Competency Assessment and Research Council (CARC)

 

Design of assessment tools and Conduction of examinations under this scheme shall be carried out by Competency Assessment and Research Council. CARC is an autonomous independent body and it shall operate through its Executive office. CARC is an initiative of MacLead Certifications through the resolution.  It is established to ensure impartiality in the conduction of assessment process. The aim of CARC is “To assess competencies and ensure impartiality, carryout research in competency assessment mechanisms.”

One of the characteristic functions of the certification body for persons is to conduct an examination, which uses objective criteria to measure competence and scoring. While it is recognized that such an examination, if well planned and structured by the certification body for persons, can substantially serve to ensure impartiality of operations and reduce the risk of a conflict of interest.

Design of Assessment Tools

1. Designing Responsibility

Design of assessment tools shall be carried out by Competency Assessment and Research Council (CARC). CARC is an autonomous independent body and it shall operate through its Executive office. CARC is an initiative of MacLead Certifications through the resolution by the board of directors of MacLead Certifications dated 14th November 2017.  It is established to ensure impartiality in the conduction of assessment process.  The aim of CARC is “To assess competencies and ensure impartiality, carryout research in competency assessment mechanisms.”

CARC shall appoint approved designer(s) to each Certification Scheme, with its scope and expected date of completion.

 

2. Design & Development Planning

Approved designer appointed to the scheme shall prepare a Design Plan, outlining various tasks with dates of completion and responsibilities.

The plans shall be updated as the design evolves and amendment to the design plan shall be carried out.

3. Design inputs

 

    • The design inputs to assessment tools for examinations shall consider the competence needed, and are consistent with the scheme, by written, oral, practical, observational or other reliable and objective means. The design of examination requirements shall ensure the comparability of results of each single examination, both in content and difficulty, including the validity of fail/pass decisions.
    • Inputs based on the, Legal requirements, Approved criteria, Guidelines, discussion with experts for assessment.
    • Feedback from General performance of examinations, and all identified deficiencies corrected.
    • Design inputs shall include as appropriate:
      • Sample job and task descriptions
      • scope of certification
      • required competence
      • abilities including such as vision, hearing and mobility
      • prerequisites
      • code of conduct
      • National and International Standards
      • Global best practices
      • Discussion with experts
      • Similar proven sample.
      • Reference documents/ tables/reference Books.
      • Any other information required for the design.

The design team shall review for adequacy of inputs and continue with design activities.

 

4. Design controls

Designer shall apply controls to the design process to ensure that:

  • the involvement of appropriate experts for reviews
  • the use of an appropriate structure that fairly represents the interests of all parties significantly concerned, without any interest predominating
  • the identification and alignment of prerequisites, if applicable, with the competence requirements
  • the identification and alignment of the assessment mechanisms with the competence requirements
  • a job or practice analysis that is conducted and updated to identify the tasks for successful performance, identify the required competence for each task, identify prerequisites, confirm the assessment mechanisms and examination content; identify the recertification requirements and interval

 

Reviews are conducted to evaluate the ability of the results of design meet requirements,

      • verification activities are conducted to ensure that the design outputs meet the input requirements
      • validation activities are conducted to ensure that the resulting scheme meet the requirements for the specified application or intended use
      • any necessary actions are taken on problems determined during the reviews, or verification and validation activities

 

5. Design Outputs

Certification Scheme for each category of certification

Each Certification Scheme shall include as appropriate;

  • job and task descriptions
  • scope of certification
  • required competence
  • abilities including such as vision, hearing and mobility
  • prerequisites
  • code of conduct
  • criteria for initial certification and recertification
  • assessment methods for initial certification and recertification
  • surveillance methods and criteria
  • criteria for suspending and withdrawing certification
  • criteria for changing the scope or level of certification

 

6. Design Changes

    • Designer shall ensure that the certification scheme is reviewed and validated on an on-going, systematic basis.
    • When there is a change in the certification scheme which requires additional assessment, the CARC shall document and make publicly accessible without request the specific methods and mechanisms required to verify that certified persons comply with changed requirements.
    • Design changes (if any) shall be reviewed  involvement of appropriate experts for reviews
    • Design changes shall be subjected to appropriate stages of design
    • Identify, review and control changes made during, or subsequent to, the design, to the extent necessary to ensure that there is no adverse impact on certification scheme requirements.

Certification Process

MacLead’s assessment is a structured process in which evidence of performance is gathered and evaluated against established competency framework. Assessment is the process of evidence collection of a person’s competence level through range of methods – tests, observations, interviews, assignments and professional discussions as decided by MacLead time to time.

This assessment process aims to test and certify the competency of the persons those seeking certification of their skills acquired informally or the persons who have been trained. Assessment methodology has been designed keeping in mind the basic educational qualification of the candidates, the need of conceptual and practical knowledge with appropriate level of competency and the aim of generating employable workforce across the globe.

Certification Process is designed in line with international principles provided by ISO 17024

  • Impartiality
  • Competence
  • Confidentiality and openness
  • Responsiveness to complaints and appeals
  • Responsibility