On the e-learning platform, Level #3 Get Qualified is a personalized coaching program for people who wish to support financial service providers in their social and environmental performance management and/or client protection strategy.
Becoming a qualified auditor means joining the SEPM Professionals Network, the community of experts led by Cerise+SPTF. The Pros are independent consultants, investment fund managers or network managers who support financial institutions directly in the field, to conduct social audits and improve practices.
Level #1 Get Started courses are available for free.
Level #2 Go Deeper courses are offered for EUR 800, for 40 hours of training over 9 weeks, with enriched content, a qualified instructor, virtual classes, peer exchanges, mock audit, and a training certificate. If you have already validated a Level #2 course (e.g., Go Deeper on SEPM) and want to attend another Level #2 course (e.g., Go Deeper on CP), we will offer you a 25% discount (EUR 600 for the second Level #2 course).
If you are selected to pursue to the Level #3 Get Qualified program, there is an additional cost of EUR 1,200 to benefit from individual coaching and a qualification certificate. If you are already qualified on a pathway (e.g. on SEPM) and want to get qualified on another pathway (e.g. on CP), we will offer you a 40% discount on the Level #3 Get Qualified program (EUR 720 instead of EUR 1,200).
Suppose you have been qualified on SEPM before 2023 and you want to get qualified on CP. In that case, you will have to pay a total of EUR 1,520 (instead of EUR 2,000): you will still pay the full price for the Level #2 Go Deeper course (since it will be your first time attending this enriched-content course) but you will benefit from the 40% discount on the Level #3 Get Qualified program.
If starting in 2023, you get qualified on CP or SEPM following the full pathway (#1 Get Started > #2 Go Deeper > #3 Get Qualified) and you want to get qualified on the second pathway, you will pay a total of EUR 1,320 (instead of EUR 2,000): you will indeed benefit from both discounts on the Level #2 Go Deeper course and Level #3 Get Qualified program.
A qualified auditor is an individual (and not an entity) who has successfully completed the Level #3 Get Qualified program. Access to the qualification program is subject to a selection process in which the candidateâs profile and work prospects for conducting audits will be evaluated.
Being a qualified auditor means that you have been trained by Cerise+SPTF on SEPM or CP, that you have conducted at least one assignment in the field under Cerise+SPTFâs supervision, and that you have the qualifications to conduct objective audits of FSPs.
Cerise+SPTF no longer offers internal qualifications for FSPs. If you work for an FSP, you can build your SEPM or CP skills by completing the Level #1 Get Started and Level #2 Go Deeper courses.
The Level #3 Get Qualified program is exclusively reserved for experts available to bring field support to FSPs:
- Independent consultants
- Impact/SEPM/CP managers of national or international networks
- Managers of investment funds
- Staff of technical assistance firms
- Rating agencies
- Certification bodies
Access to the qualification program is subject to a selection process in which the candidateâs profile and work prospects for conducting audits will be evaluated.
Cerise+SPTF qualifies a maximum of 2 persons per organization.
First, select the pathway for which you want to get trained and eventually become qualified (SEPM or CP).
Then, follow our 3-step process (each step needs to be validated to move to the next one):
- Start with our free, self-paced Level #1 Get Started course (3 hours).
- If you want to go further, register to join the instructor-led Level #2 Go Deeper course (9 weeks in cohort) which delivers a Training Certificate.
- Eventually pursue your journey by applying to our Level #3 Get Qualified program. Access to Level #3 is subject to a selection process in which the candidateâs profile and work prospects for conducting audits will be evaluated by Cerise+SPTF qualification steering committee. Download Qualification Process and Conditions
No. Cerise+SPTF only qualifies individuals and not entities. Your qualification certificate is personal.
If you leave your organization and want to keep your qualification, you must inform Cerise+SPTF and continue abiding by the Terms & Conditions for SEPM/CP qualified auditors.
No, the SEPM and CP qualification processes are distinct. If you are already qualified on SEPM, as an SPI auditor, you will still need to follow the whole qualification process for CP qualification â and the other way around!
However, we offer some discounts for people who get trained and qualified on both pathways.
Since the Smart Campaignâs closure in 2020, there have been key changes on client protection (CP) in the inclusive finance sector:
- The Client Protection Standards are now fully hosted by Cerise+SPTF under the Client Protection Pathway.
- Furthermore, the client protection standards have been updated, including an 8th standard related to governance, and published in February 2022.
- As before, the client protection standards are included in the Universal Standards for Social and Environmental Performance Management, which were also updated in early 2022.
- We also introduced new tools, and an introductory tool as well as a comprehensive tool for client protection are now hosted on SPI Online.
So thereâs still a lot to learn about!
If you were a Support Assessor under the Smart Campaign program, you need to go through the training and qualification process to become CP qualified.
If you were a Lead Assessor under the Smart Campaign program, you will need to pass a test to confirm the equivalence of your status. If you donât reach the minimum score required, you will need to go through the training and qualification process to become CP qualified.
If you want to train less than 10 people, please have them register for our next Level #2 Go Deeper course: Course catalog
If you want to train 10 people or more, we may offer a dedicated session or special conditions. Please get in touch with us for a personalized offer: training@spi-online.org
