1.1 Purpose This International Standard establishes a framework for comparison of schemes for certifying software engineering professionals. A certification scheme is a set of certification requirements for software engineering professionals. This International Standard specifies the items that a scheme is required to contain and indicates what should be defined for each item. 1.2 Field of application This International Standard has a number of intended users, as follows: — Educators, academics and course developers: will use Clauses 4.1 to 4.6, 5 and 6 of this International Standard to map their course structure and design against another course or educational requirement; develop new courses; make decisions about mutual recognition. — Examining bodies: will use Clauses 4.1 to 4.6, 5 and 6 of this International Standard to construct examination and/or evaluation schemes; make decisions about mutual recognition. — Industry and professional bodies: will use this International Standard to develop and maintain certification schemes; make decisions about mutual recognition. — Government bodies: will use this International Standard for policy development; funding decisions; skills assessment; regulation of professionals; facilitation of trade agreements between countries.