Credentials that mean
more than attendance.
This standard describes how future ECIndex Academy credentials will be designed, assessed, issued, verified, renewed and governed. No credential is available until its assessment specification is published.
Course completion and credential achievement are separate states.
A learner may complete educational material without passing an assessment. Public credentials are issued only when the defined evidence threshold is satisfied.
Credential levels
Foundation badges validate a focused body of knowledge. Professional certificates combine multiple modules, supervised assessment and practical evidence. Specialist badges validate a narrower role or capability. Store Team recognition describes workforce participation against a published threshold and never certifies products, customer service or the business itself.
Assessment design
- Every credential publishes learning outcomes and an assessment blueprint.
- Questions and practical work must measure application, not memorisation alone.
- Passing thresholds are set before candidate results are reviewed.
- Assessment versions, material changes and effective dates are recorded.
- Pilot data may improve an assessment before credentials are issued.
Identity and integrity
Professional and specialist credentials may require identity verification and supervised assessment. The method must be proportionate, disclosed before enrolment and accessible to candidates. Confirmed impersonation, copied practical work or prohibited assistance may invalidate an attempt or issued credential.
Public verification
An issued credential will receive a unique identifier and public verification page showing the holder name, credential title, issue date, expiry date, status and assessment version. Verification pages will expose no examination answers, identity documents or unnecessary personal data.
Validity and renewal
Credential validity reflects how quickly the assessed knowledge changes. The term and renewal requirements will be published on each credential page before assessment. Expired and withdrawn credentials remain distinguishable from active credentials.
Appeals and corrections
Candidates may request correction of identity or credential records and appeal procedural assessment errors within the published window. Appeals review whether the process and scoring rules were applied correctly; they do not replace the assessment with an informal opinion.
Independence and sponsorship
Academy participation, fees, sponsorship, scholarships and credentials do not influence ECIndex store inclusion, technical observations, editorial coverage or ranking. Partner-supported material is labelled. A partner may contribute expertise but cannot buy a passing result or suppress competing technologies.
Privacy and learner records
ECIndex will collect only information required to deliver learning, administer assessments, prevent abuse and verify credentials. Retention, deletion and public-display choices will be stated before enrolment and governed by the ECIndex Privacy Policy.
This standard is being tested before the founding pilot. Material revisions will receive a new version and publication date.
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