Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM), E-Change 555
Diplomas and Certificates of Training Completion vs. Qualification and Certification Update to Chapter 10.20.

1) Add C10.20.10. (and subsections) as follows:

C10.20.10. Diplomas and Certificates of Training Completion vs. Qualification and Certification. DoD awards diplomas and issues certificates of training. A DoD-issued diploma or certificate of training is not the same as qualification credentialing or certification. DoD does not assess IMS fitness for non-DoD qualification credentials and cannot certify an IMS in any skill or function. There is no exception to this policy. The differences are defined and explained below.

C10.20.10.1. Diplomas and Certificates of Training. An IMS who satisfies the requirements of a DoD-sponsored training course or program may be given a DoD-issued diploma or certificate of training completion. The purpose of such DoD documents, which are usually signed by the training organization commander, is limited to acknowledging that the IMS satisfactorily performed the tasks taught in the training environment and met the minimum standards required to graduate.

C10.20.10.1.1. A diploma or certificate of training usually shows the course name and ID number, the IMS name and rank or grade, and the inclusive dates of the training. A diploma or certificate of training may also indicate a comparative ranking within the class (e.g., Honor Graduate), or that the student exceeded minimum standards to a significant degree, but neither document is a U.S. or DoD qualification credential or certification, nor is intended to be a basis for issuance of such.

C10.20.10.1.2. Upon completion of some training, an IMS may be given a transcript with the diploma or certificate of training. A transcript only indicates how well the IMS performed during specific activities, classes, or courses, usually by means of an alphanumeric grade or a status indicator (e.g., P for pass, F for fail, I for incomplete). A transcript is not a U.S. or DoD qualification credential or certification, nor is intended to be a basis for issuance of such.

C10.20.10.1.3. DoD diplomas and certificates of training are not a commercial manufacturer's certification, credential, or official license to operate or maintain any piece of equipment or perform any task that requires such.

C10.20.10.2. Qualification Credentials and Certification. Most countries and organizations have established standards of performance a person must be able to demonstrate to be considered qualified for a license to operate or maintain certain kinds of equipment, or to perform complex, critical, or dangerous tasks, e.g., welding, auditing, or firefighting. Often, experience and demonstrated competence are documented in an official record like an apprentice log book, which is used to justify issuance of a license or official certification by an accrediting agency.

C10.20.10.2.1. An IMS who completes DoD-sponsored training may be qualified to perform a specific task or fill a specific position, but DoD does not guarantee or warrant an IMS's ability to satisfy any non-U.S. or non-DoD performance standards, nor to operate or maintain a piece of equipment owned or used by any other nation, and DoD never issues or acts as a guarantor of any IMS qualification credential, license, or certification.

C10.20.10.2.2. Only a PN-designated authority may determine if a U.S. trained IMS is physically, professionally, or technically qualified to operate or maintain a piece of equipment owned or used by that PN, or to perform any job that requires an official license or certification.

C10.20.10.2.3. Upon request, as part of an FMS case, DoD may be able to provide technical advice or training to help a PN establish or improve a certification program.

C10.20.10.3. DoD Contractor Provided Training. A DoD contractor may issue a certificate of training or course completion that indicates the contractor's recognition of a specific IMS qualification. DoD does not warrant or act as a guarantor of any contractor-issued license or certification. Only a PN-designated authority may determine if a contractor-issued credential satisfies that PN's certification requirements to operate or maintain a piece of equipment owned or used by that PN.