Certification Board of Governors
Approved Provider Program - Standards of Practice
(Implementation Date October 1, 2006)
MISSION & PURPOSE
To serve as a safe-haven to professionals
within the international trade industry, allowing open
discussion and scholarship, free of outside influence,
pertaining to standardization of international trade
practices. This scholarship supports and validates the
certification process utilized by the International
Import-Export Institute (IIEI) in its globally
recognized and accepted international trade
certification programs.
Toward
that end, the IIEI has developed the Approved Provider
Program (APP) that includes Approved Education Providers
(AEPs) and Approved Continuing Education Providers (ACEPs).
DEFINITIONS
ACEPs are proven, reputable, professional individuals
or organizations (including associations, non-profits,
educational institutions and other entities) in the
United States who demonstrate excellence in conducting
conferences, seminars, workshops and other such activities.
ACEPs provide accurate, current and content consistent
international trade and related education and training
that meet the high standards established and maintained
by the IIEI.
AEPs are reputable colleges, universities, educational
institutions and other organizations worldwide who demonstrate
excellence in international trade and related education
and training through examination of their curriculum
and practices that meet the high standards of certification
established and maintained by the IIEI. AEPs provide
learning outcome based education and training that ensures
individuals completing the related activity will possess
the knowledge required to satisfactorily pass the various
prescribed certification examinations.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS
In order to maintain their IIEI certification(s), individuals
must successfully complete a specified number of Continuing
Education Units (CEUs) on an annual basis. The CEU is
a standard measurement for participation in a continuing
education activity. CEUs are awarded for programs offered
by continuing education providers approved through the
IIEI APP. These providers must meet the IIEI’s APP
criteria in order to qualify for AEP or ACEP status.
AEP and ACEP CRITERIA
The
IIEI oversees these programs .
With
respect to AEPs and ACEPs, the IIEI is most interested
in ensuring the accuracy, completeness and overall quality
of the education and training provided and that AEPs
and ACEPs meet the highest possible standards of practice
and professionalism. Therefore, the IIEI has established
the following criterion for AEPs and ACEPs:
1.
To be eligible as an AEP or ACEP, an organization must
be generally recognized in the trade compliance community
as knowledgeable, professional, reputable and experienced
in their area of subject matter expertise. The provider
must also have demonstrated the ability to design, implement,
evaluate and execute high-quality education programs
for international trade compliance professionals.
2.
Potential AEPs and ACEPs may be nominated to the IIEI
for consideration by trade industry and government professionals
around the world. Those nominations must be forwarded
by email to info@industrycertification.org and include
sufficient background and contact information on the
nominee and the individual making the nomination (including
names and phone numbers). In all cases nominated potential
AEPs and ACEPs must submit the written application letter
outlined in item 3. below.
3.
Prior to being granted AP status, a written application
letter must be submitted to the IIEI on the organization’s
letterhead containing the following information:
• Why the entity is interested in serving as an
IIEI AEP
or ACEP;
• General description of the applicant/organization;
• Philosophy of international trade compliance
educational activities;
• Experience in delivering continuing education
programs;
• Organizational structure and name of primary
contact;
• Names and experience of faculty;
• Examples of written materials distributed to
program participants;
• Policy regarding verifying participation and
successful completion
of programs;
• Policy regarding program evaluation;
• Policy regarding cancellations, non-attendance
and refunds.
As
part of the application letter, a senior representative
of the organization (e.g., President, Chief Executive
Officer or Board of Directors Chair) must affirm in
writing that they meet all of the IIEI's APP Standards
of Practice (SOP) using the IIEI APP-SOP Certification
Template at Page 5, Attachment A.
4. Following receipt of the written application, an
initial ACEP evaluation will be conducted by a knowledgeable
member of the CBG with the appropriate subject matter
expertise. The evaluation must include attendance at
one training session and a thorough review of all written
materials provided to program participants. The CBG
Subject Matter Expert (SME) will also contact other
industry professionals who have attended the ACEP’s
session(s) for input and independent evaluation. The
CBG SME will conduct an evaluation and make a recommendation
of approval or denial to the CBG Executive Committee
(EC).
5.
Additionally, the material from the session evaluated
by the CBG SME participant (i.e. PowerPoint presentations
and handouts) will also be forwarded to the IIEI for
an academic review to further validate educational content
and determine the appropriate number of Continuing Education
Units (CEUs) to be granted. That material will also
be maintained on file by the IIEI. Once their assessment
is complete, the IIEI will make a recommendation to
the CBG EC. The recommendation and inputs from the SME
and IIEI will be reviewed by the CBG EC in making a
final determination. The EC will vote on acceptance
as an ACEP. Approval MUST be unanimous. The CBG Approval
Authority must be a member of the CBG EC.
6.
All educational and training material provided by AEPs
and ACEPs must be current and accurate. The information
must also be maintained up-to-date to ensure that it
reflects any changes to applicable law. Any errors made
in presentations, handouts and question and answer sessions,
must be corrected as soon as practical. When possible,
the correction should take place immediately on recognition
of the error. In all cases, timely correction of inaccurate
material must be provided to all attendees as soon as
possible after discovery of the error. This is especially
important because if uncorrected, such errors could
result in violations of the law.
7.
AEPs and ACEPs must be independent unbiased entities
with no undue or inappropriate outside influence or
conflict of interest relationship(s) with other industry,
U.S. Government or foreign government organizations.
The materials presented must be focused on serving the
best interests of the global trade compliance community
without undue or inappropriate outside influence on
the nature of the materials or subjects that will be
presented or addressed.
8.
As soon as possible after CBG EC review and approval,
applicants will be notified in writing of their acceptance
as an AEP or ACEP.
9.
The Initial ACEP approval period is three-years from
the date of initial approval (i.e. from the Effective
Date of the Signature of the Authorized CBG ACEP Approval
Authority on the Certification), during which an ACEP
offers continuing education and/or training for international
trade compliance professionals. During this time, the
ACEP must continue to demonstrate the ability to comply
with CGB guidelines. At the end of the second year,
a member of the CBG with the appropriate subject matter
expertise will be identified to evaluate the provider
by attending at least one continuing education session
and conducting a thorough review of training materials.
The CBG will also talk to others in the trade community
who have attended ACEP sessions. The CBG participant
will make a recommendation to the CBG’s EC and
the EC will vote on continued certification as an ACEP.
Approval must be unanimous. This review and approval
process should be complete by the end of the third year.
At the end of the three year period a new written application
is not required unless there is a material change in
information from that submitted in the original written
application.
10.
Initial and recurring ACEP evaluations will be conducted
at no cost to the CBG or its representative for registration/attendance.
11.
Any complaints concerning AEPs and ACEPs will be considered
by the CBG. Complaints should be forwarded by email
to info@industrycertification.org. Complaints should
specifically address problem areas with sufficient supporting
details to provide a complete picture of the circumstance(s)/issue(s)
of concern along with contact information, including
the name and phone number of the individual submitting
the complaint.
12.
The IIEI, through the CBG reserves the right to review and reconsider AEP and ACEP status at any time. If the
IIEI is considering
revoking an approved provider’s status, they will
be advised in writing and provided the rationale for
cancellation. AEPs and ACEPs who have been removed can
be reconsidered only if appropriate changes are made
to
correct any deficiencies in meeting the applicable standards
of practice. In such cases, the organization must submit
a request for reinstatement including a thorough accounting
of corrective actions.
13.
The IIEI endorsement of AEPs and ACEPs by members of
the CBG represents an
independent assessment that the subject organization
is a credible and reputable education and/or training
provider and that the material presented by the AEP
or ACEP is current and accurate. Further, IIEI endorsement
indicates that the AEP or ACEP adheres to normally accepted
ethical business practices as well as the letter and
spirit of the SOP attested to in the attached IIEI/CBG APP-SOP
Certification letter.
14.
The approved provider period for current ACEPs begins
on the implementation date of this CBG APP-SOP (i.e.
three years from October 1, 2006). All current AEPs
and ACEPs must submit a CBG APP-SOP Certification letter
in accordance with Page 5, Attachment A, of this document
within three months of the implementation date. As of
January 1, 2007, the CBG EC reserves the right to revoke
the status of any AEP or ACEP who does not submit an
APP-SOP Certification before that date.
15.
Deviations from or waivers to any of the above criterion
must be unanimously approved by the CBG EC.
Attachment A
Certification
Board of Governors (CBG)
Approved Provider Program - Standards of Practice
CERTIFICATION - TEMPLATE
The (Complete Name of Organization) affirms that we
meet the IIEI Approved Provider Program (APP)-Standards
of Practice (SOP) and we are a professional and independent
unbiased entity with no undue or inappropriate outside
influence or conflict of interest relationship(s) with
any individual, industry, U.S. Government or foreign
government, other organization or group and that we
provide the same fair and equitable treatment to all
participants and attendees at all education and/or training
events that we host, facilitate, present or sponsor
or otherwise conduct.
We
also affirm that our goal as an Approved Education Provider
(AEP) or Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP)
is focused on serving the best interests of the global
trade compliance community with the most professional
education and/or training possible. We regularly review
the information presented to make sure it is current,
accurate, complete (i.e. thoroughly covering the most
relevant material) and reflects the present state of
applicable laws and regulations. Any errors made in
presentations, handouts and other material (including
question and answer sessions) will be corrected as soon
as possible. In all cases, timely clarification and/or
correction of inaccurate material will be provided to
all attendees as soon as practical after discovery of
the error. We further affirm that we adhere to normally
accepted ethical conduct and business practices as well
as the letter and spirit of the SOP attested to in this
Certification.
We
understand that any complaints regarding our educational
and /or training services under the CBG APP will be
considered and thoroughly evaluated by the CBG. Additionally,
we understand the IIEI and CBG reserves the right to review,
reconsider and, if warranted, based on the IIEI and or CBG assessment
as a result of complaints or re-evaluation, revoke our AEP/ACEP status at any time with justification and written
notification to us.
Certification:
__________________________________________________
Name & Title of the Senior Representative of the
AEP/ACEP
_______________________________________________ ___________
Signature of the Senior Representative of the AEP/ACEP
Date
______________________________________________________________
Printed Name & Title of the Authorized CBG AEP/ACEP
Approval Authority
_____________________________________________________
___________
Signature of the Authorized CBG AEP/ACEP Approval Authority Date
