ATU |Council for Professional Accreditation and Certification

1. Document Control

Document Title: ATU-CPAC External Quality Assurance Policy
Document Owner: ATU-CPAC Quality Assurance and Compliance 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: ATU-CPAC, approved providers, accredited providers, authorized assessment centers, external quality assurers, internal quality assurers, assessors, trainers, candidates, learners, and partners involved in ATU-CPAC-governed activities

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 regulates, monitors, quality assures, and verifies professional accreditation, professional certification, assessed training programs, assessment systems, provider performance, and registry controls under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

External Quality Assurance, referred to as EQA, is the independent quality review process used by ATU-CPAC to confirm that providers, assessment centers, programs, assessments, internal quality assurance systems, and certificate recommendations comply with ATU-CPAC standards.

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

3. Purpose

This policy sets out how external quality assurance shall be planned, conducted, reported, followed up, and used to support accreditation, certification, assessment integrity, provider monitoring, and continuous improvement.

The policy aims to:

1. Protect the credibility of ATU-issued certificates and professional certifications.
2. Provide independent assurance of provider and assessment quality.
3. Confirm that internal quality assurance is effective.
4. Ensure assessment decisions are fair, valid, reliable, and evidence-based.
5. Monitor provider compliance with ATU-CPAC standards.
6. Identify risks, nonconformities, and improvement needs.
7. Support accreditation, renewal, suspension, withdrawal, and certification release decisions.
8. Strengthen continuous improvement across ATU-CPAC-governed activities.

4. Scope

This policy applies to EQA activities related to:

1. Provider accreditation.
2. Approved and accredited providers.
3. Authorized assessment centers.
4. Professional certification pathways.
5. Assessed training programs.
6. Certificates of achievement.
7. Accredited training programs.
8. Accredited professional programs.
9. Internal quality assurance systems.
10. Assessment design and assessment decisions.
11. Candidate evidence and assessment records.
12. Registry and certificate verification controls.
13. Partner-endorsed or jointly supported programs where applicable.
14. Transition review of existing ATU accredited centers and certified trainers.

This policy applies to face-to-face, blended, online, remote, and workplace-based delivery and assessment.

5. External Quality Assurance Principles

ATU-CPAC external quality assurance shall be guided by the following principles.

5.1 Independence

EQA shall be conducted by competent reviewers who are independent from the provider, assessment decision, or activity being reviewed.

5.2 Integrity

EQA shall protect the credibility, validity, and public trust of ATU-issued credentials.

5.3 Evidence-Based Review

EQA findings shall be based on documented evidence, provider records, assessment samples, IQA records, candidate evidence, interviews, observations, and registry data.

5.4 Impartiality

EQA shall be free from bias, conflict of interest, improper influence, commercial pressure, or personal relationship.

5.5 Proportionality

EQA activity shall be proportionate to provider risk, program level, assessment risk, candidate volume, provider history, and previous quality findings.

5.6 Transparency

Providers shall receive clear information about EQA scope, evidence requirements, review methods, findings, required actions, timelines, and appeal rights where applicable.

5.7 Consistency

EQA judgments shall be applied consistently across providers, assessors, programs, countries, and delivery modes.

5.8 Continuous Improvement

EQA shall identify good practice, improvement opportunities, nonconformities, risks, and actions required to strengthen quality.

5.9 Confidentiality

Provider records, candidate evidence, assessment materials, EQA reports, complaints, appeals, and investigation records shall be protected.

6. EQA Requirements

ATU-CPAC may require EQA for:

1. Initial provider accreditation.
2. Provider renewal.
3. Authorized assessment center approval.
4. High-risk providers.
5. New providers.
6. New programs.
7. High-stakes certification schemes.
8. Partner-endorsed programs.
9. Programs with unusual assessment results.
10. Providers with repeated complaints or appeals.
11. Providers with weak IQA.
12. Providers under corrective action.
13. Providers transitioning from previous ATU accreditation.
14. Providers requesting scope expansion.
15. Programs selected through risk-based sampling.

EQA may be conducted through desktop review, remote review, site visit, assessment sampling, interview, observation, or a combination of methods.

7. EQA Planning

ATU-CPAC shall prepare an EQA plan according to the approved monitoring cycle and provider risk classification.

The EQA plan should include:

1. Provider name.
2. Program or certification title.
3. Approved scope under review.
4. EQA purpose.
5. EQA method.
6. Review date.
7. EQA reviewer.
8. Evidence required.
9. Sampling approach.
10. Risk areas.
11. Interviews or observations required.
12. Reporting deadline.
13. Follow-up arrangements.

Providers shall be informed of planned EQA activity except where an unannounced or urgent review is required due to risk, malpractice, complaint, or certificate integrity concern.

8. EQA Review Methods

EQA may include the following methods:

1. Document review.
2. Remote meeting.
3. Site visit.
4. LMS or digital platform review.
5. Assessment sampling.
6. Candidate evidence review.
7. IQA record review.
8. Assessor interview.
9. Trainer interview.
10. Learner or candidate feedback review.
11. Observation of assessment or training activity.
12. Public information and marketing review.
13. Registry and certificate data review.
14. Corrective action follow-up.
15. Partner compliance review where applicable.

The selected method shall depend on risk, provider category, assessment type, delivery mode, and ATU-CPAC requirements.

9. EQA Review Areas

EQA shall review whether the provider:

1. Operates within approved scope.
2. Complies with ATU-CPAC standards.
3. Uses approved trainers, assessors, and IQAs.
4. Ensures trainers are certified by the Arab Trainers Union where required.
5. Delivers approved program content.
6. Uses approved assessment methods.
7. Applies assessment criteria and rubrics correctly.
8. Maintains valid and reliable assessment decisions.
9. Conducts effective internal quality assurance.
10. Maintains assessment security.
11. Protects candidate and provider data.
12. Maintains accurate records.
13. Provides fair learner and candidate support.
14. Manages complaints and appeals properly.
15. Reports malpractice and maladministration.
16. Implements corrective actions.
17. Uses ATU and ATU-CPAC names and logos correctly.
18. Maintains accurate registry and certificate data.
19. Complies with partner requirements where applicable.

10. EQA Sampling

EQA sampling shall be risk-based and sufficient to confirm the quality of assessment, IQA, and provider compliance.

Sampling may include:

1. Candidate assessment evidence.
2. Passed assessments.
3. Failed assessments.
4. Borderline decisions.
5. High-scoring submissions.
6. Reassessments or resubmissions.
7. RPL evidence where applicable.
8. Assessor feedback.
9. IQA records.
10. Standardization records.
11. Complaints and appeals records.
12. Malpractice records.
13. Certificate recommendation records.
14. Registry entries.

Suggested EQA sampling guidance:

11. EQA Outcomes

EQA outcomes may include:

1. Compliance confirmed.
2. Good practice identified.
3. Recommendation for improvement.
4. Minor nonconformity.
5. Major nonconformity.
6. Critical nonconformity.
7. Corrective action required.
8. Increased monitoring required.
9. Certification release approved.
10. Certification release held.
11. Scope limitation recommended.
12. Provider suspension recommended.
13. Provider withdrawal or revocation recommended.
14. Referral for investigation.
15. Referral to ATU-CPAC Governing Council or ATU leadership.

12. EQA Reports

Each EQA activity shall produce a written report.

The EQA report should include:

1. Provider name.
2. Provider category.
3. Program or certification reviewed.
4. Review date.
5. Review method.
6. EQA reviewer name.
7. Scope of review.
8. Evidence reviewed.
9. Candidate samples reviewed.
10. Strengths and good practice.
11. Findings.
12. Nonconformities.
13. Risk level.
14. Required corrective actions.
15. Deadlines.
16. Certification release recommendation where applicable.
17. Monitoring recommendation.
18. Follow-up requirements.
19. EQA signature or approval.

EQA reports shall be submitted to ATU-CPAC and shared with the provider according to approved procedures.

13. Corrective Action and Follow-Up

Where EQA identifies nonconformity, the provider shall submit and implement a corrective action plan.

The corrective action process shall include:

1. Finding description.
2. Severity level.
3. Root cause.
4. Corrective action.
5. Responsible person.
6. Deadline.
7. Evidence required.
8. Verification method.
9. Closure decision.
10. Escalation where unresolved.

ATU-CPAC may require evidence review, remote follow-up, site revisit, additional sampling, or increased monitoring before closing corrective actions.

14. Nonconformity Levels

EQA findings shall be classified according to risk.

Critical findings shall be escalated immediately to ATU-CPAC leadership and may result in certificate hold, suspension, investigation, or registry action.

15. Certificate Release and Hold

ATU-CPAC may require EQA release before certificates or professional certifications are issued.

Certificate release may be approved where:

1. Candidate evidence is sufficient.
2. Assessment decisions are valid and reliable.
3. IQA has been completed.
4. Records are complete.
5. No unresolved critical findings exist.
6. Provider is operating within approved scope.
7. Registry and certificate data are accurate.

ATU-CPAC may hold certificate release where:

1. EQA findings are unresolved.
2. Assessment evidence is insufficient.
3. IQA is weak or absent.
4. Malpractice is suspected.
5. Provider status is suspended.
6. Assessment security is compromised.
7. Candidate or certificate data is inaccurate.
8. Partner release requirements are not met.

16. Provider Risk Monitoring

EQA shall support risk-based provider monitoring.

Risk indicators include:

1. Weak or missing IQA.
2. Repeated assessment errors.
3. Unusual pass or fail rates.
4. High number of appeals.
5. Repeated complaints.
6. Trainer certification gaps.
7. Use of unapproved assessors.
8. Incomplete candidate records.
9. Late or poor corrective action.
10. Public claims violations.
11. Registry errors.
12. Data protection concerns.
13. Assessment security incidents.
14. Partner compliance issues.
15. Refusal to cooperate with ATU-CPAC.

High-risk providers may be subject to additional EQA, site visits, increased sampling, conditions, scope limitation, suspension, or withdrawal.

17. Responsibilities of ATU-CPAC

ATU-CPAC shall:

1. Set EQA requirements.
2. Appoint competent external quality assurers.
3. Maintain EQA procedures and templates.
4. Apply EQA consistently and impartially.
5. Review EQA reports.
6. Monitor provider corrective actions.
7. Use EQA findings in accreditation and certification decisions.
8. Hold certificate release where required.
9. Escalate serious risks.
10. Maintain EQA records.
11. Review EQA trends for continuous improvement.
12. Protect the credibility of ATU-issued credentials.

18. Responsibilities of External Quality Assurers

External Quality Assurers shall:

1. Understand ATU-CPAC standards and procedures.
2. Conduct reviews objectively and professionally.
3. Declare conflicts of interest.
4. Maintain independence from the provider under review.
5. Protect confidentiality.
6. Review evidence fairly.
7. Apply EQA criteria consistently.
8. Identify strengths, risks, and nonconformities.
9. Prepare clear reports.
10. Recommend corrective actions.
11. Verify corrective action evidence where required.
12. Escalate serious concerns immediately.

19. Responsibilities of Providers

Approved and accredited providers shall:

1. Cooperate with EQA reviews.
2. Provide requested evidence.
3. Ensure staff availability for review.
4. Allow access to records, facilities, platforms, and assessment evidence.
5. Maintain accurate IQA records.
6. Maintain complete candidate and assessment records.
7. Report malpractice or serious incidents.
8. Implement corrective actions within deadlines.
9. Avoid misleading public claims.
10. Operate only within approved scope.
11. Ensure trainers are certified by the Arab Trainers Union where required.
12. Protect assessment and candidate data.
13. Support EQA follow-up activity.

Failure to cooperate with EQA may result in conditions, certificate hold, suspension, withdrawal, or revocation.

20. Responsibilities of Assessors and IQAs

Assessors and IQAs shall:

1. Provide assessment and IQA records for EQA review.
2. Participate in EQA interviews where required.
3. Explain assessment decisions and IQA findings.
4. Respond to EQA feedback.
5. Implement required improvements.
6. Maintain confidentiality.
7. Report assessment concerns.
8. Cooperate with corrective action and standardization.

21. Partner EQA Requirements

Where programs or certifications involve international, regional, or professional partners, EQA shall also comply with approved partner requirements.

Partner EQA requirements may include:

1. Specific sampling rules.
2. EQA release before certification.
3. Partner reporting templates.
4. Joint monitoring visits.
5. Assessment security requirements.
6. Branding and certificate wording rules.
7. Data sharing requirements.
8. Candidate evidence retention requirements.
9. Partner audit or review rights.

No provider may claim partner approval or release certificates under partner arrangements unless all ATU-CPAC and partner EQA requirements are met.

22. Complaints and Appeals

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

Appeals may relate to:

1. EQA finding.
2. Nonconformity classification.
3. Certificate hold decision.
4. Corrective action requirement.
5. Scope limitation recommendation.
6. Suspension recommendation.
7. Withdrawal or revocation recommendation.

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 EQA decision.

23. EQA Records

ATU-CPAC shall maintain accurate and secure EQA records.

EQA records may include:

1. EQA plan.
2. Provider notification.
3. Evidence request.
4. Sampling records.
5. Candidate evidence reviewed.
6. IQA records reviewed.
7. Interview records.
8. Site visit notes.
9. EQA report.
10. Corrective action plan.
11. Follow-up evidence.
12. Closure decision.
13. Escalation records.
14. Certificate release decision.
15. Provider risk status update.

Records shall be retained according to ATU policy, ATU-CPAC requirements, legal requirements, and partner requirements where applicable.

24. Use of EQA Findings for Continuous Improvement

ATU-CPAC shall use EQA findings to improve:

1. Provider accreditation standards.
2. Assessment standards.
3. IQA requirements.
4. EQA procedures.
5. Assessor guidance.
6. Provider guidance.
7. Certification release controls.
8. Registry accuracy.
9. Public claims monitoring.
10. Partner compliance processes.
11. Training for trainers, assessors, IQAs, and EQAs.
12. Risk management and monitoring plans.

Recurring findings shall be reviewed by the Quality Assurance and Compliance Committee and may result in policy revision, additional guidance, targeted training, or increased monitoring.

25. 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. EQA findings.
5. IQA performance trends.
6. Assessment performance trends.
7. Complaints or appeals trends.
8. Malpractice or assessment security incidents.
9. Registry or certificate incidents.
10. Partner requirements.
11. Stakeholder feedback.
12. Operational need.

26. Definitions

Final Policy Statement

ATU-CPAC External Quality Assurance Policy exists to provide independent assurance that providers, assessment centers, programs, assessments, internal quality assurance systems, and certificate recommendations meet approved ATU-CPAC standards.

Through structured EQA planning, risk-based sampling, independent review, clear reporting, corrective action, certificate release controls, and continuous improvement, ATU-CPAC protects the credibility of ATU-issued certificates and professional certifications across Arab countries.