ICBOC’s Program Accreditation versus Institutional Accreditation:

ICBOC accredits training and education programs offered by universities and colleges, as well as training offered by companies, organizations, institues, conferences and independent trainers. To be accredited, the education/training offered by these providers must fulfill ICBOC’s accreditation criteria as well as meet the standards set for our certifications.

ICBOC not only considers the relevance of the training against our training/education standards but also verifies that the training is conceived, planned, delivered, and evaluated with First Nations input, thus enhancing the cultural competence and safety of this training.

Accreditation of training through ICBOC serves to demonstrate a level of excellence in providing culturally approraite education/training to First Nations learners.

This type of accreditation, focused on the education and training offered by a variety of providers should not be confused with the institutional accreditation granted, for example, by the three main Canadian bodies, CARF (http://www.carf.org), Accreditation Canada (http://www.accreditation.ca/) and the Canadian Accreditation Council (http://www.cacohs.com).

These three organizations offer institutional accreditation to facilities whose services are focused on health and wellness, including those providing services to clients with addictions issues.

Professional certification versus Academic Certification

ICBOC cerify unregulated workers employed in a range of occupations related to addictions, mental wellness, diabetes, community support, and other occupations related to the gaps in the social determinants of health.

We do not adhere to the labeling of these workers as paraprofessionals. We consider the work they do as professional work. As Indigenous workers they possess the knowledge and skills best adpated to provide the most effective services to their Indigenous clients. They are therefore considered by ICBOC as professionals, whose competencies are attested through professional certification.

To obtain a professional certification the non negotiable standards that must be fully met is in regard to work experience.

This is the chief difference between a professional certification and an academic qualification that only attest a student’s achievement in successfully completing a course of studies or a training program. In the latter case, certification refers to the certificate of completion that has been earned.

Note: The registers are updated from time to time. The updated Register of ICBOC Approved Trainers is posted every six months.