--- title: "Test Review Approvals and Sign-off" slug: "multi-approver-test-review-and-sign-off" updated: 2026-10-07T10:41:23Z published: 2026-10-07T10:41:23Z canonical: "success.panaya.com/multi-approver-test-review-and-sign-off" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://success.panaya.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Test Review Approvals and Sign-off Strengthen regulated testing with configurable multi-step approval workflows for both pre-execution test reviews and post-execution sign-off. You can configure sequential approval chains with up to six approval steps. Each step can be assigned to an individual user or a [user group](/v1/docs/user-groups). The next approval step is activated only after the previous one is completed, ensuring approvals are completed in the required order before testing begins or results are signed off. > [!NOTE] > This feature is part of the Panaya Compliance Package. > > [Contact Panaya Support to activate this feature](/v1/docs/check-out-panayas-support-portal). When a review workflow starts, the test becomes read-only to preserve its integrity throughout the approval process. Reviewer assignments can be updated while the workflow is in progress without resetting approvals that have already been completed. - Configure up to six sequential approval steps for review and sign-off, using individual users, [user groups](/v1/docs/user-groups), or a combination of both. - Lock tests during the approval workflow to prevent changes. - Update reviewer assignments without restarting the approval process. - Require all pre-execution approvals before test execution can begin. - Automatically trigger post-execution sign-off as test steps are completed. - Support individual or mass electronic signatures for post-execution approval. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-AVHW3N3Q.png) --- ## Define the Approval Sequence Before you continue, set the cycle as [Regulated](/v1/docs/how-to-set-a-cycle-as-regulated) and ensure that the [**Assigned approver workflow**](/v1/docs/how-to-set-a-cycle-as-regulated) option is selected. 1. To set the approvers for a test, select the test's **General tab** and click **Approval sequence**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-DN0TRK9U.png) 2. Use the action button to add, delete, or reorder approval steps. Each step can be assigned to an **individual user** or a **[user group](/v1/docs/user-groups)**. You can combine individual users and user groups in the same approval workflow. When a step is assigned to a user group, any eligible member of that group can complete the approval. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-AG9FKAKP.png) 3. You must configure an approver for each one of the pre-execution and post-execution sections. > [!WARNING] > Important! > > Approvers must be assigned the E-Signature: Review/Sign permission to appear in the list of approvers for selection. 4. Click **Save**. --- ## Start the Approval Process To begin the approval process and send the first email to the first approver, select the **General** tab for a test and click **Start approval**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-TSYKH0GF.png) The assigned approver is notified when the approval step becomes active. - For the pre-execution stage, the relevant users will be able to **approve** or **reject** the test. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-ELD0DYLW.png) - For the post-execution stage, the relevant users will be able to [e-sign test runs](/v1/docs/how-to-e-sign-tests#esign-test-runs). All approval activities are recorded in the **History tab**. When a user-group approval step is completed, Panaya records the actual group member who performed the approval. History includes: - Approver assignments. - Workflow initiation and reset actions. - Approval and rejection events with electronic signatures. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-S7GB58BE.png) --- ## Resetting the Approval Process As long as no approvals were submitted, the test creator or an admin can reset the process and start over. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-SMX3R44X.png) > [!WARNING] > **Note** > > You cannot reset approval after post-approval has started. The audit of previous rejections appears in the History tab of the test. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/f404076c-de23-4609-848e-2dfd4ef701b0/Images/Documentation/image-S7GB58BE.png) --- ## Approval Statuses The approval dialog displays the current status of each approver. | Status | Description | | --- | --- | | **Not Started** | The approval workflow has not been initiated. | | **Pending** | The workflow has started, and the approver is waiting to review and sign. | | **Done** | The approver has completed the electronic signature. | | **Rejected** | The approver rejected the review request. | > [!NOTE] > Good to Know! > > - If any approver rejects a pre-execution review, the approval workflow must be restarted before testing can proceed. > - The test creator cannot be the assigned approver. > [!NOTE] > **Note** > > Multi-approver test review is available as part of our Compliance Package, which includes electronic signatures and advanced regulatory compliance features.