The certification process,
step by step

ESTRADS Certification offers two tracks. Certification is a comprehensive assessment, based on evidence and an audit, that includes an analysis report and five levels. The charter is a shorter assessment focused on rules of conduct, with three levels: Bronze, Silver, or Gold. This page describes the certification process, followed by the charter process.

Certification or charter: Which one should you choose?

Certification is suitable for an organization that wants a comprehensive assessment of its policy ESG, a report to guide its progress, and proof to present to its clients, contractors, and funders. These are the ProD&S, ProTarmac, ProAtome, ProSpace, ProTrack, ProDemos, and FranceRSE, as well as the NSI certification for sovereignty.

The charter is suitable for an organization that wishes to demonstrate its compliance with the rules of its profession, often at the request of its professional association. GIPAG, for example, requires its new members who provide aviation training to adhere to the CDOFAC Charter.

The Eight-Step Certification Process

1. The Application

You fill out an application form, and then you’ll receive your login credentials to access your personal online account. The fee depends on the organization’s revenue. Members ofESTRADS Certification ’s partner groups are eligible for preferential rates.

2. The Questionnaire

You complete the first-level questionnaire, “Essential,” either on your own or during a meeting with theESTRADS Certification team. It is tailored to your industry, company size, and type of organization: manufacturing, services, consulting, startups, nonprofit organizations, military facilities, or airport hubs. The platform is secure, and your responses are saved as you go.

3. The Audit

On-site audits are conducted regularly at your facilities to verify the accuracy of the information provided. The number of audits depends on the case: the more doubts a response raises, the more on-site verifications are conducted.

4. The Analysis Report

You will receive a personalized report ranging from 30 to 100 pages. It outlines your strengths, areas for improvement, and recommended actions. You can use it on your own to make progress.

5. Supporting Documents

You submit the documents and certificates that support your answers. The analysis department atESTRADS Certification reviews each document. The evaluation is based on this evidence, which is verified one by one.

6. The Decision

The certification committee reviews the application and determines the level to be awarded. It ensures that the evaluation is impartial and that there are no conflicts of interest.

7. The certificate and the communication kit

You will receive your certificate, which indicates your level, and a communication kit: the certification logo, a plaque, a diploma, and sample messaging. The certificate bears a signature and an embossed seal. The paper document is valid for 3 months: ESTRADS Certification issues an updated version throughout the 12-month certification period to ensure the document presented is always current. A client or contracting party may contact ESTRADS Certification to verify its authenticity.

Your organization will be listed on the [link: Our References] page, and ESTRADS Certification will announce your certification on its blog and on LinkedIn.

8. Annual Follow-Up

The certification is valid for 12 months. The questionnaire for the next level becomes available as soon as you have achieved your current level. At the end of the 12 months, an interview determines whether you will maintain your current level or advance to the next one. If your organization no longer meets the requirements for its current level—for example, following an acquisition or a change in leadership—it may be downgraded by one level. Details about each level can be found on the [link: Levels] page.

On average, allow 3 to 10 weeks from the start of the questionnaire to the decision, depending on the size of the organization and how quickly the required documents are submitted. Under certain conditions, the process can be expedited and completed in just a few days of full-time work on the case: please contact the team atESTRADS Certification.

The NSI Case

The NSI (National Sovereignty Index) certification follows the same process. The questionnaire covers more than 200 sovereignty criteria and can be completed with the team via videoconference. The result is an index out of 100—both overall and by theme—rather than a single rating.

The Charter Certification Process

1. Membership

You fill out an application form and agree to the terms and conditions. You will receive your login credentials to access your personal account.

2. The online questionnaire

You meet more than 200 criteria tailored to your type of organization. For the CDOFAC Charter, these criteria cover areas such as safety, financial management, transparency toward students, working conditions for instructors, and environmental protection.

3. The Evidence

You submit the requested documents and certificates. The analysis department atESTRADS Certification reviews them.

4. On-site inspection

ESTRADS Certification conducts random on-site inspections for the Bronze and Silver levels, and systematic inspections for the Gold level.

5. The Decision

The certification committee awards Bronze, Silver, or Gold status. When the charter is being implemented for a professional association, ESTRADS Certification forwards its opinion to the association before the agreement is signed between the member and the association.

6. The Certificate

You will receive a certificate specifying your level, along with a branding kit: logo, diploma, and certificate. A charter does not include a detailed analysis report. As with a certification, the paper certificate is valid for 3 months and is updated and reissued throughout the charter’s 12-month validity period.

7. The sign and its QR code

Display a sign at your location that summarizes the main points of the charter and includes a QR code. Students, customers, or employees can use it to send feedback—whether positive or negative—regarding compliance with the charter to ESTRADS Certification . The signatories and their levels are published on the [link: Our References] page.

8. Renewal

The certificate is valid for 12 months. Each year, a new evaluation determines the level, which may go up or down. In the event of a violation, ESTRADS Certification may revoke the certificate.

A charter can be a first step: a signatory can then pursue certification, such as ProTarmac Certification or FranceRSE Certification.

What Ensures the Evaluation

Verified evidence: Each response is verified using supporting documents, and on-site inspections supplement the analysis.
A collegial decision: the certification committee rules on each case.
A scientific advisory board, composed of external experts, monitors changes in the criteria. It does not have access to data from the organizations being evaluated.
Guidelines that are revised annually, and sooner if a law changes.
Data entrusted to a French company: ESTRADS Certification is 100% French-owned and is not subject to the Cloud Act [Our sovereignty].
Ongoing monitoring: Any stakeholder can report a violation on the [Notify Us] page. Noncompliance results in requests for corrective action and may lead to penalties.