only.
5. Rejected
   The provider does not meet the requirements or has not provided sufficient evidence.
6. Suspended
   The provider’s status is temporarily restricted due to risk, non-compliance, investigation, or failure to meet conditions.
7. Withdrawn
   The provider’s status is ended due to expiry, voluntary withdrawal, failure to renew, or failure to maintain requirements.
8. Revoked
   The provider’s status is cancelled due to serious breach, fraud, malpractice, false claims, misuse of ATU credentials, or serious reputational risk.
9. Reinstated
   The provider’s status is restored after verified corrective action and approval by the competent authority.

10. Validity and Scope

Accreditation shall be granted for a defined period and within a defined scope.

The scope may include:

1. Accreditation category.
2. Approved programs.
3. Approved assessment activities.
4. Approved delivery mode.
5. Approved location or country.
6. Approved trainers.
7. Approved assessors.
8. Approved language of delivery.
9. Approved partner arrangement.
10. Conditions or limitations.

Validity periods:

Providers must not advertise, deliver, assess, or request certificates outside their approved scope.

11. Responsibilities of ATU-CPAC

ATU-CPAC shall:

1. Publish clear accreditation requirements.
2. Apply standards consistently and fairly.
3. Review applications against approved criteria.
4. Maintain impartial decision-making.
5. Protect confidential provider and learner information.
6. Provide clear accreditation outcomes.
7. Monitor accredited providers.
8. Maintain provider registry records.
9. Review complaints and appeals fairly.
10. Require corrective action where needed.
11. Suspend, withdraw, or revoke accreditation where required.
12. Review and improve accreditation standards and processes.

12. Responsibilities of Providers

Accredited and approved providers shall:

1. Operate only within the approved scope.
2. Comply with ATU-CPAC standards and policies.
3. Maintain effective governance and quality assurance.
4. Use qualified and approved trainers.
5. Ensure trainers are certified by the Arab Trainers Union where required.
6. Use approved assessors where assessment is included.
7. Maintain accurate learner, assessment, and certificate records.
8. Protect assessment security.
9. Provide learner support and clear information.
10. Manage complaints and appeals fairly.
11. Report malpractice, serious incidents, and significant changes.
12. Use ATU and ATU-CPAC names, logos, and statements only as authorized.
13. Avoid misleading public claims.
14. Cooperate with monitoring, audit, IQA, EQA, and corrective action.
15. Apply for renewal before expiry.

13. Significant Change Notification

Providers must notify ATU-CPAC of significant changes that may affect accreditation status or approved scope.

Significant changes include:

1. Ownership or legal status change.
2. Senior management change.
3. Location or branch change.
4. Trainer, assessor, or IQA change.
5. Program content or title change.
6. Assessment method change.
7. Delivery mode change.
8. LMS or digital platform change.
9. Partner arrangement change.
10. Data breach.
11. Legal or regulatory issue.
12. Public complaint or reputational risk.
13. Financial or operational difficulty.

ATU-CPAC may require additional evidence, review the provider’s risk level, limit the scope, or suspend activity pending review.

14. Monitoring and Renewal

Accredited providers are subject to ongoing monitoring.

Monitoring shall include:

1. Annual provider report.
2. Document review.
3. Remote review.
4. Site visit.
5. External quality assurance visit.
6. Assessment sampling.
7. Learner feedback review.
8. Trainer and assessor records review.
9. Public claims review.
10. Registry accuracy review.
11. Corrective action follow-up.

Renewal shall be based on continued compliance, quality assurance records, provider performance, complaints and appeals history, trainer certification status, assessment integrity, registry accuracy, and completion of corrective actions.

Failure to renew before expiry may result in expiry, suspension, removal from active registry listing, or requirement to reapply.

15. Suspension, Withdrawal, and Revocation

ATU-CPAC may suspend, withdraw, or revoke provider accreditation where there is evidence of:

1. Operating outside approved scope.
2. Use of unapproved trainers or assessors.
3. Failure to meet trainer certification requirements.
4. Weak or absent internal quality assurance.
5. Assessment security failure.
6. False or misleading public claims.
7. Misuse of ATU or ATU-CPAC name, logo, certificate, seal, QR code, or registry record.
8. Unauthorized certificate issuance.
9. Failure to implement corrective actions.
10. Refusal to cooperate with monitoring or audit.
11. Data protection or confidentiality breach.
12. Serious complaint, malpractice, or fraud.
13. Conduct that may damage the reputation of ATU or ATU-CPAC.

Suspension, withdrawal, or revocation shall be documented and communicated to the provider, including reasons, required actions, registry impact, and appeal rights.

16. Complaints and Appeals

Providers may submit complaints or appeals according to ATU-CPAC procedures.

Appeals may relate to:

1. Rejection of application.
2. Conditional approval.
3. Scope limitation.
4. Suspension.
5. Withdrawal.
6. Revocation.
7. Non-renewal.
8. Corrective action decision.

Appeals should be submitted within 15 days from notification of the decision unless another approved procedure applies.

Appeals shall be reviewed impartially by persons not involved in the original decision. A final appeal may be referred to an ATU-appointed Final Appeals Panel or to ATU Board members uninvolved in the original decision.

17. Public Information and Use of Status

Providers must ensure that public information is accurate, approved, and not misleading.

Providers must not:

1. Claim accreditation outside the approved scope.
2. Claim expired, suspended, withdrawn, or revoked status.
3. Claim independent authority to issue ATU certificates.
4. Claim governmental licensing unless legally granted.
5. Advertise unapproved programs as accredited.
6. Promise certification without required assessment.
7. Misuse ATU, ATU-CPAC, or partner logos.
8. Misrepresent ATU-CPAC accreditation as an academic degree approval.

Approved wording may include:

“Provider approval or accreditation is granted within the approved ATU-CPAC scope under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union. ATU-CPAC regulates, monitors, and quality assures the approved scope. Certificates are issued by the Arab Trainers Union according to approved procedures.”

18. Registry and Verification

Approved and accredited providers may be listed in ATU or ATU-CPAC registries.

Registry information may include:

1. Provider name.
2. Country.
3. Accreditation category.
4. Approved scope.
5. Certificate or approval number.
6. Issue date.
7. Expiry date.
8. Status.
9. Approved programs.
10. Verification link or QR code.
11. Conditions or limitations where applicable.

Registry status may be active, conditional, expired, suspended, withdrawn, revoked, or under review.

19. Transition of Existing ATU Accredited Centers

Existing ATU accredited centers shall be reviewed and transitioned into the ATU-CPAC framework.

Transition review may consider:

1. Existing ATU accreditation status.
2. Provider documents.
3. Trainer records.
4. ATU trainer certification status.
5. Programs delivered.
6. Assessment arrangements.
7. Quality assurance records.
8. Public claims.
9. Certificate records.
10. Complaints or compliance history.
11. Registry data.

Transition outcomes may include:

1. Approved transition.
2. Approved transition with conditions.
3. Limited scope transition.
4. Temporary approval.
5. Additional evidence required.
6. Reassessment required.
7. Suspension pending compliance.
8. Withdrawal where requirements are not met.

20. Review of Policy

This policy shall be reviewed every three years or earlier where required due to:

1. ATU Board decision.
2. Legal or regulatory change.
3. ATU-CPAC standards update.
4. Quality assurance findings.
5. Provider performance trends.
6. Partner requirements.
7. Serious complaints or appeals.
8. Malpractice or registry incident.
9. Operational need.

21. Definitions

Final Policy Statement

ATU-CPAC Provider Accreditation exists to ensure that every approved or accredited provider operating under the Arab Trainers Union framework demonstrates quality, integrity, competence, transparency, and compliance.

Through clear standards, certified trainers, controlled assessment, internal and external quality assurance, accurate registry verification, and continuous monitoring, ATU-CPAC protects the credibility of ATU-issued credentials and strengthens professional training and certification across Arab countries.