All ICBOC certified members are offered the opportunity to obtain a higher certification. When certified members have renewed their certification several times and/or when they satisfy the standards and requirement of a higher certification level, the registrar will encourage them to apply for a certification upgrade.
2023 Certification Upgrade Form – English
Please click the following tabs for more information:
- What is a certification upgrade
- Eligibility for certification upgrade
- Application process for a certification upgrade
- Training plan
- Certification upgrade fees
The term Certification Upgrade refers to the renewal of a certification at a higher level. All applicants for a certification upgrade must submit a new supervisor’s evaluation, with a score higher than the previous one, in addition to the certificates showing the training they have completed and the payment of the upgrade fee. Alternatively, ICBOC will forward a special form to applicants, in order to confirm the overall progress in the knowledge and skills originally evaluated.
The determination of a certification agreement rests with the Registrar, but an applicant can be eligible for a certification upgrade in the following circumstances:
- Case 1. Accumulation of more than the 40 required hours a each renewal date, and 2 renewals since the initial certification was issued, which means the addition of 4 years of work experience
- Case 2. Submission of the required 40 hours and third renewal since the initial certification was issued, which means the addition of 6 years of work experience
- Case 3. Completion of a college or university program, with education/training topics and hours corresponding to the standards and requirements of the higher certification
- Case 4. All the standards and requirements of the higher certification level are satisfied
When applicants fit the situation described in cases 1, 2 or 3 and apply for the renewal of certification, the Registrar will inform them that their renewal application can be treated as a certification upgrade.
An applicant who feels he/she satisfies all the standards and requirement of a higher certification level (Case # 4) can apply for a certification upgrade, by using the Certification upgrade form. The registrar will determine if the applicant is eligible, and if needed, will indicate the standards and requirements the applicant needs to complete to obtain the upgrade.
Those who would like to reach for a higher certification level at a later date can communicate with ICBOC. They will be able to obtain specific information and establish a training plan that will assist them in obtaining the higher level they seek.
Until January 1st, 2017, Certification upgrade fees will remain the same as the recertification fees. ($200.00). After January 1st, 2017, Certification upgrade fees will be $250.00
If a certified member decides to submit a certification upgrade before the expiry date of his/her current certification, the certification upgrade fee will apply and must be enclosed with the upgrade application.
When a member submits his/her request for a certification upgrade after the expiry date of his current certificate, the late renewal fee will be applied to the certification upgrade fee.