Qualiopi certification for distance learning organizations
Qualiopi certification is an essential step for training organizations since 1 January 2022. It is in fact the essential and compulsory sesame to benefit from public and mutualized funding. Qualiopi is also a way for training providers to demonstrate that their offers meet the criteria of a quality reference system. What means can be adopted by distance learning organizations to respect these criteria? TestWe tells you everything.
What is Qualiopi certification?
Qualiopi certification is a recent development for training organizations, as it follows on from Datadock referencing.It has been compulsory since 1 January 2022 (law of 5 September 2018 and decree of 21 December 2021) for any training organization that receives public or mutualized funds.
This "quality certification" has two main objectives
- to strengthen the quality guarantee of training providers;
- to make training offers more legible for those who benefit from them (companies, individuals, apprentices, etc.).
Which training organizations are concerned by Qualiopi certification?
Qualiopi is compulsory if the training is financed by an OPCO (skills operator), by the State, by Pôle Emploi, by Agefiph or by the regions or by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations.
The size of the structure does not matter: according to the Ministry of Labour, quality certification concerns all training organizations or service providers "that wish to access public and mutualized funds".
This therefore includes the various services provided by these structures:
- skills assessment;
- validation of acquired experience (VAE);
- training activities (professional or personal development) ...
A list of criteria to reinforce the quality of training
To be certified, each organization must meet the specifications of the National Quality Reference System (RNQ). The certifying body, accredited or authorized by the French Accreditation Committee (Cofrac), issues the Qualiopi mark on this basis.
The RNQ draws up a list of 7 criteria, each of which includes several indicators. There are 32 indicators in total: this is much more than the 6 criteria and 21 indicators that already existed with Datadock!
The criteria relate in particular to
- the information given on the training services, the deadlines and the results that will be obtained;
- the objectives of the services, and their adaptation to the public who will benefit from them;
- the adaptation of the conditions of reception, advice, follow-up and the methods of evaluation;
- the adequacy of the educational and technical resources, and the means of supervision;
- the qualification, knowledge and skills development of the professionals who implement the training;
- the investment of the training provider in its own professional environment;
- and finally, the taking into account of the participants' assessments and complaints.
Qualiopi certification of distance learning organizations: what you need to know
Distance or on-site training: no difference for Qualiopi
Distance learning concerns more and more people involved in learning or teaching. The terms e-learning, digital learning and ODL (open distance learning) are words that are frequently used. But whatever the formula chosen; it must comply with the criteria of the Référentiel National Qualité (RNQ) for the structure to benefit from Qualiopi certification.
The criteria are the same for organizations that provide face-to-face training as for those that offer distance learning. This is an important point to bear in mind: whether in person or at a distance, your learners must receive the same quality of training.
Distance learning: what criteria need to be taken into account?
Among the criteria verified during the audit by the Qualiopi certification body, here are those to which you must pay particular attention to ensure an equivalent service in distance learning. Remember that they relate in particular to support and assessment.
Methods of access and methods used
The service provider must specify the conditions and deadlines for synchronous or asynchronous access, as well as the methods used, the evaluation procedures and accessibility for people with disabilities: this is the first indicator of the RNQ!
Evaluation methods and procedures
The conditions and procedures are adapted to the public (indicator 8). They also respect the formal requirements of the certification authority, in the case of training leading to professional certification (indicator 16).
Support for trainees
Qualiopi certification requires support and monitoring of the beneficiary public (indicator 10), with measures taken throughout the training to encourage commitment and avoid breaks in the course (indicator 12).
Provision of adequate technical and supervisory resources
The trained public benefits from appropriate technical means. They have access to the necessary resources, information and educational documents (indicators 17 and 19).
Collection of assessments and complaints
Qualiopi certification also provides for the beneficiary of the training, or the company, to be able to leave an assessment or make a complaint (indicator 30).
How does Qualiopi certification of a distance learning organization work?
As mentioned above, obtaining Qualiopi certification requires an audit carried out by a certifying body or auditor.
- The auditor analyses all the elements and documents related to each criterion and indicator. For example, you must prove that you use a solution to assess your learners remotely.
- After the initial audit, a surveillance audit is carried out within 14 to 22 months.
- Certification is valid for a total of 3 years.
Why are specific tools necessary?
The training organization uses tools and platforms to provide the service (training, skills assessment or VLE) under the conditions set out by Qualiopi certification.
- to adapt to reception conditions, even virtual, according to the target audience with, for example:
- possible access even with a limited internet connection
- the possibility of switching between distance and face-to-face learning.
- to facilitate support and advice for the beneficiaries of the training:
- by giving them visibility of their objectives;
- by showing them their progress during the learning process.
- to assess and validate skills:
- in a secure and cheat-free environment;
- synchronous or asynchronous...
The TestWe platform allows you to meet the Qualiopi requirements
The Qualiopi quality certification criteria imply that you must have adequate technical means to organize a service. This is where the TestWe platform comes into its own: it allows you to assess the knowledge of the learners. But also to prove the conformity and validity of the process implemented.
Fraud and data: making assessments and exams more reliable with a secure system
Fraud during a distance exam is one of the major fears. The system adopted by TestWe allows you to remove this obstacle and to legitimize the results of the test or exam. This is essential to validate professional skills or diplomas.
To avoid fraud
To reduce the risk of cheating as much as possible and to ensure the reliability of the results, TestWe applies an anti-fraud technology. This includes:
- a double identification by webcam;
- a secure test environment, even in asynchronous mode (video and audio capture).
To secure the data
Securing the system also involves securing the data and complying with European regulations. In this perspective, the monitoring system (proctoring) applied by TestWe respects the rules of confidentiality required by the CNIL and the RGPD.
Adapting evaluations to the public and the training courses
The Qualiopi reference system implies adapting the assessments to the abilities and technical possibilities of the learner (individual or company), and making them accessible to all. The TestWe competition and examination platform enables you to meet three important requirements.
Assessments are possible without a connection
Knowledge feedback is possible via TestWe without an internet connection, in an asynchronous way. Thus, the absence of a good connection is not a handicap for a group of learners. They can still be assessed under good conditions, as if they were present in your training center.
Distance or face-to-face: a solution adapted to your training
Regardless of the formula offered to your learners or groups of candidates (e-learning, ODL or digital learning), you can organize tests and examinations remotely or in person, or a mix of both. In both cases, the trainees are assessed according to the same criteria, under the same conditions and with the same technical monitoring devices.
Online software that can be configured for all audiences
On the TestWe platform, the tests can be fully configured. This allows your trainers to easily organize the assessments. But also, to adapt them to a group of students. For example, to meet the needs of people with disabilities, who need more time or additional support, or by offering an audio format for people with reading difficulties.
Please note that TestWe offers a wide variety of ways of learning:
- MCQS;
- audio or video restitution;
- document or content analysis...
Encouraging collaborative work between trainers and educational teams
The coordination of all the participants in a distance learning course (external or internal services) is also a Qualiopi certification criterion! TestWe facilitates the administration of evaluations, pedagogical follow-up, and the exchange of documents and information. It also simplifies the correction work, the reporting of acquired skills and the integration with the learning software (LMS) used by the training organization.