Preparing IACET process documents is often one of the most challenging parts of the accreditation application. This article explains how to write clear, effective processes by focusing on work instructions for staff—not reports for reviewers—and outlines the essential components IACET expects, from defined responsibilities to version control. The guidance helps organizations build processes that are practical, usable, and aligned with the IACET Standard.
Hiring a consultant can be a helpful step for organizations pursuing IACET accreditation—but only when done with clear expectations and active involvement. This article outlines the potential risks of relying too heavily on outside support and emphasizes the importance of fully understanding and owning your accreditation application. It also introduces IACET’s Consultant Evaluation Framework (ICEF), provides key guidelines for consultant participation, and highlights the many free and direct resources IACET offers to support applicants throughout the process.
Organizations offering professional development, certificates, and certifications often face confusion around accreditation and credentialing. This article clarifies the differences between CEU-bearing courses, assessment-based certificate programs, and certifications—and explains how IACET, ICE 1100, and NCCA accreditation each play a distinct role in ensuring quality and credibility.
Standards are often described as voluntary, but in practice they can become mandatory through laws, contracts, procurement rules, or market expectations. This article explains how and why organizations adopt standards, how voluntary standards gain mandatory force, and why context—not labels—determines whether compliance is truly optional.
As accreditation grows in visibility, so do pay-to-play and copycat schemes. This article provides practical questions and indicators to distinguishing rigorous, accountable accreditation from surface-level credibility.
