Certification isn’t a paperwork exercise. It’s a proof-of-governance process.

ClearCouncil Certification is designed to recognize agencies that have operationalized responsible AI practices. That means more than checking boxes. It means showing your systems are classified, your staff are trained, and your vendors are under control.

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What We Look for Before We Certify

1. Policy + Implementation Evidence

We want to see a written AI policy, yes—but also an implementation guide, assignment of roles, and documentation that it’s actually in use (not just approved).

2. Risk Tiering Framework

Have you classified your AI systems by risk? Can you explain why certain systems are low-risk while others require oversight? We want to see this logic documented.

3. Vendor Agreements with Kill Switch Language

If your vendor contracts don’t give your agency the right to suspend, audit, or investigate systems, that’s a red flag. We’ll review your procurement language.

4. Oversight Mechanisms and Logs

Does your agency maintain logs of AI system use? Can you trace decisions, outputs, or escalations? We’ll want to see that you’ve planned for traceability and accountability.

5. Public Transparency

Have you disclosed AI use publicly, briefed your council, or published a public-facing summary? We’ll assess your agency’s readiness to answer public questions about your tools.