UXQCC Document Certification
Improving the usability of safety-critical information to support clear understanding and reliable action.
Independent usability assessment for safety-critical documents
Safety-critical procedures, standards and instructions must do more than contain correct information. People must be able to find, understand and act on that information reliably in the situations in which it is needed.
UXQCC Document Certification assesses safety-critical documents against defined cognitive and behavioural usability criteria.
The certification provides independent evidence that the assessed document meets the applicable UXQCC requirements for document usability.
What does UXQCC Document Certification demonstrate?
A UXQCC Document Certificate demonstrates that a specific document has been independently assessed against defined cognitive and behavioural usability criteria.
The assessment focuses on how information is structured and presented to support human comprehension and action.
Documents prepared using Usability Mapping®, a document engineering methodology based on cognitive and behavioural science, can be submitted for assessment against the applicable UXQCC criteria.
Document Certification assesses document usability. It does not replace technical, legal, regulatory or subject-matter review of the document content.
How the program works
What industries are potential candidates for Usability Mapping®?
Potential candidates are all people who are involved with industry activities that carry a risk of property damage or personal harm. This can be anything from
- manufacturing pharmaceuticals
- performing surgery
- aerospace activities
- oil/gas and mining
- and many more.
If human performance is guided by procedures and standards, and there is a risk, usability engineering is a must. Usability Mapping is the methodology you must learn and have it validated with a UXQCC Certification.
What documents will be accepted for certification?
Only selected enabling documents are accepted.
User documents for UXQCC certification typically are
- Policies and standards
- Processes and procedures
- Guidelines and user manuals
Risk ranked documentation that measurably increases safety reduces insurance claims!
Who can apply for a UXQCC Document Certificate?
Only applicants who are Usability Mapping® certified document engineers are qualified to submit documents. Technical writing and/or document design training is not enough to qualify to become a UsabilityMapping document engineer.
There are several ways to acquire the necessary skill set. Learn to apply UsabilityMapping at a qualified educational institution in Canada, USA, Europe, Australia or Africa or Online.
See personal certifications
Usability Mapping Foundation Level.
Certifies completion of 16 hours instructor led training.
Usability Mapping Masters Certificate
It certifies that the incumbent has completed the Foundation level course, plus 32 hours of hand=on coaching.
The Masters Certificate is a prerequisite to become a certified Usability Mapping service provider.
What behavioural criteria will UXQCC audit for.
UXQCC exclusively audits for cognitive and behavioural criteria. These are summarized on the respective audit sheet. UXQCC will not audit for, or make recommendations on, design or related artistic criteria.
The UXQCC audit sheet was built for qualified Usability Mapping document engineers only. If you feel qualified, download it here.
The audit sheet does enable self-learning and is not selfexplanatory.
Why document usability matters in safety-critical environments
A technically correct procedure can still fail if critical information is difficult to find, understand or translate into action.
Document usability therefore connects three areas:
Information → Comprehension → Human Performance → Safety
Particularly relevant for:
- Health & Safety Professionals
- Regulators and Compliance Professionals
- Liability and Risk Professionals
- Legal and Technical Consultants
- Operations and Engineering Management
- Organisations responsible for safety-critical procedures
What The Program Costs And Steps in The Workflow
1. Apply
Submit the document and the required information for an initial assessment.
UXQCC determines whether the document is suitable for the certification process.
2. Receive the Audit Report
The document is assessed against the applicable cognitive and behavioural usability criteria.
You receive a structured audit report identifying non-conformities and areas requiring correction.
3. Revise the Document
Qualified document specialists use the audit findings to make the required corrections.
The responsibility for revising the document remains with the applicant.
4. Get certified
After the document successfully meets the applicable certification criteria, UXQCC issues the Document Certificate.
5. Communicate the Certification
Certified documents may display the applicable UXQCC certification according to the certification rules.
The certificate provides stakeholders with evidence that the document has successfully completed the UXQCC usability assessment.
Certification costs
Certification costs depend on the size and scope of the submitted documentation.
After the initial assessment, applicants receive information about the expected certification effort and applicable fees before the full audit begins.
Request a certification assessment
Document Certification can scale from individual documents to complete documentation sets
Life-Saving Rules
A compact set of critical safety instructions with clearly defined user actions.
Safe Work Practices
A larger collection of operational safety documents requiring consistency across multiple procedures and work situations.
Standard Operating Procedures
Large SOP libraries can be assessed systematically across extensive documentation environments.
The certification scope and effort depend on document volume, complexity and readiness for assessment.
Apply for UXQCC Document Certification
Do you want to have a safety-critical document independently assessed against defined cognitive and behavioural usability criteria?
Submit the basic information about your document below. UXQCC will review whether it is suitable for the certification process and inform you about the next steps.
Please note: Documents submitted for full certification must meet the applicable qualification and preparation requirements.
Need the required document engineering expertise first?
Professionals who create documents for UXQCC Document Certification require appropriate Usability Mapping® competence.
Training is available for professionals and organisations that want to build this expertise internally.
Mike Hannah
Industrial Safety & Document Usability Expert
Klaus Hofer
Founder & CEO, Usability Mapping Inc.
Christa Spengler-Rast
Management Consultant, Trainer & Usability Mapping Ambassador
Verena Seibert-Giller
UX Psychologist & Human Performance Expert