All DCA, PECB, ORACLE and DMI Professionals are required to adhere to the various Code of Ethics. Failure to do so can result in investigations and/or disciplinary measures. The Certification Maintenance Regulations are an obligations for each and every various board certified professional. Outlined below are the obligations.
Certification Maintenance
Certification Maintenance Regulations
1. Overview
DCA, ORACLE, DMI and PECB certified professionals who follow this policy and successfully comply with its requirements will be able to continually demonstrate competence, broaden knowledge, and consequently renew their certification(s). The CPD requirements are set and overseen by the various Scheme Committee.
2. Recertification Requirements
DCA, ORACLE, DMI and PECB Certifications are valid for three years and more for some others. In order to maintain a certification, certified professionals must comply with the following requirements:
Submit CPDs
Pay AMFs
Adhere to the various Code of Ethics
3. How to Renew the Certification?
To be able to renew a certification, certified professionals will need to demonstrate that they have maintained their certification(s) on an annual basis. It is not mandatory for the requirements to be fulfilled every year; the required number of CPD hours can be fulfilled within the three-year certification cycle.
For example, a certified professional that holds a Lead Certification has performed 20 hours of certification-related activities in year 1, 10 hours in year 2, and 60 hours in year 3. Although during the first and second year the person did not perform sufficient certification-related activities, their 3-year total is equal to the 3-year requirements.
In addition to CPDs, certified professionals will need to pay the annual maintenance fee (AMF).
Certification(s) can be renewed online through the various platforms, by logging into the dashboard. Navigating to My Certifications, and then the Renew. If after three years the recertification requirements are met, the certification will be renewed.
Note: Certified professionals who fail to meet the recertification requirements for CPDs and AMFs will have their credentials downgraded. Meanwhile, holders of Master Certifications will have their certification revoked.
Note: The following credentials do not require maintenance: Foundation, Provisional, and Transition.
3.1 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Continuing Professional Development is a portfolio structure for demonstrating, documenting, and tracking the skills, knowledge, and experience acquired by professionals after their initial certification.
CPDs are important for updating professional experience, acknowledging achievements, and demonstrating professional activities conducted.
In order to support certified professionals earn CPD credits, the various boards continually organizes webinar sessions, provides opportunities for writing articles, participating in trainings and events, and more. For more information, please contact the DCA Policy Team.
3.2 Annual Maintenance Fees (AMF)
Annual Maintenance Fees are required to maintain the various certification.
If the certified professional fails to fulfil either of these CPD or AMF requirements, the certification will be downgraded as explained below.
4. Downgrade
A Certification can be downgraded to a lower credential due to the following reasons:
AMF has not been paid.
CPD hours have not been submitted.
Insufficient CPD hours have been submitted.
Evidence on CPD hours has not been submitted upon request.
5. Upgrade
Certified Professionals can apply for a higher credential once they provide evidence that proves that they fulfil the requirements of the higher credential.
All Certifications can be upgraded online through your dashboard by logging in the various platforms dashboard, clicking My Certifications and then the Upgrade button.
The application fee for an upgrade is going to be specific and different for the various certification boards.
Note: For certifications that need to be upgraded, an evaluation will be done to determine if an exam is required prior to obtain an upgraded certification.
6. Suspension
The various certification boards can temporarily suspend the certification for the following reasons:
- Receives excessive or serious complaints by interested parties (suspension will be applied until the investigation has been completed.)
- The logos of certification Boards or accreditation bodies are wilfully misused.
- The candidate fails to correct the misuse of a certification mark within the determined time by various boards.
- The certified individual has voluntarily requested a suspension.
- Certified boards deems appropriate other conditions for suspension of certification.
Individuals whose certification has been suspended, are not authorised to further promote their certification while it is suspended.
7. Revocation
The Certification Boards can revoke (that is, to withdraw) the certification if the candidate fails to satisfy its requirements. In such cases, candidates are no longer allowed to represent themselves as a boards Certified Professionals. Additional reasons for revoking certification can be if the candidates:
- Violate the Certification Boards Code of Ethics
- Misrepresent and provide false information of the scope of certification
- Break any other boards rules
Individuals whose certification has been revoked, are not authorised to use any references to a certified status.
