5. Accreditation
VTS Training Institutes that comply with these Guidelines may receive a "Certificate of Conformity with IALA Recommendation V-103" issued by:
・A "Competent Authority" of the country in which the VTS Training Institute is located, provided the organisation responsible for the Competent Authority is a Member1 of IALA2; or,
・A Classification Society approved for this purpose by IALA.
Accreditation is valid for a period of five years subject to intermediate audits of the training institute. A periodic audit should be performed between the second and third anniversary of the initial accreditation and include Phase 2 and Phase 3 assessment activities, as per Annex 1. However, this interval may be reduced if considered necessary by the Competent Authority.
Accreditation should be renewed every five years. Renewal assessments consist of Phase 1, 2 & 3 assessment activities and should be performed within 6 months of expiration of accreditation.
The Accreditation certificate should indicate the name and address of the institution and the courses that have successfully passed assessment.
The process for accreditation should also include:
・Evaluation of the documentation of the management system to verify that the training is based on IALA Recommendation V-103 and the appropriate Model Course and Complies with these guidelines;
・An initial assessment to verify that the implemented training system complies with the documented management system
6. Interim Accreditation Arrangements
In order to facilitate the start-up operation of new training institutes, interim accreditation may be provided. Interim arrangements provide for accreditation of training provided to students participating in the initial presentation of training curricula.
Interim accreditation is based upon:
・Satisfactory completion of Phase 1 assessment activities;
・Validation of instructor qualifications;
・Plans for full implementation of the system by the initial accreditation assessment;
・Familiarity of key training management system (TMS) personnel with the implementation plans.
Interim accreditation of a training course will be valid only for the first presentation of the course during which the initial accreditation audit shall take place.
Training institutions with interim accreditation will not be required to repeat Phase 1 activities prior to the Phase 2 assessment.
1. Normally this will be a National Member of IALA. However, exceptionally an Associate Member of IALA may undertake this responsibility where the Associate Member is a Government Department that has been appointed as the "Competent Authority" of the country concerned.
2. It is recommended that for the purposes of accreditation, Competent Authorities consider the use of Classification Societies approved by IALA.
