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The industry's essential Freedom of Information training course. Understand the FOI act and its implications - and apply it to your everyday work.
The BCS Certificate in Freedom of Information provides a qualification that demonstrates a level of application and knowledge obtained by those responsible for dealing with freedom of information within an organisation. The BCS Certificate in Freedom of Information is aligned to SFIA plus as its framework.
Those experienced in freedom of information issues, as well as those new to the subject, require adequate training in order that their organisations are confident legal compliance is continually addressed.
It is necessary to identify issues requiring expert freedom of information advice in good time in order that organisational reputation and credibility is enhanced through relevant information management policies and procedures.
Part 1: Legislation, codes of practice, and ethics, including:
Part 2: The Scope and Principles of the Freedom of Information Act
Part 3: Obligations and Responsibilities
Part 4: Disclosure, Non-disclosure, and exemptions
Part 5: Environmental Information and Personal Data
Part 6: Enforcement and Appeals
You can download the syllabus on the BCS website by clicking here: infosec-freedom-information-syllabus.pdf (bcs.org)
The course takes 5 days to complete and will be held virtually.
You will need access to Microsoft Teams throughout the course as all sessions will all be held via Teams.
The BCS exam is included within the cost of the course. The exam is currently only available online via remote proctor, to be completed after the course at a time suitable for you.
The DPAS Training Manager will set you up on the dedicated BCS and QuestionMark portal, which is where you will book your exam. To access this you will be sent a one-time link to the portal to set up your registration.
Although you can take your exam at any time that suits you, and there is no time limit on when you sit the exam, you will need to ensure you are following the updated syllabus if you take it 6 months after the course.
You can carry out the exam at any location convenient to you. You will use your own device for the exam. The exam is a 90 minute closed book exam. The pass rate is 22/33 (65%). The exam is split into the following sections:
All sessions will commence at 9 am and finish at 4.00 pm. Breaks will be scheduled throughout the day. If you need to attend a meeting during the day, please discuss this with the trainer so they can tie this into allocated breaks.
You can take your exam at any time that suits you, there is no time limit on when you sit the exam. However, you will need to ensure that you are following the updated syllabus if you take it 6 months after the course.
The exam itself is held via remote proctor (essentially, someone watches you complete the exam). You can do this at any location convenient to you. You will use your own device for the exam. The exam is a 90 minute closed book exam. The pass rate is 26/40 (65%).
This qualification is primarily aimed at those who are managing or responding to requests for information from the public or working in this subject area, for instance Information Managers.
This qualification is likely to be of particular benefit to those working in the following areas:
It is also relevant to private sector organisations that are either affected directly by freedom of information and environmental information legislation or indirectly by their contractual relationship with a public authority.
The syllabus places compliance with the Act in the context of good information practices within the organisation. On attaining the certificate, award holders will: