9 questions to understand the essentials of Qualiopi certification
In an ever-changing professional landscape, the quality of training services has become a crucial issue for training organizations in France. Qualiopi certification, introduced by the 2018 "Professional Future" law, is now establishing itself as an essential label whether to attract future trainees or benefit from public funding.
But what does this certification actually entail? What are the steps involved in obtaining it, and what benefits does it bring? In this article, we answer the 9 most frequently asked questions about Qualiopi certification, to give you a clear and comprehensive overview of this essential process for those involved in vocational training. Whether you're a training organization, a CFA or a skills assessment provider, find out everything you need to know to obtain and benefit from Qualiopi certification.
What is Qualiopi certification?
Qualiopi certification is a quality label awarded by the French government to training organizations. It certifies that these organizations comply with a national quality standard set by the public authorities.
Since January 1, 2022, this certification has been mandatory for training organizations wishing to receive public or mutualized funding. To obtain it, organizations must demonstrate their compliance with strict criteria defined in the national reference system.
Qualiopi certification is designed to guarantee the quality of training services and boost the confidence of beneficiaries and funders in the vocational training system. It is part of a continuous improvement approach to training quality, and contributes to the professionalization of the training sector in France.
What is the purpose of Qualiopi certification?
The objectives of certification depend on the stakeholder, with the aim for all of professionalizing the training sector.
Qualiopi objectives for the French government:
Guaranteeing training quality with Qualiopi :
By defining a national quality standard and requiring compliance with it in order to obtain certification, the French government ensures that the training provided by certified organizations meets high standards of quality, relevance and effectiveness.
Protecting learners with Qualiopi :
By reinforcing beneficiaries' confidence in certified training organizations, the State protects individuals by directing them towards quality training courses tailored to their professional and personal needs, while avoiding training courses of little relevance or dubious quality.
Optimize the use of public funds with Qualiopi :
By making access to public funding, such as the CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation), conditional on Qualiopi-certified training organizations, the French government is ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and invested in quality training, thus offering a better return on investment for the community.
Qualiopi's objectives for OPACs :
Access public financing with Qualiopi :
Qualiopi certification has become compulsory for training organizations wishing to benefit from public or mutualized funding for their training initiatives. By obtaining this certification, organizations can access major sources of funding, such as the Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF) or OPAC funds, which can help to develop their business and increase their sales.
Building credibility and trust with Qualiopi :
Qualiopi certification attests that the organization complies with national quality standards and implements practices in line with established norms. This reinforces the credibility of the organization in the eyes of its customers, partners and training beneficiaries, by inspiring confidence in the quality of the services offered.
Stand out from the crowd with Qualiopi :
Qualiopi certification can be a competitive advantage in an increasingly competitive training market. This certification demonstrates the organization's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, which can positively influence purchasing decisions and foster customer loyalty.
Qualiopi's objectives for learners :
Access to public funding for Qualiopi-certified organizations :
By choosing a training course delivered by a Qualiopi-certified organization, learners can benefit from public or mutualized funding, such as the Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF), which can make training more financially accessible.
Add value to your training courses with Qualiopi :
Training provided by Qualiopi-certified organizations can be better recognized by employers and recruiters, which can help to enhance the learner's career path and facilitate integration or advancement in the job market.
Reassure your choice of training courses with Qualiopi :
By committing to a training course provided by a Qualiopi-certified organization Qualiopicertified organization, learners can be confident in their choice of training, knowing that it is delivered by a service provider recognized for the quality of its services.
Am I eligible for Qualiopi certification?
In simple terms, all training providers are covered by Qualiopi certification. A training provider is any individual or legal entity providing at least one of the following four skills development activities:
- Continuing education (AFC)
- Skills assessment (BC)
- Validation of prior learning and experience (VAE)
- Apprenticeships (CFA)
What are the steps involved in obtaining Qualiopi certification?
To obtain Qualiopi certification, you need to be rigorous and adhere to a number of key stages.
Assessment of existing practices Before starting the certification process, the training organization must assess its existing practices against the criteria defined in the Qualiopi national reference framework. This enables any shortcomings to be identified before submitting an application for certification.
Choice of certification body The training organization must select a certifying body accredited by COFRAC (Comité Français d'Accréditation) to deliver Qualiopi certification.
Application for certification Certification: once ready, the training organization must submit an application for certification to the chosen certification body. This may involve providing various documents and information about the organization and its training practices.
Initial audit Initial audit: the certification body carries out an initial audit to assess the training organization "s compliance with the quality criteria defined in the Qualiopi standard. This audit may include interviews, on-site observations and document reviews.
Corrective action plan (if applicable) If non-conformities are identified during the initial audit, the training organization must implement a corrective action plan to remedy these shortcomings within a specified timeframe.
Follow-up audit (if necessary) Once corrective actions have been implemented, the certification body may carry out a follow-up audit to verify that non-conformities have been corrected and that the organization now complies with quality criteria.
Certification Qualiopi certification: if the training organization meets all the quality criteria during the initial audit (and any follow-up audits), the certifying body issues Qualiopi certification.
Maintaining certification To maintain Qualiopi certification, the training organization must continue to meet quality criteria, and may be subject to periodic follow-up audits to verify ongoing compliance.
Renewal : Qualiopi certification is valid for three years, after which organizations must renew their certification with a renewal audit. This is also the time to put the various certifying bodies out to tender.
À What are the criteria for Qualiopi certification?
This is the central element of Qualiopi: the national reference criteria. These have been grouped into seven areas.
Conditions for informing the public about the services offered, the time required to access them and the results obtained: the organization must provide clear and precise information about its training courses, the registration procedures, the time required to access them and the expected results.
Precise identification of the objectives of the services offered and adaptation of these services to the beneficiaries when designing the services: training courses must be designed with clear objectives and adapted to the needs of the participants.
Adaptation to the target audience when implementing services: the organization must ensure that training courses are adapted to the characteristics and needs of participants.
Adequacy of teaching, technical and supervisory resources: the organization must have the necessary resources to ensure the quality of the training, including adequate teaching and technical resources.
Qualification and development of knowledge and skills of staff responsible for providing services: staff responsible for providing training must have the necessary qualifications and skills, and the organization must set up continuing professional development initiatives to maintain and improve these skills.
Assessing and improving the quality of services provided: the organization must put in place systems for assessing the quality of training courses and processes for continuous improvement.
Taking into account feedback from service users: the organization must collect and take into account feedback from training participants in order to improve the quality of its services.
How long does it take to obtain Qualiopi certification?
The time required to obtain Qualiopi certification may vary depending on a number of factors:
Preparing the organization: The time required to prepare the organization for certification may vary according to its initial level of preparation and familiarity with the certification criteria.
Availability of resources: The organization must devote time and resources to preparing for certification, which may take more or less time depending on its capabilities and priorities.
Audit times: Once the certification application has been submitted, there may be delays before the organization is scheduled to be audited by the certification body.
Complexity of the organization: The size and complexity of the training organization can influence the time needed to assess its compliance with certification criteria.
In general, the Qualiopi certification process can take several months, from initial preparation to actual certification. It is recommended that organizations start preparing as soon as possible to ensure that they have enough time to meet all the criteria and pass the certification audit.
How much does Qualiopi certification cost?
Once again, there are no hard and fast rules. It will depend on your structure (size, scope of activities, number of sites, etc.), your maturity (preparation, compliance with national standards, etc.) and the certification body you choose - which is why it's so important to put them out to tender.
You'll need to pay a minimum of €1,500 (for structures with less than €150,000 in sales), and costs can exceed €4,000 for larger organizations.
Added to this areother costs such as the auditor's travel expenses, as well as indirect costs such as mobilizing your teams.
Is Qualiopi certification compulsory?
Since January 1, 2022, training organizations in France have been required to obtain Qualiopi certification if they wish to access public or mutualized funding for their professional training programs.
How do you maintain Qualiopi certification?
Maintaining Qualiopi certification once obtained means committing to a continuous process of quality improvement and compliance with the criteria defined by the certification. A renewal audit is required after three years. Now is the time to compete with other certification bodies for the best rates.
