Required elements for ILDA accreditation and certification programs

All accreditation and certification programs developed by ILDA should address the elements listed below. These elements apply to all ILDA programs, including:

• Certification for products that they meet minimum standards

• Certification for individuals that they have laser show knowledge and experience

• Accreditation for companies, organizations and individuals doing laser shows

In the following discussion, we will use "certification" to stand for all three types of ILDA programs, including accreditation. The term "entity" means a product, individual, company or organization that applies for certification.

Validity

Does the program measure what it is supposed to measure?

The program should accurately reflect the knowledge or features needed by the entity. For accredited laser show producers, this means an entity demonstrates that they have done shows, that they have references, that they have studied laser safety, etc. For certified products, this would mean that the pinouts, voltages, and other features of the product are necessary to comply with ILDA and industry standards.

Reliability

Is the information given by the entity accurate? If a test is given, is this test consistent and precise in measuring the needed elements?

If a company states they have done X number of shows, they need to be prepared to prove this. Similarly, if a manufacturer states their product has Y voltage on pin 5, they also must prove this if required.

Autonomy

Certification programs must not have undue influence from ILDA, or other groups or individuals. Although the programs are set up and run by ILDA, decisions must be made in the best interest of the programs. For example, unqualified entities cannot exert pressure on the program, in order to become certified. This is vital so that the public interest is served.

Authority

Certification decisions must be free from external influences. They must be focused on matters related to certification only.

There must be Bylaws changes and official policies giving the authority to develop certification programs, and stating who makes the final decisions on the programs.

Conform to "best practices"

Ideally, ILDA's certification programs are submitted to external bodies such as ANSI 17024 or NOCA/NCCA for review. This may not be feasible. In such a case, ILDA's programs should reasonably conform to applicable ANSI and/or NCCA standards.

Rigorousness

The certification requirements must be reasonable for identifying qualified entities (products, individuals, companies, organizations). The standards cannot be so easy that most anyone can pass; they cannot be so difficult that only a few entities pass.

Due process

Programs must provide genuine opportunities for unhappy or disgruntled applicants to appeal decisions against them. Due process does not have to be like courtrooms (e.g., with lawyers, rules of evidence, etc.). It must have "common law fairness"

This means Substantive fairness: Standards and criteria must be applied reasonably, with an even hand. It also means Procedural fairness: Notice of actions or requirements, an opportunity to be heard (in writing or orally), and a fair and impartial decision-making process.

The first stage of appeal can be done through the ILDA Ethics Committee. To avoid the appearance that ILDA is controlling the process, any subsequent appeals must be done through a special committee or system which reports to the certification program. This way, the program and not ILDA has the final word on appeals.

A detailed list of requirements and appeal procedures, similar to that of the Code of Ethics complaint procedure, must be in place before the certification process becomes active.

Due process resources and reminders

• Stages of due process: Candidate denied eligibility to try for certification - limited review. Appeal of exam or certification results (scores). Appeal of any decision to deny certification (reasons other than scores). Disciplinary process to suspend or revoke certification, or deny re-certification.

• Reasons for disciplinary process must be related to the certification: Felony or crime of moral turpitude in the profession; Gross negligence or professional misconduct; Fraud or misrepresentation in the certification application, test taking or similar submissions.

• Disciplinary process: Follow procedures. The ILDA Ethics Committee will review the initial receipt of complaints, reject any unreliable, unsupported or frivolous complaints. If actionable, give notice to certificant and the process begins. This process must be fair, but does not need trial-type processing with witnesses, formal rules of evidence, legal counsel, etc. The Ethics Committee will investigate and will recommend disciplinary action. If the certificant appeals this action, a separate committee reviews and conducts any needed new investigations; this committee's responsibility is to the certification program and not necessarily to ILDA. 

• If an entity's certification is revoked, you may publish: entity name, date of revocation, brief reason for revocation.

Open to non-ILDA Members

Any qualified entity can apply for certification. The entity does not have to be an ILDA Member, or be a product of an ILDA Member. This is important for anti-trust and anti-competition considerations.

It is allowed to charge non-Members more than Members, for the program. The difference in charges should be reasonable given that ILDA has put extensive resources into developing the program(s). The difference cannot be punitive.

Intellectual property

Consideration should be given to copyrighting and/or trademarking the name of the certification program as well as any logos used. Tests and websites may also be copyrighted.

Note about certification marks: The USPTO recognizes "certification marks" which designate a person or product which is recognized as meeting specified standards. This mark can only be used by the certificant (product, individual, company), not by the certifying board (e.g., ILDA). The board (ILDA) can license use of its trademarks, service marks and/or acronym. Because the USPTO does not consider certification marks unique, it is generally not recommended to register certification marks.

All volunteers working on the certification program must sign a written document stating that they transfer any copyright they might have in their work, to ILDA.

Insurance

Insurance is available for certification programs. ILDA should investigate the cost and coverage.