Technical Reviews
Over the years, the term technical review has been used in different ways and in different contexts. For me, a technical review is not about evaluating policy intent or operational practices — it’s about making sure the mechanics of the assessment itself are solid before a mock or formal assessment begins.
Think of a technical review as a focused check on the details that can slow an assessment down if they’re overlooked.
A technical review looks at the technical aspects of your assessment, including things like:
Are all attachments properly linked to the correct part of the standard?
Are hyperlinks working — and do they open in a new window?
Does each standard include the correct quantity of proofs?
Are proofs within the correct timeframes for your accreditation cycle?
Are attachment names and highlight labels easy to understand at a glance?
These are often the items that come up during a mock assessment as “housekeeping” feedback — not because compliance is lacking, but because small technical issues create friction for assessors.
Every minute assessors spend trying to:
figure out what a highlight refers to
scroll through a standard because a link wasn’t set correctly
decipher cluttered labels or broken hyperlinks
…is time they aren’t spending reviewing the substance of your files or providing meaningful feedback.
A solid technical review clears the path so mock assessors can focus on:
file quality
interviews
observations
and strategic recommendations
Instead of getting bogged down in small, preventable issues.
I recommend completing a technical review before your mock assessment, ideally 2–4 weeks in advance. This gives you enough time to make adjustments without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
While you can do a technical review yourself, I strongly prefer having external assessors complete it — even if it’s done remotely.
Here’s why:
You’ve likely looked at your files dozens of times already
Familiarity makes it easier to miss small issues
A fresh set of eyes will spot things you simply won’t see anymore
Because a technical review is narrowly focused on details, it can often be completed in a day or less by someone experienced.
A technical review is one of the simplest ways to:
reduce assessment-day friction
show respect for assessors’ time
and walk into your mock assessment feeling confident
It’s quiet prep work — but it makes a very loud difference.
Who do you know that could benefit from these accreditation-friendly tips and resources? Consider sharing this link with a colleague so they can sign up:https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup
Areaka P. Jewell
Accreditation Academy
areaka@accreditationacademy.net
(305) 360-1075