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Certification.
Certification is a system for recognizing an individual’s level of education,
experience, or competence to practice, and is conferred with the confidence of the
occupation and the public. Certification status signifies that the individual meets
established occupational standards of knowledge, skills and abilities. Certification may or
may not be voluntary. For many occupations, the law requires that only those individuals
who are certified may offer themselves to the public as practitioners of an occupation
(Ogston, 1999).
The certification of practitioners of an occupation is the most direct application of
occupational standards and falls under the purview of provinces and territories. There are
a number of models of certification adopted by other occupations (Ogston, 1999). These
vary from those commonly used by government agencies to the licensing of trades to a
typical professional certification approach as used by the teaching profession (non-ECE).
The occupation is defined in legislation, but authority for it is delegated to its societies or
associations. Education, experience, and continuing development are prescribed (Ogston,
1999).
Currently the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (AECEO)
offers a voluntary certification process for practitioners and has been advocating for
legislation recognition for over a decade. The establishment of a College of Early
Childhood Educators is now a provincial government promise. As a regulatory body it
would set standards for accrediting training institutions, reviewing occupational
standards, determining necessary ongoing professional development, and deciding who
can refer to themselves as being a member (certified or otherwise) of the occupation. A
regulatory college would oversee professional practice by receiving and investigating