CPQ™ Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Reasonable Adjustments Policy
Equal opportunity in credentialing and assessment, with reasonable adjustments that do not lower the competence standard.
1. Purpose & Basis
This document is presented as proposed CPQ™ policy for external review, extending the founding standards pack and drafted to align the CPQ™ ecosystem with ISO/IEC 17024 principles for bodies certifying persons. Any new procedural or numeric requirement remains Draft and does not become binding within CPQ until changed to Active through a documented governance decision; it is not a claim of accreditation or recognition by another body.
This policy consolidates equality and inclusion principles in CPQ-COMP C07, CPQ-CEPS-09 and CPQ-VALID and adds a clear reasonable-adjustment mechanism.
2. Equality & Non-Discrimination Principles
- Equal opportunity in application, assessment and credentialing for eligible candidates.
- No discrimination based on sex, origin, language, religion, disability or other characteristics.
- Credential decisions are based on evidence, competence and ethics only.
3. Inclusion & Accessibility
CPQ seeks to make materials and assessments digitally, linguistically and culturally accessible wherever practicable and to avoid barriers unrelated to the competence being measured.
4. Reasonable Adjustments & Special Consideration
Candidates may request a reasonable adjustment that removes a non-competence barrier without lowering the competence standard.
| Need | Example adjustment |
|---|---|
| Visual or reading difficulty | Alternative format, larger text, additional time |
| Hearing difficulty | Text alternative or suitable communication arrangement |
| Mobility impairment | Accessible assessment environment |
| Temporary emergency | Special consideration or documented rescheduling |
5. Request & Decision Process
- Submit the request before assessment with suitable supporting evidence.
- Credentials & Assessment Committee determines an appropriate adjustment without lowering the standard.
- Document the decision, with appeal rights under CPQ-ECR.
6. Monitoring & Review
CPQ monitors equality data in aggregated privacy-protective form, reviews the policy annually and implements necessary improvements.