(ANSI: Washington) -- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has announced dates for its first-ever workshop on accreditation of certificate-issuing bodies. The Feb. 11–12, 2010 event will introduce interested stakeholders to the American National Standard ASTM E2659-09—"Standard Practice for Certificate Programs," and to the Institute’s Certificate Accreditation Program (ANSI-CAP).

“In today’s competitive job market, many workers are turning to certificate programs to gain valuable and marketable skills,” says Roy Swift, Ph.D., ANSI senior director of personnel credentialing accreditation programs. “But with so many programs out there, it’s critical to choose certificate programs backed by a nationally recognized and respected standard. This course will provide attendees with insight into how they can increase the quality of their programs that will better serve those seeking certificates and those evaluating potential employees.”

The two-day workshop is designed to introduce interested stakeholders to the requirements for developing a quality education and training course that includes an assessment which determines if the learning outcomes have been achieved. It will cover such areas as terminology, significance and use of the standard, requirements for certificate issuers, and certificate program and certificate issuance, and use.

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