CPQLTD Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Reasonable Adjustments Policy
🆕 New document — aligned with ISO/IEC 17024 — Equal opportunity in credentialing and assessment and the provision of reasonable adjustments without lowering the standard
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1 Purpose and basis
This document is available as CPQLTD internal policy within the institutional standards pack and is designed to align the CPQLTD ecosystem with ISO/IEC 17024 principles relevant to bodies certifying persons. Procedural and numeric provisions shown in this available edition are CPQLTD internal requirements. Their publication is not a claim of accreditation, certification or recognition by ISO/IEC or any other external body.
This policy consolidates the equality and inclusion principles distributed across the pack (CPQLTD-COMP C07, CPQLTD-CEPS-09, CPQLTD-VALID §5) into a single framework, and adds a clear reasonable-adjustments mechanism that ensures equal opportunity in credentialing and assessment without lowering the competency standard.
2 Principles of equality and non-discrimination
Equal opportunity in application, assessment and credentialing for all eligible applicants.
No discrimination on the basis of sex, origin, language, religion, disability or other characteristics.
Credentialing decisions are based on evidence, competence and ethics alone (consistent with CPQLTD-IMP).
3 Inclusion and accessibility
CPQLTD seeks to make its materials and assessments accessible digitally, linguistically and culturally so far as is practicable, and takes care in assessment design not to include barriers unrelated to the competency being measured.
4 Reasonable adjustments and special consideration
An applicant with a disability or a temporary circumstance may request reasonable adjustments that remove a barrier unrelated to the competency, without lowering the competency standard itself. Examples:
| Type of need | Example adjustment |
|---|---|
| Visual or reading difficulty | Alternative format, larger font, extra time |
| Hearing difficulty | A text alternative or a suitable communication arrangement |
| Mobility impairment | An accessible assessment environment |
| Temporary emergency | Special consideration or a documented rescheduling |
5 Request and decision mechanism
The adjustment request is submitted before the assessment with appropriate supporting evidence.
The Credentialing & Assessment Committee evaluates the request and decides the appropriate adjustment without compromising the standard.
Every request and its decision is documented, and the applicant has the right of appeal under the complaints policy (CPQLTD-ECR).
6 Monitoring and review
CPQLTD monitors equality data in an aggregated, privacy-protecting manner to detect any gaps in equal opportunity, reviews this policy annually within management review, and introduces the necessary improvements.