The COS™ certification pathway spans four levels and six modules, with a Capstone assessment at each level and an Entry Point Assessment for practitioners with prior learning. Open to every infrastructure practitioner — no degree, no prior credential required. Every practitioner can enter at the right level, progresses at their own pace, and earns credentials that are globally portable — toward professional recognition, formal degree credit, or published research.
Each level has a defined ISCED classification, ECTS-compatible credit value, and an integrated Capstone assessment. Entry Point Assessment is available at every level for learners with equivalent prior learning.
The complete COS™ framework from first principles. Why governance fragmentation causes project failure. How Compliance, Oversight, and Sustainability work as inseparable pillars. How the framework maps to global standards. Four real case studies. The ethics-first decision test.
Apply the framework to one real or hypothetical project. Produce a one-page checklist covering: Compliance Register setup, NCR register establishment, and Sustainability Baseline with two SDG targets identified. Submitted online, typically reviewed within 5–7 business days, written feedback provided.
Deep-dive into the Compliance pillar. Building and maintaining a Compliance Register. NCR register setup, tracking, and closure management. Applying FIDIC, ISO 9001, ISO 31000, IFC Performance Standards, and GCF Safeguards. Audit-ready documentation from Day 1.
The Oversight pillar in full operational depth. Duty of care as a governance principle — not just a legal concept. Real-time dashboards. Site supervision protocols. Worker safety as protection. Incident reporting. Structural accountability.
Sustainability as an operational governance pillar. SDG target identification and documentation. ESG reporting frameworks applied to infrastructure projects. Carbon tracking. Community impact documentation. Sustainability baseline to project closure.
Apply all three pillars to one real or retrospective project. Produce a structured governance report with Compliance Register, NCR register with closure status, and Sustainability baseline with SDG alignment. Calculate three pillar scores (C%, O%, S%). Required before progression to Level 3. Typically reviewed within 7–10 business days.
The integrated module combining all three pillars into full project governance application. Advanced scoring methodology. Project lifecycle governance from initiation through commissioning. How to structure a COS™ audit report for a client or donor. Independent audit practice readiness.
Conduct and document a complete COS™ three-pillar audit of a real or retrospective project. Full Compliance Register, complete NCR register with Oversight score, full Sustainability baseline with ESG metric progress and scores, and remediation recommendations for any pillar below 80%. Reviewed by Susil Bhandari, CCM. Accepted reports referenced on the Full Practitioner Certificate.
The research module. Submit an original case study on a real infrastructure governance challenge — structured as Problem Statement, COS™ Application across all three pillars with evidence, and Outcome with pillar scores. Reviewed by Susil Bhandari, CCM. Accepted case studies are co-published on Zenodo under your name with a permanent DOI. Your first formally published academic contribution — no university required.
At Level 4 the case study submission is the integrating assessment — demonstrating all competencies from all levels applied to original research on a real project. The Zenodo DOI is the completion credential. This is the highest-quality evidence for an RPL application to a university for master's or bachelor's degree credit recognition.
The Entry Point Assessment (EPA) recognises prior learning from any source — professional certifications, university courses, workplace training, or field experience. Demonstrate existing competency, sit the exam, earn the certificate. No one is left outside the ecosystem.
Email cm.academy.consulting@gmail.com with your prior learning evidence for the module you want to challenge — certificates, transcripts, employer letters, or a portfolio of work demonstrating the learning outcomes.
Download the COS™ Entry Self-Assessment Form. For each learning outcome of the module you are challenging, rate your current competency and identify the evidence you are providing.
Your evidence is reviewed against the module's learning outcomes. If sufficient, you are approved to sit the module exam directly without studying the full handbook. If not, you receive written feedback explaining what is needed.
Pass at 70% or above and receive the full COS™ module certificate — identical to the certificate earned through full study. Your prior learning is recognised. Your COS™ credential is earned. Your ecosystem connection is established.
| Level | Module(s) | Credits | ISCED | ECTS | Capstone | Nepal | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 Foundation | Module 1 | 4 | 4 | ~0.4 | Project Initiation Checklist | NPR 2,500 | USD 25 |
| L2 Specialist | Modules 2, 3, 4 | 18 | 4–5 | ~1.8 | Integrated Governance Report | NPR 10,500 | USD 84 |
| L3 Practitioner | Module 5 | 14 | 5 | ~1.4–1.7 | Full COS™ Assessment Report | NPR 10,000 | USD 85 |
| L4 Research Scholar | Module 6 | 15 | 6 | ~1.5–1.8 | Zenodo Case Study Publication | NPR 18,000 | USD 150 |
| TOTAL | 6 Modules + 4 Capstones | 51 | 4–6 | ~5.1–6.1 | Complete RPL Portfolio | NPR 41,000 | USD 344 |
Entry Point Assessment: NPR 1,500 / USD 15 per module. Capstone assessments included at no extra charge. All credits expressed in ECTS-compatible units. UNESCO Micro-credential Guidelines 2023 compliant.
Enrol in Module 1 for NPR 2,500 / USD 25. Apply for Entry Point Assessment if you hold prior learning. Contact us to discuss the right entry point for your background.