September marks five years since APSCA’s inception, we invite you to download a brief review of our achievements to date via the link below.

Download APSCA’s 5 Year Anniversary Review

Commenting on the milestone, APSCA’s President and CEO Rona Starr remarked “On reflection of APSCA’s development, I extend my immense gratitude to these Member Auditors and Member Firms for their sustained commitment and support. In joining APSCA, we recognise the weight of this commitment and acknowledge adaptations made in respect of our requirements.”

Further highlights from September are provided below.

In this this issue:

• Member Firm Announcements
• APSCA’s AGM and Stakeholder Online Event Registration
• CSCA Exam Webinars
• CSCA Examination Progress
• Auditor Enrollments
• Reminder: Revised Due Dates for CSCA Exams
• Resource Library
• FAQs
• APSCA Out and About

Connect with APSCA LinkedIn   Connect with APSCA Twitter   Visit our Websit

Member Firm Announcements

We are pleased to congratulate full APSCA Member Firms, BCI Compliance, TUV SUD and QIMA on their commitment to the realization of APSCA’s mission “To enhance the Professionalism and Credibility of individuals and organizations performing independent social compliance audits”.

Full Members: 

For information on Firm Membership definitions and how your Firm can commence the application process, please visit our website

Registration Now Open – APSCA’s Annual General Meeting and Stakeholder Online Event

This year APSCA will be hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Stakeholder Event online
early December.

To accommodate our global membership, we are hosting our AGM and Stakeholder Event across a few dates and times outlined below. These will be the same session (AGM/Stakeholder Event) offered at two different dates and times. We hope you can join us!

AGM (#1)
Who can attend? Current APSCA Members (Auditors/Firms) ONLY
When: Dec. 7, 2020
Time: 17:00 PST-USA (Asia + US Time Zone)
Duration: 75 – 90 Min. 
Where: Online – GoToMeeting
To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/121791747395

AGM (#2)
Who can attend? Current APSCA Members (Auditors/Firms) ONLY
When: Dec. 8, 2020
Time: 11:00 PST-USA (Europe + US Time Zone)
Duration: 75 – 90 Min. 
Where: Online – GoToMeeting
To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/121809005013

Stakeholder (#1)
Who can attend? APSCA Members and all interested/other parties 
When: Dec. 14, 2020
Time: 11:00 PST-USA (Europe + US Time Zone)
Duration: 75 – 90 Min. 
Where: Online – GoToMeeting
To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/121803185607

Stakeholder (#2)
Who can attend? APSCA Members and all interested/other parties
When: Dec. 15, 2020
Time: 17:00 PST-USA (Asia + US Time Zone)
Duration: 75 – 90 Min. 
Where: Online – GoToMeeting
To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/121809358069

Additional event details and information to follow in the weeks leading up to the AGM and Stakeholder Events. 

Any questions, please contact: director@theapsc.org

CSCA Exam Webinars

Part II  – English / Spanish/ Mandarin 
Between June and September, APSCA held several webinars to assist Member Auditors prepare for Part II and Part III of the CSCA examination program.  Sharing insights into the exam format, the webinars outlined key differences between the Part I and Part II / III exams, and further common errors to avoid.

Recordings of these webinars in English, Spanish, and Mandarin are available via our website now posted to our new Resource Library.   PDFs of the presentations and speaker notes are available in English, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

These webinars were developed specifically to optimize exam preparation and provide the greatest opportunity for success during the exam process. Exam candidates are encouraged to consult relevant resources prior to each exam.

CSCA Examination Progress

During August examination rates remained strong with the total number of completed exams now exceeding 5,400 with an overall pass rate of 75%. A summary of cumulative exam results can be downloaded below.

For all CSCA Exams (Parts I – III) Auditors must consult with their Member Firm to confirm eligibility to sit each exam. Please ensure you follow the guidance in the Auditor Handbook and notify APSCA prior to enrolling for any exam; failure to follow the guidance, may see the exam disallowed and being unable to sit for a period up to 12 months. 

CSCA Exams Part I and II are available in four Languages  (English, Spanish, Simplified & Traditional Chinese). 

CSCA Exam Part III interviews commenced in August.  Exams will be available in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.  The scheduling process has been finalized and we have started the process of contacting Firms / Auditors directly.  The Part III enrolment process is very different; each eligible Auditor MUST follow the process or risk having their exam cancelled and being disallowed from scheduling for up to 12 months.

CSCA Exam Results snapshot

Auditor Enrollments

As at 29 September 2020, total enrolled Auditors exceeded 4,150 with a summary by Auditor level provided below.

Reminder: Revised Due Dates for CSCA Exams

Due to COVID-19 and the enduring challenges faced by our auditing community, APSCA has reviewed and revised exam due dates for auditors sitting Part II and III exams. 

The dates (below) are applicable to any Auditor who successfully passed Part I 90+ days prior to the Part II deadline or successfully completed Part II 90+ days prior to the Part III deadline.

If an Auditor is unsure whether this applies to them please contact APSCA via director@theapsca.org.

2020 – 2021
Part II

• 30 September 2020
  • Chinese (Traditional/ Simplified)
• 30 March 2021
  • English / Spanish (amended from September 2020)

Part III

• 30 June 2021
  • Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese amended from December 2020)
• 30 October 2021
  • English / Spanish (amended from June 2021)

REMINDER: For Auditors who have recently obtained RA level status, you have 6 months from the date you obtained your RA status to sit Part I exam if you are advanced in a language the exam is offered. 

Upon passing Part I, Auditors have 3 months from the date notified of passing Part I to sit Part II, IF advanced in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

See also our Resource Library under “Key Dates” for other due dates. 

Resource Library

To better serve our Membership and interested parties, we have established a Resource Library on the APSCA website. The library provides a comprehensive directory of member documents, key dates, exam guides and webinars for ease of access.

Visit our website to access the resources.

FAQs

Check out APSCA’s FAQ page – it has been recently updated.

Don’t see a question / answer you’re looking for? Contact us at director@theapsca.org.

APSCA Out and About

Please note that due to the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, APSCA have postponed or cancelled all travel. Updates on any future travel will be provided as soon as practicable. Please visit our Out and About page for updates from some of our Member Firms on what they are doing to support the industry during this time.

In seeking to further support our Members, we also welcome you to tell us how your organization and auditors are navigating today’s dynamic work environment.  It is our intention to share these insights across our media channels to foster industry collaboration and unite our community during this difficult period. Please send responses to director@theapsca.org.

During August four Member Firms completed the revised membership application process to formally achieve full Membership status while another two Firms attained provisional status.

Following the announcement of 31 new CSCA’s in July, examination rates remain strong and results continue to reflect the positive progression of Member Auditors toward certification.

As September marks five years since APSCA’s inception we look forward to reflecting on the Association’s evolution and further celebrating the dedication and commitment of our growing membership.

Further highlights are provided below.

In this this issue:

• Disciplinary Board – Allegations and Sanctions
• Resource Library
• Member Firm Announcements
• Become a Member Firm – Update
• Reminder – Remote / Virtual Assessments
• APSCA Members in 2020 Top 100 CSR List
• Competency Framework Update
• CSCA Exam Webinars
• CSCA Examination Progress
• Auditor Enrollments
• Reminder: Revised Due Dates for CSCA Exams
• Save The Date – APSCA’s AGM and Stakeholder Online Event
• APSCA Out and About

Connect with APSCA LinkedIn   Connect with APSCA Twitter   Visit our Websit

Disciplinary Board – Allegations and Sanctions

To date, APSCA’s Ethics and Integrity team have addressed almost 130 allegations against Member Auditors across a number of violation classifications. Of these allegations against Member Auditors there have been almost fifty (50) cases resulting in the enforcement of sanctions.

A summary of all allegations and sanctions can be downloaded here.

Resource Library

To better serve our Membership and interested parties, we have established a Resource Library on the APSCA website. The library provides a comprehensive directory of member documents, key dates, exam guides and webinars for ease of access.

Visit our website to access the resources.

Member Firm Announcements

We are pleased to congratulate full APSCA Member Firms, ELEVATE, Omega Compliance Limited, Eurofins and TUV NORD along with our newest provisional Member Firms Ethical Trade Services Africa Limited and V-Trust on their commitment to the realization of APSCA’s mission “To enhance the Professionalism and Credibility of individuals and organisations performing independent social compliance audits”.

Full Members:

Provisional Members:

For a complete list of APSCA Member Firms, please visit our website

Become a Member Firm – Update

APSCA’s Become a Member document was recently updated with additional information to assist Firms in navigating the application process and to further clarify:

• the various stages of review and
• requirements / expectations of the applicant from commencement of the application process to final determination

Please download the latest version via our Become a Member Firm page for a detailed overview of the application process.

Reminder – Remote/ Virtual Assessments

Please be advised that APSCA does not consider virtual / remote assessments / audits a Social Compliance Audit. As such, an auditor cannot put their APSCA number on any virtual / remote assessment as these are not considered a Social Compliance Audit as defined in our Glossary of Terms and FAQ page. Should you have any question regarding this matter please contact APSCA via director@theapsca.org.

APSCA Members in 2020 Top 100 CSR List

APSCA is excited to celebrate the inclusion of numerous past and present Executive Board Members on Assent’s 2020 Top 100 List of Corporate Social Responsibility Influencers. Congratulations to those dedicated individuals and further all those in CSR that continue to drive positive change worldwide.

Read more here.

Announcing Pathway 4 – Competency Framework Update

APSCA has recently updated the Competency Framework to include a fourth pathway which enables Member Auditors to commence the examination process earlier. The latest version is available here.

We have also translated the Competency Framework into our current language offerings and will continue to update our Resource Library as more translations are finalized.

CSCA Exam Webinars

Part II  – English / Spanish/ Mandarin 
Throughout June and July, APSCA held several webinars to assist Member Auditors prepare for Part II of the CSCA examination program.  Sharing insights into the exam format, the webinars outlined key differences between the Part I and Part II exams, and further common errors to avoid.

A recording of the webinar in English, Spanish, and Mandarin can be accessed via our new Resource Library.  A PDF of the presentation and speaker notes are also available in English, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

Part III – English
In August, APSCA also hosted webinars to aide Member Auditors in their preparation for Part III of the CSCA examination program; the final exam in an auditor’s journey to attain certification. A recording of this webinar can be accessed via our Resource Library. Additional languages will be made available soon (including Spanish and Mandarin), as will the presentation and speaker notes in English, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

These webinars were developed specifically to optimize exam preparation and provide the greatest opportunity for success during the exam process. Exam candidates are encouraged to consult relevant resources prior to each exam.

Part III – Chinese (Mandarin) 
APSCA will hold a further webinar in Mandarin on 4 September (China Time) and we encourage those auditors who are eligible to sit Part III or would like to learn more about the exam to join us. The webinar has been developed specifically for Chinese participants to optimize exam preparation and provide the greatest opportunity for success.

While ‘seats’ are limited, a recording of the webinar will be provided along with our Part III Exam –  Guide to Success handout (currently available via our Resource Library).

For those interested in attending, registration is essential. Details of the live webinars in September are provided below:

• When? September 4  (9:30am China)
• Where? Online via GoToMeeting – You must register to join.

Dial-in details to be shared with registered attendees approximately 24-hours prior to webinar time. Registration via the link below.

CSCA Exam Part III Webinar (Mandarin) – Registration

CSCA Examination Progress

During August examination rates remained strong with the total number of completed exams now exceeding 5,100 with an overall pass rate of 76%. A summary of cumulative exam results can be downloaded below.

CSCA Exams Part I and II are available in four Languages  (English, Spanish, Simplified & Traditional Chinese).

CSCA Exam Part III interviews commenced in August.  Exams will be available in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.  The scheduling process has been finalized and we have started the process of contacting Firms / Auditors directly.  Part III enrolment process is very different, each eligible Auditor MUST follow the process or risk having their exam cancelled and being disallowed from scheduling for up to 12 months.

CSCA Exam Results snapshot

Auditor Enrollments

As at 31 August 2020, total enrolled Auditors exceeded 4,100 with a summary by Auditor level provided below.

Reminder: Revised Due Dates for CSCA Exams

Due to COVID-19 and the enduring challenges faced by our auditing community, APSCA has reviewed and revised exam due dates for auditors sitting Part II and III exams.

The dates (below) are applicable to any Auditor who successfully passed Part I 90+ days prior to the Part II deadline or successfully completed Part II 90+ days prior to the Part III deadline.

If an Auditor is unsure whether this applies to them please contact APSCA via director@theapsca.org.

2020 – 2021
Part II

• 30 September 2020
  • Chinese (Traditional/ Simplified)
• 30 March 2021
  • English / Spanish (amended from September 2020)

Part III

• 30 June 2021
  • Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese amended from December 2020)
• 30 October 2021
  • English / Spanish (amended from June 2021)

REMINDER: For Auditors just obtaining their RA level status, you have 6 months from the date that you obtained RA to sit Part I exam if you are advanced in a language the exam is offered. APSCA is in the process of sending reminders, however if an Auditor does not sit within the prescribed time, they will be moved to ASCA.  It is the Auditor / Firm’s responsibility to manage this.

FAQs

Check out APSCA’s FAQ page – it has been recently updated.

Don’t see a question / answer you’re looking for? Contact us at director@theapsca.org.

Save The Date – APSCA’s Annual General Meeting and Stakeholder Online Event

This year APSCA will be hosting it’s Annual General Meeting and Stakeholder Event online. The event is currently scheduled for early December 2020 with further details to be provided in September.

APSCA Out and About

Please note that due to the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, APSCA have postponed or cancelled all travel. Updates on any future travel will be provided as soon as practicable. Please visit our Out and About page for updates from some of our Member Firms on what they are doing to support the industry during this time.

In seeking to further support our Members, we also welcome you to tell us how your organization and auditors are navigating today’s dynamic work environment.  It is our intention to share these insights across our media channels to foster industry collaboration and unite our community during this difficult period. Please send responses to director@theapsca.org.

At the close of July, 2020 we are pleased to announce 31 new Auditors have successfully completed the CSCA examination program to attain Certified Social Compliance Auditor status in accordance with APSCA’s Competency Framework. This exciting development coincides with a new initiative targeting the expansion of the program to include six new language offerings.

Auditor enrollments increased during July to partially offset the 15% decrease observed during June and applications for continued membership were received from 97% of Member Firms that joined APSCA prior to January 2018.

Further highlights are provided below. 

In this this issue:

• Certified Social Compliance Auditors
• 2021 Exam Languages
• Member Firm Applications
• CSCA Exam Part II Webinars
• CSCA Exam Part III Webinars
• CSCA Examination Progress
• Auditor Enrollments
• Revised Due Dates for CSCA Exams
• FAQS
• APSCA Out and About

Connect with APSCA LinkedIn   Connect with APSCA Twitter   Visit our Websit

Certified Social Compliance Auditors

Insights derived from the completion of a Part III CSCA exam pilot in October / November 2019 were used to further optimize the Part III exam format as the final component of the CSCA program. This supported the scheduling of (Part III) exams in May / June 2020, with 31 new Auditors successfully completing the program to obtain CSCA status. 

Reflecting on the achievements of our new CSCA’s, APSCA’s President and CEO, Rona Starr commented “The introduction of our newest Certified Social Compliance Auditors reflects a 76% increase in total CSCA’s. In consideration of the rigors of the program this is a significant milestone and a wonderful achievement by these dedicated Auditors”.

2021 Exam Languages

As at July 2020, APSCA have over 4,000 enrolled Auditors with advanced competencies across 90 different languages. Accordingly, we are pleased to announce the expansion of the CSCA examination program throughout 2021 to include an additional six (6) language offerings.

At the launch of the program, initial language offerings were prioritized by review of Auditor profiles; indicating English, Chinese (Simplified or Traditional) and Spanish represented 80% of Member Auditors.

As exam participation across these four initial languages reaches steady state, Vietnamese, Thai, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish and Bengali will be added to the exam suite to enhance accessibility for some 1,000 eligible Auditors. After these six (6) languages we have over 40 additional languages to close the gap for the final 10% of our Member Auditors.

Translation of the documentation required to launch the exams has commenced and we will keep you posted with regards to 2021 launch dates as they become known.

Member Firm Applications

With the revision of APSCA’s Code and Standards of Professional Conduct and release of the enhanced membership application process, Member Firms that joined APSCA prior to January 2018 were required to reapply for continued membership by June 30, 2020.

On conclusion of the application period, we are pleased to report 34 Member Firms lodged applications with just one Firm relinquishing membership.

As at July 30, APSCA Firm Membership comprised 44 Provisional Members (of which 10 have completed the enhanced application process) and six (6) Full Members.

We look forward to sharing the ongoing progress of membership applications and welcoming further Full Member Firms in due course. Please visit our website for an updated list of Full and Provisional Member Firms.

CSCA Exam Part II Webinar

Throughout June and July, APSCA have held a number of webinars on Part II of the CSCA examination program. The informational sessions were attended by approximately 630 potential exam candidates. A recording of the webinar in both English and Spanish is available here. A number of additional resources, including an Exam Guide are also available via APSCA’s website.

APSCA will hold a further webinar in Mandarin on 31 July (China Time)  and encourage those auditors who are eligible to sit Part II or would like to learn more about the exam to join us. The webinar has been developed specifically for Chinese participants to optimize exam preparation and provide the greatest opportunity for success. The webinar shares insights into the exam format, key differences between Part I and Part II and common errors. While ‘seats’ are limited a recording of the webinar will be provided along with an Exam Part II Guide to Success handout from the Newsletter page of APSCA’s Website early August. For those interested in attending, registration is essential. Details of the live webinars in July are provided below: When? July 31 ( 9:30am China) Where? Online via GoToMeeting – You must register to join. Dial-in details to be shared with registered attendees approximately 24-hours prior to webinar time. Registration via the link below.

CSCA Exam Part II Webinar (Mandarin) – July 31 Registration

CSCA Exam Part III Webinars

Join APSCA as we provide an overview of the various elements of the CSCA Exam Part III. Developed for exam participants, the webinar will share insights into the exam format and assist participants with preparations to provide the best opportunity for success. While numbers are limited we are pleased to advise a recording of the webinar will be provided for access via APSCA’s website. For those interested in attending, registration is essential.  We are offering three (3) webinars during the week of August 24 to accommodate various time zones. We hope you can join us!  Dial-in details to be shared with registered attendees closer to webinar date. Registration and webinar info via the links below.

CSCA Exam Part III Webinar – August 24 Registration


CSCA Exam Part III Webinar – August 26 Registration


CSCA Exam Part III Webinar – August 27 Registration

Note: A recording / translation of this webinar will also be made available in Spanish and Mandarin to be posted to the website, once available. 

CSCA Examination Progress

During July examination rates remained strong with an additional 400 exams taking the total number of exams administered to date to over 4,800. A summary of cumulative exam results can be downloaded below.

For all CSCA Exams (Part I-III) auditors must consult with their Member Firm to confirm eligibility to sit each exam. Please ensure you follow the guidance in the Auditor Handbook and notify APSCA prior to enrolling to sit an exam. Failure to follow the guidance, may see the exam disallowed and being excluded from exam eligibility for a period of up to 12 months. 

CSCA Exams Part I and II are available in four Languages  (English, Spanish, Simplified & Traditional Chinese). 

CSCA Exam Part III interviews will commence in August.  Exams will be available in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.  The scheduling process has been finalized and we have started the process of contacting Firms / Auditors directly.  The Part III enrollment process is very different and each eligible Auditor MUST follow the process or risk having their exam cancelled and being disallowed from scheduling for up to 12 months.

Download CSCA Examination Program Snapshot

Auditor Enrollments

A 7% increase in the total number of enrolled Auditors during July partially offset the decrease observed in June where a significant number of Auditors  were relegated to inactive status due to:

• a failure to provide APSCA with consent to maintain their data; and or
• a failure to request their 2020 Membership fee invoice

As at 31 July 2020, total enrolled Auditors exceeded 4,050 with a summary by Auditor level provided below.

Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines: As part of APSCA’s ongoing commitment to achieving our Mission of enhancing the professionalism and credibility of the industry, we have established deadlines to ensure that our Members operate in a level playing field, and have clear deadlines in which to sit exams to maintain their RA status. Part I: Auditors who became RA Level 1st of November 2019 onward and are advanced in one of the 4 languages that the Part I exam is offered in, have 6 months to sit Part I from the date they became RA. Failing to meet this expectation will see their level moved to ASCA.  Part II: Auditors who are advanced in Chinese (Simplified or Traditional) and have completed Part I June 30 or prior, must complete Part II by the end of September 2020.  If Part I was completed after this date, the Auditor has 3 months from the date notified of the pass to complete Part II.   For other languages see “Reminder Exam Due Dates” below. The above is based on Auditors being advanced in one of the written languages which we offer the exam.

Reminder: Revised Due Dates for CSCA Exams

Due to COVID-19 and the enduring challenges faced by our auditing community, APSCA has reviewed and revised exam due dates for auditors sitting Part II and III exams.  The dates (below) are applicable to any Auditor who successfully passed Part I 90+ days prior to the Part II deadline or successfully completed Part II 90+ days prior to the Part III deadline. If an Auditor is unsure whether this applies to them please contact APSCA via director@theapsca.org. 2020 – 2021 Part II 30 September 2020 Chinese (Traditional/ Simplified) 30 March 2021 English / Spanish (amended from September 2020) Part III 30 June 2021 Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese amended from December 2020) 30 October 2021 English / Spanish (amended from June 2021) REMINDER: For Auditors just obtaining their RA level status, you have 6 months from the date that you obtained RA to sit Part I exam if you are advanced in a language the exam is offered.

FAQs

Check out APSCA’s FAQ page – it has been recently updated.

Don’t see a question / answer you’re looking for? Contact us at director@theapsca.org.

APSCA Out and About

Please note that due to the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, APSCA have postponed or cancelled all travel. Updates on any future travel will be provided as soon as practicable. Please visit our Out and About page for updates from some of our Member Firms on what they are doing to support the industry during this time.

In seeking to further support our Members, we also welcome you to tell us how your organization and auditors are navigating today’s dynamic work environment.  It is our intention to share these insights across our media channels to foster industry collaboration and unite our community during this difficult period. Please send responses to director@theapsca.org .