The SRA Symposium - College of Medicine

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Introduction
Certification programs are designed to confirm that individuals in a given profession possess the
fundamental knowledge necessary to serve their employer and profession in the best possible
manner. Gilley and Galbraith (1986) define certification as the process by which a professional
organization or an independent external agency recognizes the competence of individual practitioners.
There is often a great deal of confusion associated with the term certification. For example, Bratton
and Hildebrand (1980) emphasize that professional certification should not be confused with
teacher education certification because the term teacher certification is a misnomer. Instead, it
is a licensing mechanism regulated by a local body. Since teachers are required to hold a valid
certificate in order to teach in the public school system, the teacher education certification is, in
reality, a license to teach. Parker and Smith (2004) report that processes established for certifying
and licensing practitioners share important credentialing related commonalities, but the primary
difference often misunderstood is that licensure is mandatory and certification is voluntary. Galbraith
and Gilley (1985) contend this confusion biases many educators regarding the certification
issue and narrows the examination and discussion of professional certification. Penland (1982)
asserts that this confusion has resulted in misunderstanding and frustration on the part of those
concerned with the topic of professional certification and has impeded communication. Galbraith
and Gilley (1985) maintain that certification, licensure, and accreditation each attempt to regulate
the measurement of competencies, however; the methodology, population, and purposes of
regulations differ. For example, in McCue (2003), Schoon and Smith indicated that licensure is the
granting of a license by a governmental body to practice a profession, while certification is thought
of as a means of promoting achievement within a discipline. Certification is not a property right to
practice a profession; instead, it is a voluntary achieved standard of excellence for an individual.
According to Bratton and Hildebrand (1980) certification is often perceived as being the same as
accreditation and licensure. Distinctions between certification, accreditation, and licensure need
to be recognized in order to place professional certification in correct context and avoid confusion
in use of terminology. The following table provided by Bratton and Hildebrand (1980) offers a succinct
comparison of accreditation, licensure, and certification.
Table 1
Comparison of Accreditation, Licensure, and Certification
Type of Credential Recipient of Credential Credentialing Body Required or Voluntary
Accreditation Programs Association/Agency Voluntary
Licensure Individuals Political Body Required
Certification Individuals Association/Agency Voluntary
Bratton and Hildebrand (1980) offer the following definitions to help clarify the distinctions between
certification, accreditation, and licensure.
Certification – the process by which a professional organization or an independent external
agency recognizes the competence of individual practitioners.
Accreditation – the process whereby an agency or an association grants public recognition to
a school, college, or university, or specialized study program that meets certain predetermined
qualifications or standards.
222 2005 Symposium Proceedings Book