Understanding Credentialing Terminology

by Georgia Patrick, President
The Communicators, Inc.

Knowledge assessments and learning are two of the fastest growing businesses in the world. Credentialing is both a process and an industry directly connected to knowledge, learning and competency assurance measurements. Even though millions are involved in the credentialing business on a full-time, part-time and volunteer basis, their conversations are filled with terms used inconsistently. Communication is compromised when the terminology is misused.

We at The Communicators aim for better communication between people, no matter how little or how much they think they know about professional certification.

Competency-Based Certification

Voluntary process by which an organization grants recognition to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications or standards. Individuals meet program eligibility requirements and successfully complete rigorous assessment of their knowledge and skills.

Usage: Voluntary certification is evidence that quality standards have been met, but certifications are not licenses to work in a particular field. Many certification programs exist in areas where no regulatory requirements exist. Others, such as those in real estate, appraisal, and nursing, recognize competence in advanced or specialized areas not covered by state licensure. In some cases, certification programs fulfill some requirements for state licensure.

The credential can be generic, at the foundation or entry level, and broad, since it can encompass an entire profession. This level requires minimum knowledge and skills to competently practice the profession. Once established, these broad-based programs expand their offerings by creating advanced, specialty or added qualification programs to satisfy the needs of all who seek certification through the same professional organization.

Curriculum-Based Certificate

This is a variation of certification that may be broad (encompassing several dimensions of a profession) or narrow (focusing on a specialty area).

Usage: Individuals receive this certificate when they complete a course or series of courses and an assessment process, limited to the course content and thus may not be completely representative of professional practice. The linkage to specific course content differentiates the curriculum-based certificate from the certificate of knowledge and professional certification.

Portfolio-Based Certification

This is the least common method of certification and it is awarded based on a candidate’s documentation of professional expertise, experience, and education in various competency areas.

Certificant

The individual who has achieved certification is called a certificant. Before they are certified, they are called candidate. When they are completing course work or preparations for certification assessments they are called student, customer, member, professional and a variety of other names indicating they are an adult learner.

Certificate of Knowledge

Process by which an individual demonstrates a relatively narrow scope of specialized knowledge used in the performance of certain professional or occupational duties or tasks.

Usage: Certificates of knowledge focus on specialty or subspecialty areas within a profession in which a professional certification already exists and possession of the initial certification is an eligibility requirement for the certification. Certificates of Completion are one example of learning for the sake of immediate application, regardless of whether or not this is part of a larger scope of learning, testing, continuing education and standards enforcement embodied in certification.

Certificate of Attendance or Participation

Individuals receive this certificate when they complete a course or series of courses. The organization providing the certificate does not require an assessment of knowledge or skill.

Usage: This certificate does not attest to learning achieved and therefore, are generally considered fabrications attempting to achieve the same type of respect afforded to credentials. These certifications are not considered credentials because its recipients are not required to meet any professional or industry standards.

Licensure

Mandatory credentialing process by which a government agency grants permission to persons engaged in a given occupation or profession by attesting that those licensed have attained the minimum degree of knowledge and skills required to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Usage: Because government involvement yields to states rights, a credentialing program wrapped up in licensure is the most expensive and most complex on national and international levels. Licensure protects the public from incompetent practice. The mark of the inexperienced credentialing director is to think the licensure route guarantees a demand for your credential. Marketing is not the driver for licensure, public health, safety and welfare of the public is; therefore, people who are not from your industry, generally, may govern your program. They are appointed to public boards which say what your profession will be today, rather than concern themselves with how your will take care of future needs or membership growth.