The term “certification” is sometimes used interchangeably — and incorrectly — with “certificate.” Certifications and certificates are distinct credentials with different characteristics. The most distinguishing factor is that certificates are awarded after an education or training program is completed, while certifications are separate from education and training programs and require passage of a third-party assessment, typically a standardized exam.
Characteristics of a Certification (Workcred, 2018, 2021)
Characteristics | Definition |
|---|---|
Awarded by | Industry certification bodies, professional associations, and employers. |
Awarded for | Passing a third-party assessment based on a set of competency standards (minimum performance expectations) set through a defensible, industry- or profession-wide job analysis process, which is reviewed and revised regularly. |
Indicates | A person can perform a set of skills relevant to a professional setting. |
Assessment created by | Psychometricians, who are test and measurement experts, with input from subject matter experts. |
Assessment type | An oral, written, or practical standardized assessment that is fair, valid, and reliable and based on a set of validated competency standards. |
Time to complete | Variable. |
Period of validity | Time-limited, includes a recertification process. |
Renewal Requirements | Recertification is required to maintain the certification. |
Revocation process | Can be revoked for incompetence or unethical behavior. |
Standards | ANSI/ISO/IEC: 17024:2012, Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons; National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs; Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) Standards |
With the continued growth in the type and number of credentials, and to validate rigor, the term certification may refer to a credential that has one or more of the following elements:
Credential As You Go has acquired three phases of funding to date. Lumina Foundation funded Phase I, resulting in the Incremental Credential Framework for testing. The Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education funds Phase II (Grant R305T210063), which focuses on rapid prototyping of and research on incremental credentials with a national campaign. An anonymous private donor fund at the Program on Skills, Credentials & Workforce Policy at George Washington University funds the development of the prototype Learn and Work Ecosystem Library. Walmart funds Phase III, which focuses on systems change for expansion and sustainability of incremental credentials. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of Lumina Foundation, Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education, Walmart, or George Washington University.
