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A controlled journey from eligibility to verified certification

The WWEC Certification Process

WWEC certification follows a defined process designed to ensure that certification decisions are based on the applicable scope, eligibility requirements, evidence, employee experience, assessment, scoring and governance controls.

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Certification outcome

When certification is granted

Certification is granted only when the organisation meets the applicable requirements for the defined certification scope and the required certification decision process has been completed.

The process is designed to provide clarity at every stage — from initial enquiry and pathway selection through assessment, certification, public verification and applicable renewal or reassessment.

Eight stages, not ten steps

The eight certification stages on this page describe one certification file, from eligibility to renewal. They are distinct from the ten-step WWEC Workplace Excellence System™, which describes how measurement, employee experience, evidence, certification and improvement connect across the whole framework. Certification uses eight stages; the system uses ten steps.

Certification steps

The eight stages.

From eligibility and enquiry through to improvement and renewal — each stage is controlled, sequenced and evidenced.

01

Understand the applicable WWEC certification, eligibility and scope.

View Certification Eligibility
02

Submit the application and confirm the applicable certification scope and assessment route.

Apply for Certification
03

Provide applicable organisational evidence and complete required employee-experience activities.

About the survey
04

Assessment is conducted against the applicable certification requirements.

Assessment methodology
05

Applicable scoring is applied and required review controls are completed.

Scoring methodology
06

The certification decision is made through the applicable controlled process.

Certification rules
07

Where requirements are met, certification is issued and can be publicly verified.

Verify Certification
08

The organisation progresses through applicable improvement, renewal and reassessment requirements.

01

Eligibility & Enquiry

Understand the applicable WWEC certification, eligibility and scope.

Every certification journey begins with understanding what the organisation is seeking to demonstrate and which WWEC WWEC certification may be applicable.

At this stage, the organisation can explore the available WWEC certification offerings and determine which WWEC certification aligns with its workplace objectives.

What happens at this stage?

  • The organisation makes an enquiry with WWEC.
  • The organisation identifies its intended certification objective.
  • The applicable WWEC WWEC certification is considered.
  • Applicable eligibility requirements are reviewed.
  • The proposed organisational scope is discussed.
  • The organisation receives information about the applicable certification requirements.
  • Potential assessment requirements are explained.
  • Where applicable, the organisation is directed to the relevant Certification Scheme, Standard and assessment requirements.

Key considerations

The applicable pathway, scope and requirements may depend on factors such as:

  • Organisation type
  • Organisational structure
  • Workforce population
  • Locations or business units
  • Certification objective
  • Applicable WWEC certification
  • Evidence availability
  • Employee-experience requirements

An enquiry does not constitute an application and does not guarantee eligibility or certification.

02

Application & Scope Confirmation

Submit the application and confirm the applicable certification scope and assessment route.

Once the organisation decides to proceed, it submits the applicable certification application.

WWEC reviews the application and confirms the proposed WWEC certification, scope and applicable assessment requirements.

What happens at this stage?

  • The organisation completes the certification application.
  • Required organisational information is provided.
  • The proposed WWEC certification is identified.
  • The proposed certification scope is defined.
  • Applicable locations, entities, business units or workforce populations are identified.
  • Eligibility information is reviewed.
  • Application completeness is checked.
  • Applicable certification requirements are confirmed.
  • The applicable assessment route is established.
  • The organisation is informed of the next steps.

Scope confirmation

Certification applies only to the scope defined and approved for the certification. The approved scope may identify, where applicable:

  • Legal entity
  • Organisation
  • Business unit
  • Location
  • Geographic region
  • Workforce population
  • Other defined organisational boundaries

Certification of one organisation, entity, location, business unit or workforce population does not automatically extend to other entities, locations, subsidiaries, affiliates or workforce populations outside the approved certification scope.

03

Evidence & Employee Experience

Provide applicable organisational evidence and complete required employee-experience activities.

The certification process considers applicable organisational evidence together with employee experience where required by the selected certification package.

The purpose is to understand not only what an organisation states or has established, but also how applicable workplace practices are experienced and supported by evidence.

Organisational evidence may include

Depending on the applicable WWEC certification and requirements:

  • Policies
  • Procedures
  • Programmes
  • Processes
  • Records
  • Workplace practices
  • Governance mechanisms
  • Implementation evidence
  • Monitoring information
  • Improvement records
  • Other supporting documentation

Employee Experience

Where required, the applicable employee-experience process may include:

  • Employee participation
  • Structured employee questions
  • Workplace experience responses
  • Applicable response thresholds
  • Confidentiality protections
  • Data-quality controls
  • Employee-experience findings

Evidence principles

Relevant
Connected to the applicable certification requirements.
Current
Representative of the certification period and defined scope.
Traceable
Capable of being connected to the relevant requirement or practice.
Sufficient
Adequate to support the applicable assessment.
Reliable
Supported by appropriate organisational records or corroborating information where required.

The submission of evidence or participation in an employee-experience process does not by itself result in certification. Evidence and experience inputs are evaluated against the applicable certification requirements.

04

Assessment

Assessment is conducted against the applicable certification requirements.

The assessment stage evaluates the organisation against the requirements applicable to the selected certification package and approved scope.

The assessment approach may vary according to the WWEC certification process, scope and applicable assessment requirements.

What happens at this stage?

  • Applicable evidence is reviewed.
  • Applicable employee-experience information is considered.
  • Requirements are assessed.
  • Relevant findings are documented.
  • Areas of conformity and potential gaps are identified.
  • Clarifications may be requested where required.
  • Additional evidence may be requested where permitted by the applicable process.
  • Assessment conclusions are developed in accordance with the applicable Assessment Manual.

Assessment principles

Consistency
Comparable application of applicable assessment requirements.
Evidence-led evaluation
Assessment conclusions are supported by relevant evidence.
Defined scope
Assessment is limited to the approved certification scope.
Impartiality
Assessment is conducted through applicable independence and conflict-of-interest controls.
Confidentiality
Organisational and employee information is handled according to applicable confidentiality and privacy requirements.

WWEC Workplace Excellence Truth Map™

Where applicable, the assessment may contribute to the WWEC Workplace Excellence Truth Map™, bringing together:

What the organisation says
Organisational commitments, policies and stated practices.
What people experience
Employee experience and workplace perceptions.
What the assessment finds
Evidence-based assessment findings.
05

Scoring & Review

Applicable scoring is applied and required review controls are completed.

Where scoring is applicable to the selected certification package, the approved WWEC scoring methodology is applied.

The scoring process is designed to support consistency and controlled interpretation of assessment results.

What happens at this stage?

  • Applicable assessment results are compiled.
  • Applicable scoring criteria are applied.
  • Scores or ratings are calculated according to the approved methodology.
  • Required evidence and assessment conclusions are reviewed.
  • Applicable quality or technical review is completed.
  • Clarifications may be addressed where required.
  • Final assessment information is prepared for the certification decision.

Controlled interpretations

WWEC Alignment Score
Where applicable, may be used to indicate the degree to which organisational commitments, employee experience and assessment evidence reinforce one another.
WWEC Evidence Confidence
Where applicable, may indicate the level of confidence supported by the completeness, quality, traceability and corroboration of the available evidence.

Scores, ratings or assessment findings do not by themselves constitute certification. Certification is determined through the applicable controlled certification decision process.

06

Certification Decision

The certification decision is made through the applicable controlled process.

Following completion of the applicable assessment, scoring and review activities, the certification decision is made in accordance with the relevant WWEC certification requirements and governance controls.

What happens at this stage?

  • Applicable assessment conclusions are finalised.
  • Applicable scoring results are reviewed.
  • Required technical or quality review is completed.
  • Certification requirements are evaluated.
  • The certification decision is made through the applicable decision process.
  • The decision is documented.
  • The organisation is informed of the decision.

Possible outcomes

Certification Granted
Applicable requirements have been met for the defined scope.
Certification Not Granted
Applicable certification requirements have not been met.
Further Action Required
Where permitted by the applicable process, additional information, clarification or corrective action may be required before a final decision.

Independence and governance

Certification decisions are subject to the applicable WWEC governance arrangements. Where required, assessment and certification decision functions are appropriately separated.

  • Applicable conflict-of-interest controls
  • Assessor competence requirements
  • Review controls
  • Governance procedures

Certification cannot be granted solely because an organisation has applied, participated in a survey, submitted evidence, achieved an indicative Index result or purchased a certification offering.

07

Certification & Verification

Where requirements are met, certification is issued and can be publicly verified.

When certification is granted, WWEC issues the applicable certification documentation for the approved scope and validity period.

Certification documentation may identify

  • Certified organisation
  • Certification process
  • Approved scope
  • Applicable certification designation
  • Certification issue date
  • Certification validity
  • Certificate or certification identification
  • Applicable status information
  • Verification information

Public verification

WWEC provides a public mechanism through which certification status can be verified. The public verification record may confirm applicable information such as:

  • Organisation
  • Certification process
  • Certification status
  • Scope
  • Validity
  • Certificate identification

Certification mark

The applicable WWEC certification mark may be used only in accordance with the approved certification-mark rules and within the approved certification scope and validity period.

Certification does not automatically extend beyond the approved scope, validity period or applicable certification status.

08

Improvement & Renewal

The organisation progresses through applicable improvement, renewal and reassessment requirements.

Certification is not intended to represent a permanent or unlimited statement of workplace performance.

The applicable certification lifecycle includes continued attention to workplace practices, improvement and renewal or reassessment requirements.

What happens at this stage?

  • Certification findings may be used to identify improvement priorities.
  • Organisations may develop improvement actions.
  • Applicable changes may be monitored.
  • Certification status is maintained according to the applicable requirements.
  • Renewal or reassessment is completed when required.
  • Continued certification is subject to meeting applicable renewal requirements.

Improvement

WWEC may help organisations understand areas where workplace practices can be strengthened. Improvement activity may address areas such as:

  • Safety and dignity
  • Fair opportunity
  • Women's leadership
  • Flexibility and balance
  • Belonging and inclusion
  • Employee voice
  • Workplace governance
  • Evidence and accountability

Renewal & certification status

Renewal or reassessment requirements depend on the applicable certification scheme and certification scope. Where applicable, certification status may change in accordance with the applicable certification rules:

  • Active
  • Renewal due
  • Renewed
  • Suspended
  • Reinstated
  • Withdrawn
  • Expired

Inside the stages

What happens within each stage?

The eight stages above provide the official public structure of the WWEC Certification Process. The activities below explain what may occur within each stage. The exact requirements depend on the applicable WWEC certification, scope and controlled certification documents.

Eligibility & Enquiry

  1. 01

    Initial enquiry

    The organisation contacts WWEC to understand the available certification options.

  2. 02

    Certification objective

    The organisation identifies the workplace area or broader workplace excellence objective it wishes to address.

  3. 03

    Pathway discussion

    The potentially applicable WWEC certification is identified.

  4. 04

    Initial eligibility review

    Applicable eligibility requirements are considered.

Application & Scope Confirmation

  1. 01

    Application submission

    The organisation submits the applicable certification application.

  2. 02

    Application review

    WWEC reviews the information provided for completeness and applicability.

  3. 03

    Scope definition

    The proposed organisational scope is defined.

  4. 04

    Assessment route confirmation

    The applicable assessment route and requirements are confirmed.

Evidence & Employee Experience

  1. 01

    Evidence preparation

    The organisation prepares applicable policies, procedures, records and supporting evidence.

  2. 02

    Employee Experience

    Where required, the applicable employee-experience process is completed.

  3. 03

    Evidence submission

    Applicable evidence is submitted according to the defined process.

  4. 04

    Completeness and readiness

    The submitted information is reviewed for applicability and readiness for assessment.

Assessment

  1. 01

    Evidence assessment

    Applicable organisational evidence is evaluated.

  2. 02

    Experience assessment

    Applicable employee-experience information is considered.

  3. 03

    Findings

    Assessment findings and relevant areas requiring clarification are documented.

  4. 04

    Assessment conclusion

    Applicable assessment conclusions are prepared in accordance with the assessment requirements.

View Certification Requirements
A professional woman on a balcony overlooking a red-lit skyline

Documented throughout

Every stage leaves a record.

Applications, evidence, assessment notes and decisions are documented so the certification outcome can be reviewed, verified and improved over time.

The controlled certification documents

The website explains the process. The controlled documents define the requirements.

The public website provides an accessible overview of the WWEC certification process. The detailed requirements are controlled through the applicable WWEC certification documentation.

Certification Scheme

Defines the overall certification framework, scope, eligibility, governance, certification conditions and applicable lifecycle requirements.

Normative Standard

Defines the applicable workplace requirements and criteria against which organisations may be assessed.

Assessment Manual

Defines how applicable assessment activities are conducted, including evidence, assessment methods, responsibilities and controls.

Scoring Manual

Defines how applicable scoring, ratings, thresholds and interpretations are determined.

Where a difference exists between general website information and an applicable controlled certification document, the applicable controlled certification document governs the certification process.

Certification is not automatic

Meeting one requirement does not mean certification.

WWEC certification is based on the applicable requirements for the selected certification package and approved scope. Certification is not automatically granted because an organisation:

  • Completes the WWEC Workplace Excellence Index™
  • Participates in an employee survey
  • Submits an application
  • Submits evidence
  • Purchases a certification offering
  • Receives advisory support
  • Achieves a particular workplace score
  • Participates in a WWEC programme

Certification is granted only following the applicable assessment, scoring, review and certification decision process.

Index ≠ Certification

The WWEC Workplace Excellence Index™ is different from certification.

The WWEC Workplace Excellence Index™ is designed to provide an indicative assessment of workplace excellence and help organisations understand their current position and identify potential improvement opportunities.

The Index does not by itself

  • Constitute certification
  • Guarantee certification
  • Replace a certification assessment
  • Replace applicable evidence requirements
  • Replace the certification decision process
  • Create a certified workplace status

Certification requires

Defined Scope→Eligibility→Applicable Evidence→Employee Experience where required→Assessment→Applicable Scoring→Review→Certification Decision→Verification

Impartiality & governance

Certification decisions are controlled.

WWEC certification is designed around applicable governance and impartiality controls. The certification process includes applicable controls relating to:

  • Assessor competence
  • Conflict of interest
  • Confidentiality
  • Assessment integrity
  • Evidence handling
  • Review
  • Certification decision-making
  • Certification mark use
  • Complaints
  • Appeals
  • Certification status
  • Renewal and reassessment

Where applicable, assessment and certification decision functions are appropriately separated.

Commercial participation in a WWEC offering does not guarantee certification.

GovernanceConflict of InterestAppeals & Complaints

Certification status

Certification can be verified.

Certification Validity Period: 1 Year. Every applicable WWEC certification carries a defined scope and a one-year validity period, and certification status may be verified through the WWEC verification system.

Verification can help confirm

  • Certified organisation
  • Certification process
  • Certification status
  • Approved scope
  • Validity
  • Certificate identification
ActiveRenewal DueRenewedSuspendedReinstatedWithdrawnExpired

Only certification appearing as valid within the applicable WWEC verification system should be treated as current certification.

Verify CertificationSee Indicative Timings

After certification

Certification is a beginning, not the end.

Certification provides recognition of meeting the applicable requirements for the defined scope at the time of certification. Organisations are encouraged to use applicable findings to continue strengthening workplace practices.

01

Understand

02

Improve

03

Measure

04

Listen

05

Evidence

06

Progress

07

Renew

This supports the broader WWEC Workplace Excellence System™ and its continuous-improvement approach.

Ready to begin?

Start your WWEC certification journey.

Whether your organisation is seeking comprehensive workplace excellence certification or recognition within a defined certification package, WWEC provides structured certification offerings designed around applicable requirements, evidence, employee experience and assessment.

Explore Certification Offerings

Discover the available WWEC certification offerings and choose the option that aligns with your organisation's objectives and scope.

Explore Offerings

Explore WWEC Certifications

Explore WWEC Women-Centred Workplace™ Certification.

Explore Pathways

Apply for Certification

Begin the formal certification application process.

Apply for Certification

Verify Certification

Verify an existing WWEC certification.

Verify Certification

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