Introduction
This certification scheme has been elaborated with and for sole application by OsEAN, the Osteopathic European Academic Network. Independent certification procedures are conducted by the certification body of Austrian Standards.
1 Scope
This certification scheme specifies the procedure to evaluate and certify whether an osteopathic education provider meets the OsEAN “Standard for the Management of Osteopathic Educational Providers”. Certification meets on the requirements of ISO/IEC 170651.
2 Application
2.1 The applicant shall file an application using the form provided by the certification body.
2.2 The applicant shall appoint a contact person for the certification process.
2.3 The application shall specify the desired scope of certification in terms of business sites to be covered.
2.4 Together with the application the applicant shall provide documentation on the services to be certified using the form provided by the certification body. This documentation shall contain the following:
- the general features of the applicant, including its name and the address(es) of its physical location(s) where education is provided,
- description of the structure of the applicant, including company profile, any specializations, etc.
- average number (related to the past 12 months) of students educated in the relevant sites
- average number of teachers and lecturers (related to the past 12 months) employed in the relevant sites
- description of the kind of education provided in the relevant sites
- information concerning all outsourced processes, subcontractors etc. used by the applicant that will affect conformity to requirements of the standard mentioned in clause 1.
3 Documentation
Before conducting the audit in accordance with section 4, the applicant must submit a documentary about the training to be certified. This documentation must include the following:
- general course standards
- the curriculum (thematic presentation, lesson plans, etc..)
- regulations for exams,
- documentation of employed teachers.
The above-mentioned materials shall be submitted in electronic form and in English language.
4 Application review
Before proceeding with the audit, the certification body will conduct a review of the application and supplementary documentation for certification to ensure that:
- the information about the organization is sufficient for the conduct of the audit;
- any known difference in understanding between the certification body and the applicant is resolved;
- the scope of certification sought, the location(s) of the organisation, time required to complete audits and any other points influencing the certification activity are taken into account.
5 Certification audit
5.1 The initial certification audit shall audit all requirements specified in OsEAN “Standard for the Management of Osteopathic Educational Providers”.
5.2 The audit shall be conducted such that direct access to current teaching activities (theoretical and practical teaching as well as clinic activities) is possible.
5.3 The “theoretical” part of the audit includes at least the following checks:
- the curriculum and the content of the courses
- documentation and appropriate evidence (course organization, lesson plans, attendance records, participant documentation , etc.) of courses completed during the past 24 months prior to the audit
- the qualifications of the teaching staff on the basis of documented evidence of appropriate
- documentation for quality assurance measures implemented.
5.4 The “practical” part of the audit includes the following checks:
- observation of real teaching situations (lectures and / or practical exercises )
- interviews with participants of the ongoing training courses,
- Interviews with teachers regarding the contents of the lectures and the qualification of teachers,
- evidence and documentation for ongoing training (course organization, teaching materials used, attendance lists , etc. . )
5.5 At the end of the audit, the Lead Auditor or the audit team (if applicable) will analyse all information and audit evidence gathered during the audits to review the audit findings and agree on the audit conclusions. In case the audit is
conducted by an audit team, decisions on audit conclusions shall be taken unanimously.
5.6 During the concluding meeting with the responsible management of the applicant, the Lead Auditor will present the audit conclusions to the applicant and will specify further steps to be taken.
5.7 The information provided by the Lead Auditor to the certification body for the certification decision will include, as a minimum:
- the audit report,
- comments on the nonconformities and, where applicable, the correction and corrective actions taken by the client,
- a recommendation whether or not to grant certification, together with any conditions or observations.
6 Issuing the certificate
6.1 Based on the audit conclusions and the recommendation of the Lead Auditor the certification body will decide on the issue of the certificate. A positive assessment of the audit in accordance with clause 5 is the prerequisite for the issuing of the certificate.
6.2 The certificate is valid for a period of 5 years subject that the conditions to maintain the certificate are met by the certificate holder.
7 Recertification
In order to extend the validity of the certificate, a recertification audit in accordance with clause 4 shall be conducted.
8 Requirements for auditors
8.1 Audits shall be carried out by one Lead Auditor and at least one co-auditor.
8.2 Auditor shall be received formally auditor training and shall meet the following qualification requirements:
- shall be a graduated osteopath with a minimum of 5 years’ experience of practicing osteopathy
- have a proven record of minimum 5 years’ experience in a management position of an osteopathic education provider.