FAQ
About CPIA Courses
Who are CPIA courses geared for?
The courses provide individuals who are involved in identifying, designing, financing, implementing, monitoring, or evaluating social interventions, public policies, or international development projects, with the knowledge necessary to oversee evaluations of projects and policies, from conception through completion. These include: organization leaders, project managers, project staff, technical experts, finance officers, social entrepreneurs, donors, and civil servants, among others. There are no prerequisites for our courses.
Do I have to take all three courses?
No. Participants can choose to take one course or all of them. Those interested in the Certified Professional Impact Analyst (CPIA) designation have to successfully complete all three courses, or receive exemption through written tests before becoming eligible to take the CPIA certification exam.
Can I take the courses in any order?
No. Courses are sequential in nature, with the content for each course building on content offered in previous courses. Foundations of Impact must be taken first, followed by Evaluating Impact and then Impact Analysis Capstone.
I cannot attend the course, do you offer in-house training for organizations?
Yes, we can tailor and offer the CPIA courses in-house. We also offer half day and one day courses on select CPIA topics for senior analysts. For more information, contact queens@cpia.global.
During the CPIA Courses
What is the method of delivery?
All courses are currently delivered online. However, the Impact Capstone course is offered in a synchronous model over a week (5 days) with a mix of conventional lectures (mornings) and applied hands-on training (afternoons).
The other two courses are offered over a 3 month period with a defined start date and end date, and are a blend of online pre-recorded lectures, readings, frequent live discussions, asynchronous interactions with teaching assistants and recap questions at the end of each module.
What should I do to prepare for the course?
Participants will be sent a manual in advance of the program with preparatory materials including a few pre-readings which should not take more than an hour to review.
Fees
What is included in the tuition fee?
Can I get a refund if I cannot attend the course?
Participants who withdraw up to and including 3 weeks prior to the commencement of a CPIA course at Queen’s University are eligible for a full refund, subject to a 3% processing fee. Participants who withdraw less than 3 weeks prior to the commencement of a CPIA course at Queen’s University are eligible for a partial refund of 75% of their tuition, plus a 3% processing fee. For more information about refunds, contact queens@cpia.global.
Grading and Exam
Grading scheme and requirements (for each course)
Recap questions (4) and quiz: 40%
Participation: 20%
Case study submission and presentation: 40%
Why Recap Questions?
The instructional units covered in the lectures are closed off with four recap questions at the end of each module. These questions are designed to gain more profound knowledge about the material presented and to assess the participants' understanding of the subject. Registrants who were engaged and participated during the course will find the questions educational and achievable.
Quiz?
The quizzes at the end are primarily based on the recap questions and help install the knowledge gained during the course. Participants who were committed during the course will have no difficulty in taking the test.
Case Study and Presentation?
The Case Study presented during the course gives participants an up-close and in-depth detailed examination of the subject at hand. The presentation provides the students with a safe space to share their knowledge of the material with the rest of their peers and receive comprehensive feedback from the lecturer.
Is there an Exam?
There is no exam after the completion of one individual CPIA course. However, after finalizing all three CPIA courses, Foundations of Impact, Evaluating Impact and Impact Analysis Capstone, participants will be eligible to write an exam to become Certified Professional Impact Analysts and to receive the designation CPIA-I. Exams can be taken on-site after completion of all three courses, or through a predetermined online system.