International Certification of Dance Studies

The International Certification of Dance Studies (French: Certification internationale d'études en danse; Spanish: Certificación Internacional de Estudios de Danza)^[1] is the official document validating classes in all forms of dance in all countries of the world. It is issued by the International Dance Council CID, official partner of UNESCO upon request by dance school directors on a stricktly non-profit basis.
It is a diploma printed individually on parchment paper, stamped and signed by the president of the CID. It is sent by the CID Secretariat to the school director, who hands it (or asks an important personality to hand it) to the student at a special awarding ceremony. It is sent on paper as well as in digital form. The diploma bears: the name of the school director, the name of the school, the name of the student, the form of dance, the level.
Each level is at least 150 hours, including classes, rehearsals, performances, lectures. After Level 1 the student can proceed to Level 2 (another 150 hours) then another 150 hours for Level 3, and so on. The School Director retains full responsibility for data submitted and decides if and how the student will be examined. The CID does not have or recommend examiners. An average of 1,000 students in 45 countries receive the International Certification of Dance Studies every year.

The 150 hour module for each Level corresponds to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) of the European Education Area. It is adapted to the Bologna Process, which aims to make education systems internationally comparable.