Why get accreditation?
Quality
It shows that you're running a high standard degree course that attracts students and enables them to gain knowledge across the discipline, using a unique systems approach.
Promotion
Courses accredited by us are promoted here and in response to enquiries for learning. We only recommend accredited courses to people who ask us about human factors study.
Recognition
You can use a special CIEHF-accredited degree course logo and the text “This is a CIEHF Qualifying Course” in your publicity for the course, enabling it to stand out from the crowd.
Chartership
Graduates from CIEHF-accredited degree courses are eligible for Graduate Membership of the CIEHF and this contributes to their future application for Chartered status.
What's needed?
If you'd like to get your course recognised as an accredited degree course (a 'Qualifying Course'), click on each item below to find out more about the different requirements for your application.
Content
Requirements
Your course must cover essential ergonomics knowledge content. The Professional Competency areas covered on the course should each last a minimum of 150 hours (15 Credits UK), up to a suggested maximum as follows:
- Ergonomics/human factors principles: 300 hours
- Ergonomics/human factors theory and practice: 600 hours
- Human capabilities and limitations: 300 hours
- Design and development of systems: 450 hours
- Professional skills and implementation: 150 hours
The course must also include an ergonomics-based research project of either laboratory-based research, user-inspired research or application-based work that extends to approximately 600 hours.
The course content must be overseen by a Chartered member of the CIEHF, who is employed by the university, and who will also be responsible for the professional development of students whilst they are on the course.
You can apply to have sub-sets of your degree course accredited at the same time as the parent course. This might be a PG Diploma, Certificate or individual module, for example.
Standards
Requirements
Your course must meet the following programme standards:
- Curriculum: The programme must be delivered in English and reflect current scholarship, research and practice including a critical awareness of current issues and developments in ergonomics. A programme specification should be available that provides the programme aims and intended learning outcomes. The teaching and learning strategy should ensure sufficient breadth and depth of coverage of the Institute’s programme curriculum requirements.
- Assessment: All essential taught knowledge areas must be separately assessed in English and contribute to the final award classification. Essential curriculum themes should be assessed, but this does not need to be separated from knowledge areas. Assessment should be shown to be valid, reliable, fair and appropriate to the level of award, e.g. through moderation by an external examiner. Marking should be undertaken only by appropriately qualified staff.
- Entry criteria: The programme must specify entry criteria that allow equality of opportunity and access to a diverse range of applicants.
- Awards: Successful fulfilment of the programme’s requirements must lead to the conferment of a named award from a Higher Education institution.
- Staffing: The programme provider must have adequate staffing in place to support the effective delivery of the programme.
- Resources: The programme provider must have appropriate resources in place to support the effective delivery of the programme be it delivered on-campus (e.g. resources such as lecture rooms and laboratories) or at a distance (e.g. resources such as online discussion forums and interactive virtual work environments).
- Quality management: The programme provider must have quality management systems (e.g. External Examiners and periodic review of the validity of the programme).
- Ethics: The programme must cover ethical conduct and ensure students work ethically.
- Misconduct: The programme providers should have policies and procedures in place to detect and deal with issues that may arise with student conduct during assessment.
Assessment
How your course is assessed
Two members of the Institute’s Professional Affairs Board (PAB) will assess your application. They might ask you to submit additional information if there are any areas which need clarification.
During the assessment of your application, all assessors follow specific written guidance and complete a checklist to ensure they work consistently and we maintain a clear record of your application. You should read these too before you apply to understand what the assessors are looking for, how they do their assessment, and to give yourself the best chance of success.
See the assessor guidance
See the assessor checklist
Frequently asked questions
How long will the assessment process take?
That depends on several things such as the quality and completeness of your application. The assessors are all volunteers so must find time to assess your application, though they will endeavour to do this as quickly as possible. If all goes well, we hope to have your application processed within 6 weeks.
If my application is successful, what happens then?
Congratulate yourself! If your application is accepted, we will let you know straight away and you will be sent confirmation of the decision. You will also get a certificate and will be able to use a special logo to promote your course as being accredited.
What if my application is rejected?
You will be given guidance as to the areas in which it was felt that the application was lacking, so that you get a chance to improve the material and could reapply in the future.
Ready to apply?
If you think you're ready to apply, this is what you'll need to do.
- Complete the Professional Competency Checklist. Download the checklist
- Gather digital copies of the programme handbook, detailed curriculum, assessments and module specifications.
- Gather staff CVs and any other documentation that demonstrates the programme meets all the requirements.
- Fill in an application form.
- Email the application form to us, together with the Checklist, programme documents and staff CVs.
- Pay the application fee when you receive our invoice.
Not quite there yet?
If you're not quite ready for the full degree course accreditation but you have a PG Diploma or Certificate running, you could consider its recognition under our Training Course accreditation process.