Certification Policies Overview

Certification drives knowledge and competency. It helps ensure that Sterile Processing (SP) professionals stay current with regulations, standards, and best practices. It gives them the confidence in knowing they have both the tools and skills needed to overcome the most challenging obstacles. Above all, certification demonstrates that quality care and safety are the driving forces behind the SP department.

Code of Conduct

The CESSTIG Certification Council supports appropriate, professional standards designed to serve Sterile Processing technicians, their employers, and the public. First and foremost, certificants give priority to providing central services in a manner that promotes safety, reflects positively on the profession, and is consistent with accepted moral, ethical, and legal standards. Certificants have the obligation to:

Adherence to Policies & Requirements

Adhere to all laws, regulations, policies, and ethical standards that apply to the practice of providing central services and related activities.
Follow all certification program policies, procedures, requirements and rules. This includes the obligation to be aware of and understand these policies and requirements.
Provide accurate and complete information to CESSTIG concerning certification and recertification.
Keep confidential all CESSTIG examination information; including preventing unauthorized disclosures of exam information.
Cooperate with CESSTIG and the Certification Council regarding matters related to the Code of Conduct and complaint and/or disciplinary investigations.
Properly use CESSTIG certification titles, marks, and logos.
Report violations of the Code of Conduct by CESSTIG certificants to the Certification Council.

Professional Performance

Maintain high standards of integrity and conduct, and accept responsibility for their actions
Be accountable and responsible for their actions and behaviors.
Foster excellence in Central Service by continually seeking to enhance their professional capabilities through continuing education and regular on-the-job training.
Maintain the confidentiality of private and sensitive information, unless there is mandate to report or other legal obligation to disclose the information.
Act professionally, and practice with integrity and honesty.
Strive to fairly and objectively represent the principals of CS and encourage others to act in the same professional manner consistent with certification standards and responsibilities.

Confidentiality

The Certification Council is committed to protecting confidential and/or proprietary information related to applicants, candidates, certificants and examination development, maintenance, and administration process. The confidentiality policy applies to all CESSTIG board members, employees, Certification Council members, committee members, contractors, and other individuals who are permitted access to confidential information.

Information about applicants/candidates/certificants and their examination results are considered confidential and may not be disclosed, divulged, or made accessible. Exam scores and/or other confidential information will be released only to the individual candidate unless a signed release is provided or as required by law. Personal information submitted by applicants/candidates/certificants with an application or recertification application is considered confidential. Personal information retained within the candidate/certificant database will be kept confidential.

Information related to the development, administration and maintenance of the examination is considered confidential.

Confidential materials include, but are not limited to: an individual’s application status, personal applicant/candidate/certificant information, exam development documentation (including job analysis reports, technical reports, and cut score studies), exam items and answers, exam forms, and individual exam scores.

CESSTIG and the Certification Council will not disclose confidential applicant/candidate/certificant information unless authorized in writing by the individual or as required by law. If CESSTIG is required by law to disclose confidential information, the individual(s) whose information is released will be notified to the extent permitted by law.

Verification of Certification

The Certification Manager maintains a database of all active applicants and certificants.

The names of certified individuals and their certification status are not considered confidential and will be published by CESSTIG in the online verification system. The CESSTIG headquarters office will also verify certification status upon request – information released will include the certificant’s name, certification effective and expiration dates, certification type, and certification status (certified or not certified.)

An up-to-date database of all certificants is maintained under the oversight of the Certification Manager. The online verification system will be promptly updated to reflect individuals whose certification has expired or has been suspended or revoked.

CESSTIG will not release further details of your certification(s), such as exam scores or the number of exam attempts, without your prior written consent. In order to verify your certification through CESSTIG , online or in writing, the requesting party must have your full name and CESSTIG ID number. CESSTIG will not release your ID number without your consent; employers or other prospective parties would need to obtain that information directly from you.

Upon becoming certified, and with every annual renewal, you will be issued a certificate for each certification you hold. The certificate(s) will detail the scope and dates of your certification(s) and can be used as a primary source document to verify your certification.

Aggregate Certification Data

Aggregate exam statistics (including the number of exam candidates, pass/fail rates, and total number of certificants) will be publicly available. Aggregate exam statistics, studies and reports concerning candidates/certificants will contain no information identifiable with any candidate, unless authorized in writing by the candidate.

Confidentiality Agreements

Applicants for certification will be required to read and acknowledge a confidentiality statement as part of the application process.

Access to Confidential Information

Access to confidential information will be limited to those individuals who require access in order to perform necessary work related to the certification program. Access will be granted in compliance with the provisions of the security policy. CESSTIG Board members, employees, Certification Council members, committee members, contractors, and other individuals will use confidential information solely for the purpose of performing services for CESSTIG.

This policy is not intended to prevent disclosure where disclosure is required by law.

Certification Program Complaints

Complaints about the certification process may be submitted by an individual or entity. Complaints should be reported to the Certification Council in writing and include the name of the person submitting the complaint and a detailed description of the complaint.

A preliminary review to determine if the complaint is valid and actionable will be conducted by the Director of Certification in consultation with the Executive Director and/or Certification Council Chair within 30 calendar days of receipt of the complaint. If the complaint is deemed valid and actionable, the Director of Certification will consult with the Certification Council to address and resolve the issue.

In order to maintain and enhance the credibility of the certification program, the Certification Council has adopted the following procedures to allow individuals to bring complaints concerning the conduct of individuals who are certificants or candidates for certification to the Certification Council.

In the event an individual candidate or certificant violates the Code of Conduct, certification rules, or certification program policies, the Certification Council may reprimand or suspend the individual or may revoke certification.

The grounds for sanctions under these procedures may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Violation of the Code of Conduct;
Violation of established certification policies, rules and requirements;
Conviction of a felony or other crime of moral turpitude under federal or state law in a matter related to the practice of, or qualifications for, central service;
Gross negligence, willful misconduct, or other unethical conduct in the performance of services for which the individual has achieved certification from CESSTIG; or
Fraud or misrepresentation in an initial application or renewal application for certification.

Information regarding the complaint process will be available to the public without request via the CESSTIG web site and/or other published documents. A complete copy of this policy will be published.

Actions taken under this policy do not constitute enforcement of the law, although referral to appropriate federal, state, or local government agencies may be made about the conduct of the candidate or certificant in appropriate situations. Individuals initially bringing complaints are not entitled to any relief or damages by virtue of this process, although they will receive notice of the actions taken.

Complaints

Complaints may be submitted by any individual or entity. Complaints should be reported to the Director of Certification in writing and should include the name of the person submitting the complaint, the name of the person the complaint is regarding along with other relevant identifying information, a detailed description of factual allegations supporting the charges, and any relevant supporting documentation. Information submitted during the complaint and investigation process is considered confidential and will be handled in accordance with the Certification Council’s confidentiality policy. Inquiries or submissions other than complaints may be reviewed and handled by the Certification Council or its staff members at its discretion.

Upon receipt and preliminary review of a complaint involving a certificant, the Director of Certification in consultation with the Certification Council Chair may conclude, in their sole discretion, that the submission:

Contains unreliable or insufficient information, or
Is patently frivolous or inconsequential.

In such cases, the Director of Certification and Certification Council Chair may determine that the submission does not constitute a valid and actionable complaint that would justify bringing it before the Certification Council for investigation and a determination of whether there has been a violation of substantive requirements of the certification process. If so, the submission is disposed of by notice from the Director of Certification and Chair to its submitter, if the submitter is identified. All such preliminary dispositions by the Chair are reported to the Certification Council at its next meeting.

This preliminary review to determine if the complaint is valid and actionable will be conducted within 30 calendar days of receipt of the complaint.

If a submission is deemed by the Chair to be a valid and actionable complaint, the Chair shall see that written notice is provided to the candidate/certificant whose conduct has been called into question. The candidate/certificant whose conduct is at issue shall also be given the opportunity to respond to the complaint. The Chair shall also ensure that the individual submitting the complaint receives notice that the complaint is being reviewed by the Certification Council.

Complaint Review

For each compliant that the Chair concludes is a valid and actionable complaint, the Certification Council authorizes an investigation into its specific facts or circumstances to whatever extent is necessary in order to clarify, expand, or corroborate the information provided by the submitter.

The Chair refers the complaint to the Review Committee to investigate and make an appropriate determination with respect to each such valid and actionable complaint. The Review Committee initially determines whether it is appropriate to review the complaint under these Procedures or whether the matter should be referred to another entity engaged in the administration of law. The timeline for responses and for providing any additional information shall be established by the Review Committee. The review and investigation will be completed in an appropriate amount of time, not to exceed 6 months, unless there are extenuating circumstances that require an extended time period. The Review Committee may be assisted in the conduct of its investigation by CESSTIG staff or legal counsel. The CC Chair exercises general supervision over all investigations.

Both the individual submitting the complaint and the candidate/certificant who is the subject of the investigation (or his or her employer) may be contacted for additional information with respect to the complaint. The Review Committee, or the CC on its behalf, may at its discretion contact such other individuals who may have knowledge of the facts and circumstances surrounding the complaint.

All investigations and deliberations of the Review Committee and the CC are conducted in confidence, with all written communications sealed and marked “Personal and Confidential,” and they are conducted objectively, without any indication of prejudgment. An investigation may be directed toward any aspect of a complaint which is relevant or potentially relevant. Formal hearings are not held and the parties are not expected to be represented by counsel, although the Review Committee and Certification Council may consult their own counsel.

Determination of Violation

Upon completion of an investigation, the Review Committee recommends whether the Certification Council should make a determination that there has been a violation of CESSTIG Certification Council policies and rules. When the Review Committee recommends that the Certification Council find a violation, the Review Committee also recommends imposition of an appropriate sanction. If the Review Committee so recommends, a proposed determination with a proposed sanction is prepared under the supervision of the Chair and is presented by a representative of the Review Committee to the Certification Council along with the record of the Review Committee’s investigation.

If the Review Committee recommends against a determination that a violation has occurred, the complaint is dismissed with notice to the candidate/certificant, the candidate/certificant’s employer, the individual or entity who submitted the complaint, and the CESSTIG Executive Board.

The Certification Council reviews the recommendation of the Review Committee based upon the record of the investigation. The Certification Council may accept, reject, or modify the Review Committee’s recommendation, either with respect to the determination of a violation or the recommended sanction to be imposed. If the Certification Council makes a determination that a violation has occurred, this determination and the imposition of a sanction are promulgated by written notice to the candidate/certificant, and to the individual submitting the complaint, if the submitter agrees in advance and in writing to maintain in confidence whatever portion of the information is not made public by the Certification Council.

In certain circumstances, the Certification Council may consider a recommendation from the Review Committee that the candidate/certificant who has violated the certification program policies or rules should be offered an opportunity to submit a written assurance that the conduct in question has been terminated and will not recur. The decision of the Review Committee to make such a recommendation and of the Certification Council to accept it are within their respective discretionary powers. If such an offer is extended, the candidate/certificant at issue must submit the required written assurance within thirty days of receipt of the offer, and the assurance must be submitted in terms that are acceptable to the Certification Council. If the Certification Council accepts the assurance, notice is given to the candidate/certificant’s employer and to the submitter of the complaint, if the submitter agrees in advance and in writing to maintain the information in confidence.

Sanctions

Any of the following sanctions may be imposed by the Certification Council upon a candidate/certificant whom the Certification Council has determined to have violated the policies and rules of its certification program(s), although the sanction applied must reasonably relate to the nature and severity of the violation, focusing on reformation of the conduct of the individual and deterrence of similar conduct by others:

written reprimand to the candidate/certificant;
suspension of the certificant for a designated period; or
suspension of the candidate’s application eligibility for a designated period; or
termination of the certificant’s certification; or
termination of the candidate’s application eligibility for a designated period.

For sanctions that include suspension or termination, a summary of the final determination and the sanction with the candidate/certificant’s name and date is published by the Certification Council. This information will be published only after any appeal has either been considered or the appeal period has passed.

Reprimand in the form of a written notice from the Chair normally is sent to a candidate/ certificant who has received his or her first substantiated complaint. Suspension normally is imposed on a candidate/certificant who has received two substantiated complaints. Termination normally is imposed on a candidate/certificant who has received two substantiated complaints within a two year period, or three or more substantiated complaints. The Certification Council may at its discretion, however, impose any of the sanctions, if warranted, in specific cases.

Certificants who have been terminated shall have their certification revoked and shall not be considered for certification in the future. If certification is revoked, any and all certificates or other materials requested by the Certification Council must be returned promptly to the Certification Council.

Appeal

Within thirty (30) days from receipt of notice of a determination by the Certification Council that a candidate/ certificant violated the certification program policies and/or rules, the affected candidate/certificant may submit to the Certification Council Chair in writing a request for an appeal. Any candidate / certificant receiving such adverse decision will receive a copy of this policy along with notification of the appeal period.

Upon receipt of a request for appeal, the Chair of the Certification Council establishes an appellate body consisting of at least three, but not more than five, individuals. This Appeal Committee may review one or more appeals, upon request of the Chair. No current members of the Review Committee or the Certification Council may serve on the Appeal Committee; further, no one with any personal involvement or conflict of interest may serve on the Appeal Committee.

The Appeal Committee may only review whether the determination by the Certification Council of a violation of the certification program policies and/or rules was inappropriate because of:

material errors of fact, or
failure of the Review Committee or the Certification Council to conform to published criteria, policies, or procedures.

Only facts and conditions up to and including the time of the Certification Council’s determination as represented by facts known to the Certification Council are considered during an appeal. The appeal shall not include a hearing or any similar trial-type proceeding. Legal counsel is not expected to participate in the appeal process, unless requested by the appellant and approved by the Certification Council and the Appeal Committee. The Certification Council and Appeal Committee may consult legal counsel.

The Appeal Committee conducts and completes the appeal within ninety days after receipt of the request for an appeal. Written appellate submissions and any reply submissions may be made by authorized representatives of the member and of the Certification Council. Submissions are made according to whatever schedule is reasonably established by the Appeal Committee. The decision of the Appeal Committee either affirms or overrules the determination of the Certification Council, but does not address a sanction imposed by the Certification Council. The Appeal Committee will confirm receipt of all communications including the initial appeal and will provide notice to the appellant of the end of the appeals-handling process.

The Appeal Committee decision is binding upon the Certification Council, the candidate/certificant who is subject to the termination, and all other persons.

Resignation

If a certificant who is the subject of a complaint voluntarily surrenders his or her certification at any time during the pendency of a complaint under these Procedures, the complaint is dismissed without any further action by the Review Committee, the Certification Council, or an Appeal Committee established after an appeal. The entire record is sealed and the individual may not reapply for CESSTIG certification. However, the Certification Council may authorize the Chair to communicate the fact and date of resignation, and the fact and general nature of the complaint which was pending at the time of the resignation, to or at the request of a government entity engaged in the administration of law. Similarly, in the event of such resignation, the certificant’s employer and the person or entity who submitted the complaint are notified of the fact and date of resignation and that Certification Council has dismissed the complaint as a result.

CESSTIG’s Certification Policies