III. SIGMA INSTITUTE RULES AND STANDARDS

These Rules apply to all academies and institutions accredited with SIGMA International Board (SIB) and are binding as a condition of affiliation and continued recognition.

 

SECTION 1 – GENERAL INSTITUTE REQUIREMENTS

1.1 SIGMA Institutes must be legally registered educational entities and must comply with all applicable national and local laws, regulations, and professional requirements.

1.2 Institutes must formally apply for SIB affiliation and maintain continuous communication with SIB regarding student enrolment, program delivery, faculty changes, and administrative matters.

1.3 Institutes must strictly follow SIB branding policies, trademark usage rules, and promotional standards in all public communications.

1.4 Complete and secure student records—including enrolment data, attendance logs, assessment results, and contact information—must be maintained and made available to SIB for audit or review when required.

1.5 SIB affiliation is personal to the approved institute and may not be sold, transferred, franchised, or sublicensed.

1.6 Any change in ownership, management control, or training location must be reported to SIB within 30 days and is subject to review and approval.

1.7 SIB reserves the right to conduct announced or unannounced inspections, audits, or digital assessments to verify compliance with these Rules.

 

SECTION 2 – MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 The institute owner or director is responsible for full compliance with SIB academic, ethical, and operational standards.

2.2 Each SIGMA Institute must appoint an Academic Coordinator responsible for curriculum delivery, trainer supervision, quality assurance, and liaison with SIB.

2.3 Regular faculty meetings must be conducted to review teaching quality, student performance, and examination preparedness.

2.4 Periodic progress reports and quality reviews must be submitted to SIB in the format and timeframe prescribed by SIB.

2.5 Institutes must actively promote SIB's professional values and ethical principles among students and staff.

 

SECTION 3 – TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3.1 All trainers delivering SIB-aligned programs must hold appropriate and verifiable professional qualifications in their teaching disciplines.

3.2 Trainers must possess a minimum of two years of post-qualification professional experience in the subjects they teach.

3.3 Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) must be maintained for all trainers and presented during SIB reviews or inspections.

3.4 Teaching staff must demonstrate professional conduct, follow appropriate industry dress standards, and model ethical behaviour at all times.

3.5 Regular trainer review meetings must be held to monitor teaching effectiveness and student outcomes.

 

SECTION 4 – FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

4.1 Training facilities must meet SIB minimum standards for safety, hygiene, ventilation, lighting, and professional presentation.

4.2 Practical classrooms must be equipped with functional, current, and industry-relevant tools and machines aligned with the courses offered.

4.3 All equipment must be routinely serviced, properly maintained, and safe for student use.

4.4 Learning environments must reflect professional practice conditions and support real-world skill development.

 

SECTION 5 – STUDENT ADMISSION AND RECORDS

5.1 Admission criteria must be transparent, objective, and communicated clearly to applicants before enrolment.

5.2 Institutes must maintain accurate and up-to-date records of attendance, assessments, portfolios, and clinical logbooks.

5.3 Recruitment and admissions must follow fair and non-discriminatory practices.

5.4 Transfer of students from another SIGMA Institute requires documented academic records and written SIB approval.

 

SECTION 6 – CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT

6.1 All programs must align with SIGMA-approved syllabi and competency standards.

6.2 Student evaluation must include both theoretical and practical assessments to ensure skill-based learning.

6.3 Students must complete minimum supervised training hours prior to eligibility for certification assessment.

6.4 All examinations must be conducted in a fair, secure, and transparent manner with zero tolerance for academic misconduct.

 

SECTION 7 – STUDENT CONDUCT, UNIFORM, AND DISCIPLINE

7.1 Students must observe professional behaviour, hygiene standards, punctuality, and respectful conduct.

7.2 All students must wear the officially approved SIGMA uniform during practical classes, examinations, and SIGMA-related academic activities.

7.3 No alternative, altered, or substitute uniform is permitted without written authorization from SIB.

7.4 Attendance policies must be clearly defined and consistently enforced.

7.5 Academic dishonesty, unsafe practice, or unethical behaviour may result in disciplinary action, suspension from assessment, or removal from SIB certification pathways.

 

SECTION 8 – QUALITY ASSURANCE AND COMPLIANCE

8.1 SIB may inspect institute facilities, review documentation, and interview staff or students to verify compliance with these Rules.

8.2 Institutes must implement corrective actions arising from SIB audits within the stipulated timeframe.

8.3 Non-compliance may result in probation, suspension of affiliation, or revocation of certification privileges.

 

SECTION 9 – FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OBLIGATIONS

10.1 Institutes must pay all SIB affiliation, assessment, and administrative fees within prescribed timelines.

10.2 Fees are non-transferable and non-refundable unless expressly stated by SIB in writing.

10.3 Outstanding financial obligations may result in suspension of SIB privileges.

 

SECTION 10 – CHANGE OF STATUS OR OWNERSHIP

11.1 Any change in ownership, management, or premises requires formal notification to SIB and may trigger reassessment.

11.2 SIB may place an institute under probation during such review.

11.3 Continued recognition depends on satisfactory compliance after reassessment.

 

SECTION 11 – SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL

12.1 SIB may issue written warnings and require corrective action for breaches of these Rules.

12.2 Failure to remedy violations may result in:
A. Suspension of SIB affiliation
B. Withdrawal of certification rights
C. Removal from SIB public listings

12.3 Upon withdrawal, the institute must immediately cease all use of SIB name, logos, and promotional references.

 

SECTION 12 – VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION

13.1 A SIGMA Institute may resign by giving six months’ written notice.

13.2 All financial and administrative obligations must be settled before resignation takes effect.

13.3 Upon resignation, all SIGMA branding and institutional references must be removed.

 

 

SECTION 13 - SIGMA CERTIFICATION RULES & CONTROL POLICY

13.1. Authority to Issue Certificates
Only SIGMA International Board has the exclusive authority to issue SIGMA Certificates.
No accredited institute, partner academy, or trainer is permitted to issue, print, modify, or duplicate SIGMA certificates.

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13.2. Prohibition of Logo Misuse
Affiliated institutes are strictly prohibited from:
a. Printing the SIGMA logo on their own institute certificates
b. Designing certificates that resemble SIGMA certificates
c. Claiming institute certificates as “SIGMA Certified”
d. Using the SIGMA name or logo in any way that implies SIGMA-issued certification

Any such act will be treated as misuse of brand identity and misrepresentation.

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13.3. Mandatory Student Registration
All students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 institutes seeking SIGMA certification must be individually registered on the official SIGMA portal before course completion.
Registration must include:

• Student full name

• Photo ID

• Institute name

• Course name

• Training duration

• Trainer details

Only registered students are eligible for SIGMA certification.

 

13.4. Centralized Certificate Issuance
SIGMA certificates will be:

• Generated only from SIGMA’s central system

• Issued only after verification of student registration

• Issued only after completion confirmation

• Issued with unique certificate number and QR code

• Sent digitally or physically directly from SIGMA

Institutes will not receive blank or editable certificates.

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13.5. Separate Institute Certificates Allowed
Institutes may issue their own institute completion certificates.
However:

• They must not use the SIGMA logo

• They must not use the words “SIGMA Certified”

• They must not suggest SIGMA validation

• They may only state “Trained at XYZ Institute”

Example allowed wording:
“Completed training at ABC Institute in Advanced Aesthetics”
Example not allowed wording:
“SIGMA Certified Aesthetician from ABC Institute”

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13.6. Public Verification System
All SIGMA certificates will be verifiable on the SIB website using:

• Certificate number or QR code

• Student name

• Institute name

Any certificate not appearing in the SIB database will be treated as invalid.

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13.7. Legal & Disciplinary Action
If any institute is found:

• Using SIGMA logo on institute certificates

• Issuing fake SIGMA certificates

• Misrepresenting SIGMA affiliation

SIGMA reserves the right to:

• Immediately cancel accreditation

• Blacklist the institute

• Publish notice of cancellation

• Initiate legal action for brand misuse

• Inform students of invalid certification

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13.8. Student Awareness Rule
Institutes must inform students in writing that:

• Institute certificate ≠ SIGMA certificate

• SIGMA certificate will be issued separately

• Only SIGMA issued certificates from SIGMA International Board are considered International certificates & are considered SIB valid

Failure to inform students will be treated as misconduct.

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13.9. Display & Marketing Restrictions
Institutes may display:
“SIGMA Accreditated Training Centre”
They may not display:

• “SIGMA Certification Issuing Center”

• “Authorized to Issue SIGMA Certificates”

• or similar misleading titles.

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13.10. Signature Control
All SIGMA certificates will bear:

• SIGMA authorized signatory

• SIGMA seal

• Unique certificate ID

No institute director or trainer signature can appear on SIGMA certificates.

 

13.11. International Status of SIGMA Certificates

Only certificates issued directly by SIGMA Education Board are considered to have international value.

SIGMA certificates carry:

• Signatures of authorized SIGMA Continental Heads (Asia, Europe etc.)

• Official SIGMA seal

• Unique global registration number

Because of this, only SIGMA-issued certificates are recognized as internationally validated certifications.

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13.12. Status of Institute Certificates
Certificates issued by accredited / recognised / affiliated institutes:

• Are considered local or institutional certificates only

• Do not hold international certification status

• Remain institute-level proof of training

• Are not equivalent to SIGMA certificates

Even if an institute is accredited, recognised or affiliated with SIGMA International Board, the institute's own certificates are not considered international and must not be represented as such.

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13.13. Prohibition of False International Claims
Accredited / Recognised / Affiliated institutes are strictly prohibited from :

• Calling their own certificates “international”

• Claiming their institute certificates have global or international validity

• Stating that their certificates are equal to SIGMA certificates

• Using phrases like “internationally certified” unless the certificate is issued directly by SIGMA International Board.

Correct wording allowed:
“This course is conducted at an institute affiliated with SIGMA. International certification is issued only by SIGMA International Board.”

Incorrect wording not allowed:
“Our institute gives international SIGMA certificates.”
“Our institute certificate is internationally valid because we are SIGMA accredited.”

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13.14. Student Communication Obligation

Institutes must clearly inform students that:

• SIGMA certificate = international certification

• Institute certificate = local institute certificate

• Both are different documents

• Both serve different purposes

Failure to clearly communicate this difference will be treated as misrepresentation and brand misuse.

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FINAL PROVISION

These Rules take effect from the date of approval by SIGMA and apply to all affiliated institutes and academies.

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