Licensing, certification, validation - how do they work together? A practical guide to the international competence validation system

08/04/2025

Introduction

"Does training without certification still make sense? In times of measurable results and increasing competition, it's not just the learning that counts - but the confirmation of it." Many companies, universities and educational institutions today are wondering how to not only train, but also certify the competence of participants. In this context, three concepts are becoming increasingly important: licensing, certification and validation.

In this article we explain:

what they are and how they work in practice,
what their connection to the qualification system means,
and how - thanks to the Heuresis license - you can become a mini-validation center, providing training that ends with ACI® competence certification.

What is the difference between licensing, certification and validation?

License

This is a formal agreement to use a ready-made training and certification program.
Licensee (company, institution, trainer) receives:

full lesson plans,
tools, tests, validation sheets,
the right to conduct validation and submit participants for ACI® certification.

Certification

This is an external confirmation of the participant's competence - based on standards, procedures and exams. Certification culminates in the issuance of an official document - in this case, an ACI® certificate (e.g. CIMP, CHRP, CIPT, CIPN, etc.).

Validation

This is the process of verifying a participant's knowledge, skills and attitudes, conducted locally by a licensed entity. Validation is based on certification criteria and is done using the tools provided.

ACI® - who certifies?

The American Certification Institute® (ACI) is an independent, international certification body based in the United States, operating in more than 50 countries. It has been awarding professional certifications in the areas of management, HR, negotiation and training for more than 20 years.

In Poland, ACI®'s exclusive partner and validation operator is Heuresis - as a certification center and license provider at the same time.

Heuresis - a validation center that provides a ready-made system

As an ACI® validation center, Heuresis:

prepares and makes available full training programs,
conducts validation and examination procedures,
trains trainers and licensees,
and oversees the quality of certification processes.

With a license, you can become a mini-validation center:

conduct the validation process yourself,
enroll participants for ACI® certification,
issue certificates and participate in the international process of competence recognition.

License with certification step by step

What is the process of obtaining a license and implementing the program?

You choose a license path:
e.g. Excellence in Management©℠, Excellence in HR Management©℠, Excellence in Business Training©℠ or Negotiations.
You sign a license agreement with Heuresis
- we agree on the scope, timelines and method of delivery (in-house, public or partnership).
You receive a set of validation materials and tools
- scenarios, tests, observation sheets, validation sheets, role descriptions and exam standards.
You train as an instructor/validator (online or onsite)
- you learn the principles of validation and exam preparation.
You implement the training and conduct validation of participants
- according to the procedure and based on the tools provided.
You submit participants for ACI® certification
-you send validation sheets and exam applications.
Participants receive an official ACI®
certificate - with a registration number and international recognition.

What about the qualification system? Is it compatible with the MCC?

Yes. The process we offer is in line with the EU Council Recommendation of December 20, 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning.

Heuresis licenses are compliant with the requirements of:

Integrated Qualification System (IQS) in terms of implementation by international organizations,
principles of competence validation in the context of lifelong learning,
certification obligations in the BUR (Database of Development Services) system.

In BUR you will be able to indicate that:

the training ends with international certification,
the process is in line with the MCC in terms of market qualifications and validation standards,
the program includes skills validation and measurable learning outcomes.

What do you gain as a licensee?

✔️ access to a proven education and validation system,
✔️ the ability to certify trainees,
✔️ legitimization of your training offer,
✔️ compliance with EU and MCC requirements,
✔️ participation in the international network of ACI® certification partners,
✔️ a concrete competitive advantage in the HR, education and development market.

Who is this solution for?"

A bulleted list of entities that will particularly benefit:

internal and external trainers,
hR and development departments,
training companies,
universities and educational institutions,
bUR companies.

Summary

A training license today is not just the right to teach - it is access to a system of validation and certification of competencies that meets international standards and gives real recognition.

If you want not only to train, but also to build a structure for competence development and certification in your organization or educational institution - this system is for you.

The September edition starts soon.
See available licenses and apply

Frequently asked questions - FAQ

What is a licensed training program?

It's a ready-made, proprietary development program (e.g. in management, HR, negotiation or training) that you can implement at your place - with full materials, methodology and the right to conduct classes.

Can I conduct the training on my own?

Yes. The license includes the right to conduct training by an internal or external trainer - after training and implementation in the program.

What does it mean that the program ends with ACI® certification?

After passing the training and validation process, the participant can take the ACI® (American Certification Institute, USA) exam and obtain a certificate of professional competence - e.g. CIMP, CHRP, CIPT.

Can I validate participants myself?

Yes. The licensee, after training, becomes a mini-validation center - can perform validation and submit participants for certification.

Is this solution compatible with MCC and BUR?

Yes. Heuresis licensed programs comply with the requirements of the Integrated Qualification System (IQS), and the ACI® certification process meets the requirements for international organizations as indicated in the BUR (Database of Development Services).

What programs can I license?

Available programs include:

how long does implementation take?

Initial implementation (training, access to materials, preparation) takes 5 to 10 business days. The programs are ready for immediate use.