Corporate/Organizational Certification Guidelines
Certification Guidelines are established to evaluate the credentials and claims of applicants to the AIS Certification program to ensure they meet specified AIS standards and requirements. AIS Certification provides a standardized level of professional knowledge and skills for stress management experts.
In addition to meeting the scientific and assessment requirements and standards, AIS Certified Corporation’s/Organization’s senior leadership members are expected to be of good moral character.
The following list of certification criteria is comprised of suggestions offered as guides to help you as you self-evaluate your stress management program or services prior to submitting your application. We hope to encourage development of programs and services that are tailored to the needs of individuals and/or organizations, rather than simply mandating specific program criteria that must be checked off a list to gain certification. We hope that the programs and features you report on your application are reflective of the needs of your client/patient/workforce population. We hope to see evidence-based, whole body stress management programs in place which include considerations for: nutrition, exercise, mental health support, continuing education opportunities and sufficient time off.
The basic criteria for earning AIS Certification are:
- Appropriate stress audit/survey and research of your target participant’s complaints and needs.
- Provide a broad range of services, tools and training to meet the specific needs of your organization’s population
- Set benchmarks and frequent measurement of efficacy: making any adjustments to the program as results are evaluated.
- Program participation is mandatory for all employees. This takes away any connotation or perception of weakness by anyone who participates.li>
This is a short list of programs and features that AIS Certified companies have submitted in the past.
- Flex Time work day options
- Telecommuting options
- Internal Communications officers
- System to facilitate feedback/suggestions
- Office remodel to let in more natural light
- Employee access to exercise facility
- Workday break time policy
- Install a walking track around property
- Install listening stations in break room, stocked with guided meditations and relaxation CDs
- Installation of ergonomic workstations
- Aquariums in common areas of workplace
- Office pet inclusion policy
- On-site daycare facilities
- Mandatory stress management training program upon hire along with continuing education courses offered throughout the year.
- Employees must earn a set number of credits from their selection of training courses/events or stress reducing activities.
- Stress management seminars and learning lunches hosted by company for employee continuing education
- Evidence based stress reducing activity plans: running/walking clubs, book clubs, picnics, cookouts etc.
- Evidence of proper training and tools for job
- Measurable benchmarks of program implementation success
- Portfolio of supporting research
Direct any questions to acc@stress.org.
