Certification Agreement

This agreement shall become a contract between the parties. This agreement, upon such acceptance, is mutually agreed to contain all and the only agreements between both parties, and that no representative or representative from either party has made any statements, representations, or arguments, verbal or written, which contradict or add to this agreement.

GSDC reserves the right to make revisions to the contract and to issue a new agreement, which will become a contract between the parties when accepted by both parties.

Except as otherwise provided herein, both parties may terminate this agreement without cause upon written notice of such termination within 30 days prior to the date of such termination, with the exception that accrued fees shall be payable in accordance with the terms contained herein.

As a party to this agreement, GSDC is responsible for conducting the assessments and providing certification to the applicant after assessing the eligibility and competency of the applicant as per the requirements of the certification scheme.

GSDC does not provide any training to the applicant for its assessment for certification.

GSDC will keep the applicant updated on changing certification requirements, certification process, surveillance, re-certification, and resolution of complaints, if any.

Applicant shall maintain the necessary competency as required by the certification scheme for which certification is required.

The applicant agrees to hold GSDC harmless and to defend and indemnify GSDC against any loss, expense, liability or damage, including reasonable attorney's fees, arising out of any misuse by the applicant of GSDC certification or arising out of any violation by the applicant of the terms and conditions of this agreement.

In the event that GSDC notifies all those it has sent the most recent issue of the Certification Directory of any incorrect certification published therein, or elsewhere, Applicant agrees not to hold GSDC liable in any way for any damage caused by such incorrectly published information, unless such damage was the result of an intentional tort, a wilful act or gross negligence by GSDC.

Applicant is not allowed to transfer the certificate to another person’s name.

Any person who wishes to get certified shall submit an application for certification through GSDC’s online portal.

GSDC will evaluate each application to validate the applicant’s eligibility to meet the requirements of the certification scheme.

Applicant will be notified about the status of review of the application and will be requested to provide any additional documentation within 7 days if necessary.

If the applicant does not respond by within the given time frame, GSDC will make the final decision on the application based on the initial information provided.

GSDC will accept the eligible applications for further processing. If it is found that the applicant is not eligible to get certified as per the scheme applied for, GSDC will reject the application. In such a case, GSDC will provide the reason for rejection to the applicant.

Applicant is required to provide the following information along with the application:

• Resume – The applicant shall submit a résumé which will serve as a formal summary of the applicant’s education, professional experience, skills, and achievements. The information provided shall be in a clear and concise manner so that GSDC can assess the applicant’s eligibility.
• Evidence of academic qualifications – All certificates necessary to prove the academic qualifications achieved by the applicant.
• Evidence of professional training – Applicants shall submit the necessary professional training certificates to serve as documented evidence that the applicant has successfully completed a structured learning program related to a specific subject, skill, and profession.
• Professional references – Applicant shall submit professional references from two individuals who worked with the applicant in a professional environment to validate the applicant’s expertise in the respective field. References from subordinates or relatives are not accepted.
• Evidence of work experience – Applicant shall provide complete information regarding their professional experience, including employer details, job titles, commencement and end dates and job descriptions. Applicant shall provide sufficient details to describe the nature of the responsibilities handled.
• Audit experience – Applicant shall submit an audit log in relation to any pre-audit, gap analysis, internal audits, second-party audits, third-party audits, or opinion audits conducted in the prescribed format.
• Project experience - The applicant shall submit a project describing the project handled in a prescribed format.

The application fees paid are nonrefundable.

A certified person shall not make or permit any misleading statement regarding its certification issued by GSDC.

Upon withdrawal of its certification by GSDC, the certified person shall discontinue its use of all matter that contains a reference to certification, as directed by GSDC.

A certified person shall not imply that the certification applies to schemes that are outside the scope of certification.

A certified person shall not use the certificate issued in such a manner that would bring GSDC and/or the certification scheme into disrespect and lose public trust.

The applicant agrees to comply with relevant provisions of applicable requirements for granting, maintaining, suspending, withdrawing certification, and recertification.

GSDC shall exercise proper control of ownership and shall take action to deal with incorrect references to certification status or misleading use of certification marks.

Any statutes of limitations notwithstanding, the applicant agrees that its right to bring or assert against GSDC any and all claims, demands, or proceedings, whether in arbitration or otherwise, shall be waived unless notice is received by GSDC within 30 days after the applicant has taken notice of or should reasonably have been expected to have had notice of the basis for such claims; but it should be within ninety days of the service provided by GSDC.

Any arbitration or legal proceedings shall be treated as time barred/null and void if notice is not received by GSDC within 90 days of its providing service on the basis.

After the acceptance of this agreement, if the applicant wishes to cancel it, the advance or any other charges paid shall not be refundable.

Any certificate issued by GSDC is the property of GSDC, and it shall be returned to GSDC if and when the certificate is withdrawn.

Right to use the certification badge is granted and the use of the badge is subject to restrictions. The badge shall not be used during the period of suspension/withdrawal of the certificate.

GSDC will suspend and/or withdraw the certificate if the applicant fails to meet the requirements of the certification scheme, or fees and/or expenses incurred by GSDC are not paid/cleared.

Additionally, GSDC may suspend a certificate if:

• GSDC receives excessive or serious complaints from interested parties about the certified person.
• Misuse of a certificate, certification mark, or certification information.
• The certified individual has voluntarily requested a suspension.
• GSDC deems appropriate other conditions for suspension of certification/certificate program.

The reasons that caused the suspension shall be complied with within 6 months after this; the suspended certificate will be withdrawn. Once withdrawn, the applicant shall return the original certification and other related documents.

Applicants have the right to complain against decisions taken or actions made by GSDC. The complaint shall be given in writing. On receiving the complaint, an independent investigation will be carried out by GSDC and the findings of the investigation will be communicated to the applicant.

Applicant will also have the right to appeal against any decision taken by GSDC.

Any complaints against the applicant from a third party will be communicated to the applicant by GSDC unless it is otherwise prohibited to do so.

The actions taken by the applicant on such complaints shall be notified and communicated to GSDC.

GSDC shall not be liable for any loss or damage due to any failure or delay in performance of this agreement resulting from any cause beyond our reasonable control, compliance with applicable regulations or directive of national, state, or local governments is the responsibility of the applicant.

Except in the case of deliberate neglect on the part of GSDC, its employees, or agents, GSDC shall not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any person due to any act of omission or error whatsoever or howsoever caused during the performance of its assessment, certification or other services.

In the case of neglect, as aforesaid, the limit of any loss, damage or otherwise GSDC liability will be limited to an amount not exceeding the maximum fee (if any) charged by GSDC for the particular service in respect of which the neglect arose.

While the restrictions on liability herein contained are considered by the parties to be reasonable in all the circumstances, if such restrictions taken together or any one of them shall be judged to be unlawful or unenforceable, then said restriction shall apply with such words deleted or amended, or added.

GSDC will ensure impartiality and integrity in certification activities at all times.

The applicant shall support GSDC to maintain impartiality throughout the certification process.

The applicant must disclose any conflict of interests regarding his/her association with GSDC which may pose a risk to impartiality.

GSDC’s management and personnel will not be involved in any undue commercial, financial, or other pressures and influences that may adversely affect the impartiality.

GSDC does not state or imply that certification would be simpler, easier, faster, or less expensive if a specified training is completed.

GSDC will take action to respond to any threats to its impartiality arising from the actions of other persons, bodies or organizations.

When GSDC’s relationship with the applicant poses an unacceptable threat to impartiality, then certification will not be granted.

Any concerns regarding the impartiality shall be immediately reported to GSDC.

GSDC will neither practice nor encourage the following,

• A scientifically unsound or technically unjustified omission, manipulation, or alteration of procedures or data that bypasses the required certification processes, making the assessment results appear acceptable
• Creating information that is not true or deliberately falsification of data or information
• The intentional recording or reporting of incorrect information
• An intentional gross deviation from the established practices, combined with the intent to conceal the deviation
• Inappropriate data entry, falsifying existing data, data manipulation or fabrication
• Incomplete recordkeeping or intentionally altering records for personnel or business gain
• Certifying the applicants without assessing their eligibility to meet the requirements of the certification scheme

Except as may be required by Law, GSDC will treat all information handled as part of the certification program as strictly confidential and will not disclose to any third party without prior written consent of the applicant.

GSDC shall inform the applicant, in advance, of the information it intends to place in the public domain.

All other information, except for information that is made publicly accessible by the applicant, will be considered confidential by GSDC.

Except as required by the certification process, information about the applicant will not be disclosed to any individual or business without the written consent of the applicant.

GSDC shall inform the applicant of any information other than brief particulars of the applicant about which GSDC shall place them, as per the then existing practice covering name, relevant nominative document, scope, and geographical locations in the public domain. All other information, except for information that is made publicly accessible by the Applicant, shall be considered confidential.

Where GSDC is required by law to release confidential information to a third party, applicant, or individual concerned shall, unless regulated by law, be notified in advance of the information provided.

Information about the applicant from sources other than the applicant, i.e., complaints and regulators, shall be treated as confidential, consistent with GSDC’s policy.

GSDC shall ensure the secure handling of all confidential information.