Mentoring Certification

The Mentoring Certification is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests workplace mentoring skills — mentoring concepts, roles and models, building and managing the relationship, core skills and conversations, and mentoring programmes, ethics and evaluation — written to the EMCC competence framework and Global Code of Ethics, Kram's mentoring research, the Allen et al. (2004) meta-analysis and CIPD guidance for 2026. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Mentoring Proficiency certificate (SOA-W35). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Mentoring resources and competence framework (EMCC Global), Global Code of Ethics for Coaches, Mentors and Supervisors (EMCC Global), CIPD knowledge hub (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Science of Apps offers a free Mentoring Certification, updated for 2026 and 2027. It measures concepts, roles and models, building the relationship, skills and conversations and programmes, ethics and evaluation and gives instant results with a shareable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a Mentoring Proficiency certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: Mentoring resources and competence framework (EMCC Global); Global Code of Ethics for Coaches, Mentors and Supervisors (EMCC Global); CIPD knowledge hub (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development); 2025 ICF Core Competencies (International Coaching Federation); Allen, Eby, Poteet, Lentz and Lima (2004) Career benefits associated with mentoring for protégés: a meta-analysis (Journal of Applied Psychology) (PubMed); Inclusion and diversity in the workplace (CIPD). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Concepts, Roles and Models (Definitions, Types and Functions); Building the Relationship (Contracting, Trust and Boundaries); Skills and Conversations (Listening, Questions and Feedback); Programmes, Ethics and Evaluation (Design, Inclusion and Measurement). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

Workplace mentor, Mentoring programme manager, People manager, HR or L&D professional and Senior professional supporting early-career staff. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Mentoring knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Mentoring usually involves a more experienced person sharing knowledge, perspective and networks over a longer relationship. Coaching focuses more on drawing out the coachee's own solutions through questioning, often for specific goals. Good mentors use coaching skills too.

Research such as the Allen et al. (2004) meta-analysis links mentoring with higher career satisfaction, commitment and career outcomes for mentees, with psychosocial support particularly related to satisfaction. Results depend on relationship quality and programme design.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.