Overview of the NQI PEP® Certification Process

About NQI PEP® Certification

The NQI Progressive Excellence Program (NQI PEP®) has four levels of implementation. Each level requires a demonstration of a progressively deeper and broader commitment to excellence and resulting achievement, as outlined in the NQI PEP® criteria.

At the appropriate NQI PEP Level®, your organization will complete an internal self-assessment against the related criteria. If the assessment signifies that your organization has achieved the targets outlined in the criteria, you are encouraged to apply for NQI PEP® Certification at that level. To apply, organizations must prepare a submission. For more details click here.

NQI PEP® Certification is valid for two years, at which time you are encouraged to advance to the next level, however, recertification at the same level is also available. Organizations that successfully achieve NQI PEP® Levels 3 and 4, may apply for recognition through Canada's prestigious award program, the Canada Awards for Excellence (CAE).

As a prerequisite for making a submission for NQI certification at any level, it is critical that the organization completes a successful self-assessment against relevant criteria. This action serves as a basis for a submission. A Self-Assessment Workbook and Guide covering each level is included in the NQI PEP® Toolkit (for all sectors), available from NQI. If an organization wishes to have training in self-assessment techniques, or direct help from NQI with an assessment, the organization should call NQI for details.

NQI on-site verification occurs when, following comprehensive review of a submission, a conclusion is reached by NQI that the applicant looks like a potential certification recipient. Receiving a site verification visit is, in itself, a commendable achievement. Onsite verification is not an assessment; it is purely a verification exercise to expand on key strengths of a submission.

NQI PEP® verification is a one-day, on-site exercise of submission validation for those organizations, or units within organizations, that have applied for NQI certification at all levels other than Level 1 (which requires only a documentation review). The focus of the on-site verification exercise is to verify and expand on key selected positive elements of a submission through face-to-face discussions with a) the senior leadership team; b) members of mid-level management; and c) employees. This is achieved through crossfunctional focus groups of up to 15 people. A facility tour is also required. Each discussion will last up to 90 minutes (maximum).

The verification exercise is for validating key selected strengths in a submission; it is not an assessment exercise, and only very high-level feedback is provided. During the onsite exercise, NQI verifiers will not discuss and/or provide the organization with any information whatsoever concerning site visit verification findings.

The organization is advised by letter regarding the decision on NQI certification. At Levels 3 and 4 of the NQI PEP® program, NQI certification links to the Canada Awards for Excellence (CAE) program. The organization will be advised by NQI if they have been successful in meeting requirements for both NQI certification as well as CAE national recognition.

Be assured that all information reviewed or discussed is treated as confidential and that NQI verifiers are under cover of a confidentiality agreement. Only one copy of a submission is retained by NQI for record purposes. All other copies are shredded.

For further information, feel free to call NQI PEP® Administrator Bonita Savard at 1-800- 263-9648 extension 233, or Chair of Adjudication, John Perry at extension 223.