From the Desks of:
IMC CoFounders
Introduction to the FAQ
Here are two questions sent to the office seeking clarification:
What is the connection among IMC, mentoring and certification?
Is the certification you offer recognized by ISO?
IMC, Mentoring, Certification
International Mentoring Community (IMC) is a business based in Canada. It has two founders who serve as Director of Education and Outreach, and Director of Certification.
IMC offers four certificates using an audit and/or verification process to award the certificates. The certificate awarding body is IMC.
At the core of the certification process is the evidence-based action-learning pathway of the applicant about the experience-based outcome-educating approach of mentoring.
Depending on the certification level the emphasis is on concepts (knowledge, attitude, limited skills) and/or concepts and practices (knowledge, skills, attitudes).
4 Certificates
Certificate of Recognition (Mentorship) - uses a verbal audit process (via action-outcome statements) to ascertain the applicants' knowledge of the concepts (~30 of the ~72 action-outcome statements) and ~3 practices of mentoring. This certificate is used for basic awareness at a general public level. The certificate
- has no prerequisite
- offers insights into mentoring at a high level
- reviews the connection between coaching and mentoring
- celebrates the importance of a mentor
- does not require recertification
Certificate of Achievement (Mentoring) - uses a written audit process (via action-outcome statements) to ascertain the applicants' knowledge of the ~72 concepts and ~5 practices of mentoring. This certificate is at an introductory level used for those without mentoring experience and who want to become a mentor. They seek a starting point to start their guided involvement. The certificate
- has no prerequisite
- offers insights into all mentoring concepts identified as important to serve as a mentor
- reviews the connection between coaching, facilitating, counselling and mentoring
- reviews what it means to serve as mentor
- reviews the certification process available for Certificate of Competence
- does not require recertification
Certificate of Competence (Mentor) - uses a verification process (via action-outcome statements) to ascertain the applicants' knowledge of the ~72 concepts and the ~72 practices of mentoring. This certificate is a foundational to competently serve as a mentor. The certificate
- requests mentoring experience
- requires a personal assessment of competence for the ~72 action-outcome statements so as to establish a baseline and mentoring action plan through a review with the Intake Manager
- offers insights into all mentoring concepts and practices identified as important to serve as a competent mentor
- reviews the connection between 9 other educating approaches and mentoring
- reviews what it means to serve as competent mentor
- reviews the certification process available for Certificate of Competence - Journey Mentor
- does require recertification every two years
Certificate of Competence - Journey Mentor - uses a verification process (via action-outcome statements) to advance the applicants' concepts and practices of mentoring using a "journey metaphor."
An additional ~ 40 concepts and practices are added to the Certificate of Competence - Mentor profile. Their addition deepens one's practice of mentoring suitable for situations where a mentee is experiencing mental health issues. Also, a journey mentor can support those moving through the Certificate of Competence - Mentor program. The certificate
- requires the prerequisite of Certificate of Competence - Mentor
- requires a personal assessment of competence for the ~40 action-outcome statements so as to establish a baseline and mentoring action plan through a review with the Intake Manager
- offer insights into all mentoring concepts and practices identified as important to serve as a competent journey mentor
- review the connection between 9 other educating approaches and mentoring
- review what it means to serve as competent journey mentor
- does require recertification every two years
- Note: Because the Certificate of Competence is the prerequisite for the Certificate of Competence - Journey Mentor, the recertification process for the Certification of Competence - Journey Mentor includes recertification of the Certificate of Competence - Mentor
IMC, Certification,
ISO
IMC is the organization that manages the audit and/r verification process to award the certificates (see the list of four certificates above).
ISO (International Standard Organization) is an organization that manages the standards and regulations licensed accreditors use to confirm an organization has met the requirements of the standard(s) and/or regulation(s).
IMC is pursuing accreditation for the following ISO Standards and Regulations with the assistance of a bridging company who uses software to mange the accreditation process. This company is guiding IMC forward to meet with the Accreditor.
A listing of the ISO Standards and Regulations linked to IMC follow:
IMC is currently working towards
Standards:
9001 - Quality Management
19011 - Auditing Management Systems including verification systems
20022 - Financial Protocols
21001 - Management of Education-based Organization
22301 - Business Continuity
27001 - Information Security
Regulations:
17024 - Conformity Assessment (Competence Verification)
This process can take up to 2 years to complete.
We registered with the software support service in the summer of 2021.
To be clear, the IMC certification is not recognized by ISO. So as to be totally transparent, the IMC certification is not an ISO Certification of Mentoring.
We are pursuing the ISO accreditation (they call it certification) for IMC for these reasons:
- to match our managed services against international standards as we guide persons to their mentoring certification. . .offer assurance to the applicants of the rigor of our systems and processes
- to provide researched confirmation of the evidence-based learning and experience-based educating systems IMC uses as an organization that issues certificates
- to confirm the audit and verification system IMC uses to award the certificates follows the conformity assessment requirements in the ISO regulations
More so, the audit and verification process used by IMC is informed by the Criminal Code of Canada using EOHS standards. The statute is Criminal Code Section 217.1.
You are invited to become involved ... and so - - - - your comments are appreciated below.
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The International Mentoring Community guides you as an inspired practitioner - whether employee and/or entrepreneur - to become a mentor who delivers extraordinary mentoring experiences.
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You want to monetize your lived experience to add money to your bank account as you share what you know and do for the benefit of others
