Expert Review Process

Achieving e-GIF Expert Level certification

To achieve your Expert Level certification you'll need to submit a portfolio to demonstrate that you have the level of skills required - and that you've applied them effectively. But don't worry - the process is simple.

Portfolio assessment process
Potential outcomes and consequent results
Your preparation and provision of supporting affidavits
The assessment
Fees
Turnaround times
Disputes
Term of certification as an expert and maintenance of an existing certification
What to do next?

Portfolio assessment process

• You must have created your SkillsTracker record covering the specialisation(s) for which you are seeking expert certification and you will have passed the e-GIF Foundation Test.
• You will have been proposed for Expert Review by either yourself or your employer; either a voucher will be redeemed or the Review fee will have been paid.
• You need to specify in which e-GIF specialism(s) you are seeking expert level certification
• Once your submission is received by the e-GIF Accreditation Authority ("e-GIF-AA") it will be validated to ensure completeness, and any deficiencies will be notified.
• Your submission is reviewed by the Expert Panel and assessed in terms of completeness and content.

Potential outcomes and consequent results

If you're applying for Expert status in multiple specialisations, these four outcomes could apply to each of the specialisations you submitted.

Your preparation and provision of supporting affidavits

You will be required to create a portfolio document for each specialisation for which you are applying to be recognised at Expert level. This is illustrated in the example at www.egifaccreditation.org/docs/Expert_Review_Portfolio_sample.doc (Microsoft Word) and www.egifaccreditation.org/pdfs/Expert_Review_Portfolio_sample.pdf (Adobe PDF).

You will also be required to present at least two affidavits from individuals providing references to support the submission. These individuals should include recognised experts in their field if at all possible; it is recognised that there are may be occasions when this is not possible.

The assessment
The review follows a gateway model.

• Gate 1 - Is there evidence of training and experience to support the skillset claimed?
  For example:
  
  • Have you reached the required SkillsTracker points level?
  • What is the percentage of the points that have been validated by recognised skills interventions?
  • What is the mix of formal training versus validated workplace development, versus unvalidated on-the-job skills acquisition?
  • Of the outstanding percentage, is there acceptable validation?
  • Is there evidence of a formal CPD record?
  Based on this assessment, the panel will decide whether the skills record is acceptable. If the determination of the panel is that the skills do exist to an adequate depth, then:
  
  
• Gate 2 - Is the portfolio adequate proof that the skills have been effectively applied in practice?
  For example, this determination could be based on a mix of:
  
  • The profile of the projects you presented (e.g. mission critical application or a tactical "quick fix");
  • Your technical role within, and contribution to the work;
  • Evidence of contribution at the Knowledge Champion level;
  • The overall success of the work in e-GIF compliance terms;
  • Evidence from formal post project/work assignment reviews.
  Based on this assessment, the panel will decide whether there is acceptable proof of skills depth and effective skills application. If the determination of the panel is that this is the case, then:
  
  
• Gate 3 - Is the individual recognised by the peer community as an acceptable role model to operate at the Expert Level?
  As a final check, the Expert Review Panel may consult with others as to whether your submission is acceptable to the community at large. For example, the panel may consult domain experts nominated by the Authority's Steering Committee, or use the supporting affidavits, as entry points into the wider community.
  

Upon completion of the review you will be notified of the result and any follow-up actions required.

Where you are applying for Expert status in multiple specialisations, these four outcomes could apply to each of the specialisations submitted.

Fees

As a general principle, a single application addressed towards multiple e-GIF specialisations will be treated as multiple applications and each will be dealt with separately and evaluated in its own right.

The following table shows the fee charged for multiple applications:

The six e-GIF specialisations are Interconnection, Data Integration, Content Management, e-Services Access, Smart Cards, and Specific Business Areas.

Turnaround times

The timescales within which you can expect responses from us under the Expert Review process are:

• Administration Unit review - 2 weeks
• Expert Panel review - 6 weeks
• Third party review - 4 weeks

Disputes

Disputes will be managed using the Complaints/Appeals Procedure

Term of certification as an expert and maintenance of an existing certification

Your certification is for the e-GIF specialisations you selected at the then current release of the e-GIF. As such it is permanent and does not expire. However it may become increasingly out of date as new e-GIF versions are released.

When a new release of the e-GIF occurs, the e-GIF AA will review the impact of the new release on each specialisation and advise you on appropriate next steps in order to update your Expert level status. There are three possible scenarios:

• There is no impact on the specialisation - in which case your Expert level credential is upgraded to the new release;
• There is minimal impact on the specialisation - you will be advised on the action necessary and a minimal charge will be made to execute the upgrade;
• There is a substantial impact on the specialisation - you will be advised and a new submission will be required (the full fee will be charged) in order to upgrade your Expert level status to the new release.

The overriding principle on re-certification is that, once you are recognised at the Expert level, you will always be recognised - at that release! And we want to ensure that it is as easy as possible for you to upgrade your credential to the next level.

What to do next?

• Step 1 - check out the sample Expert Review Portfolio (pdf 137KB)  (doc 172KB)
• Step 2 - prepare and send in your submission.