ISQS - Certificate Verification

Verify the Authenticity and Qualification Level of an ISQS Certificate
Professional qualifications should be transparent and verifiable.
Certificates issued within the International Sauna Qualification System (ISQS) are associated with a defined qualification, qualification level and corresponding qualification requirements.
The purpose of ISQS Certificate Verification is to make this information accessible and to provide transparency for certificate holders, employers, professional organisations and training partners.

What Does an ISQS Certificate Confirm?
An ISQS certificate confirms the successful completion of a defined qualification within the International Sauna Qualification System.
Depending on the qualification, this may include documented requirements relating to:

• theoretical knowledge
• practical skills
• professional competence
• defined learning outcomes
• safety-critical competences
• examinations and assessments
• admission requirements
• practical training requirements

The certificate therefore represents more than a course title.
It refers to a defined qualification within the ISQS framework.

Qualification Level
Every ISQS qualification is assigned to a defined qualification level.
The ISQS uses progressive levels representing increasing professional competence and responsibility.
These range from foundational sauna knowledge and safety competence through specialised professional skills and comprehensive professional qualification to advanced professional leadership and education.
The qualification level makes it possible to understand the professional scope represented by a certificate.
For detailed information about the individual levels, see ISQS Qualification Levels.

Qualification Standard
An ISQS certificate should be interpreted together with the qualification standard applicable to the qualification.
The relevant standard defines the requirements behind the certificate, including:
purpose of the qualification
occupational context
admission requirements
required knowledge
practical skills

• professional competences
• learning outcomes
• assessment requirements
• safety-critical mandatory competences
• qualification boundaries
• progression to higher qualification levels

This makes the professional meaning of the certificate transparent.

Certificate Verification
Where certificate verification is available, the authenticity of an ISQS certificate can be checked using the verification information associated with the certificate.
Depending on the technical verification system and the certificate concerned, verification may provide information such as:
Certificate holder
Name of the person to whom the certificate was issued.
Qualification
The professional qualification represented by the certificate.
ISQS Level
The corresponding level within the International Sauna Qualification System.
Certificate ID
The unique identification assigned to the certificate.
Date of Issue
The date on which the certificate was issued.
Qualification Standard
The applicable ISQS qualification standard or qualification framework.
Verification Status
Confirmation of whether the certificate information corresponds to the records of the issuing organisation.

What Certificate Verification Does Not Mean
Verification confirms the authenticity and defined qualification status of a certificate.
It does not extend the scope of the qualification beyond the competences represented by the corresponding qualification standard.
A verified certificate therefore confirms what qualification was obtained – not that the holder is qualified for every possible activity within sauna operation.
The professional scope of a qualification is determined by its defined competence profile and qualification boundary.

External Certificates
The ISQS Certificate Verification system applies to qualifications and certificates issued or formally registered within the applicable ISQS framework.
An external certificate is not automatically an ISQS certificate simply because the underlying training has been recognised as prior learning or as an admission requirement.
External qualifications are assessed separately through the Recognition of External Qualifications procedure and the ISQS Recognition Matrix.
Recognition of previous learning does not change the original issuing organisation or the identity of the original certificate.

Transparency for Employers and Professional Organisations
Certificate verification allows employers and professional organisations to distinguish between a course title and a documented professional qualification.
Instead of relying solely on terms such as Sauna Master, Sauna Specialist or Aufguss Professional, they can identify the qualification level and the professional requirements associated with the certificate.
This supports a central principle of the ISQS:
Compare qualifications, not course titles.

A Verifiable Qualification Framework
The International Sauna Qualification System is designed to make professional sauna qualifications understandable and transparent.
Qualification levels define the degree of professional competence and responsibility.
Qualification Standards define the requirements.
Certificates document successful qualification.
Certificate Verification provides the link between the certificate and the qualification it represents.
A professional certificate should not only state a qualification. It should make that qualification verifiable.

Related ISQS Information
Qualification Levels – Understand the different levels of professional competence.
Qualification Standards – Explore the requirements behind each qualification.
Recognition of External Qualifications – Learn how previous and external qualifications can be assessed.
Recognition Matrix – See the criteria used to compare professional sauna qualifications.