To complete your SLCP assessment, you must first access the Data Collection Tool on your preferred Accredited Host (AH) platform. There you can start the assessment, you can answer the questions in the Data Collection Tool online as well as offline by downloading the offline Tool from the AH site.
You need at least PC Excel 2016 or Mac Excel 2016 to open the offline Tool. If you have followed all the instructions on how to use the Data Collection Tool and still the Tool (repeatedly) crashes while you are working on it, it means you need a more recent version of Excel. Before opening the Tool close all Excel files that are already open. Close any other large applications. Reopen your Excel application and then proceed to open the Tool. When opening the file, a pop-up appears, and/or you see a Security Warning at the top of the screen. You must ENABLE CONTENT and/or ENABLE MACROS.
Click here for guidance on how to enable content/macros if you did not see the pop-up.
We strongly recommend completing online (if your internet connection allows that) as the AH have several checks in place to make sure you fill in the data correctly. An AH checks your data to make sure that:
• answers are given in English language only;
• questions that are not allowed to be left blank are filled in;
• the Tool is 100% complete;
• max 1,000 characters are in a free text answer field; and
• specific questions are answered correctly as numbers or dates.
You can switch between the online and offline version, but make sure you download/upload the Tool every time you make an update to prevent data loss.
If you want, you can also upload documents to the AH platform. Remember that any uploaded documents will be shared with the Verifier as well as the users of the final verified assessment report, so keep in mind privacy regulations and confidentiality agreements.
You always need to submit the Tool online, as the AH runs checks on completion requirements. The checks may require you to review and edit answers.
Watch the video below for an elaborate tutorial on how to navigate the Tool and answer its questions. Download the guidance here.
Visit this FAQ to avoid common mistakes when answering Tool questions.