New Definitions (2005)
Credentialing is the umbrella term that includes the concepts of accreditation, licensure, registration, and professional certification. The credential process is essentially a method for maintaining quality standards of knowledge and performance, and in some cases, for stimulating continued self-improvement.
Professional Certification: the voluntary process by which a non-governmental entity grants a time-limited recognition and use of credential to an individual after verifying that s/he has met predetermined and standardized criteria. It is the vehicle that a profession or occupation uses to differentiate among its members, using standards, sometimes developed through a consensus-driven process, based on existing legal and psychometric request.
Certificant: the holder of a professional certification.
Certificate programs may be considered by some to be types of credentialing process. Certificate programs are not held to the objective standards required of professional certification programs.
Certificate: a training program on a topic for which participants receive a certificate after
attendance and/or completion of the coursework. Some programs also require
successful demonstration of attainment of the course objectives. A credential
is NOT usually granted at the completion of a certification program.
§ Knowledge-based certificates recognize a relatively narrow scope of specialized knowledge used in performing duties or tasks required by a
certain profession or occupation. The certificate is issued after an
individual passes an assessment instrument.
§ Curriculum-based certificates are issued after an individual completes a course of series of courses and passes an assessment instruction. The content of the assessment is limited to the course content and therefore may not be completely representative of professional practice. It is not as defensible to use this or the knowledge-based certificate type of certificate for regulatory purposes compared to a professional certification.
§ Certificates of Attendance or Participation are issued after an individual attends or participates in a particular meeting or course. Usually, there is no knowledge assessed prior to issuing this type of certificate. A certificate of attendance or participation is NOT a credential, because the recipients are not required to demonstrate competence according to professional or trade standards.
Certificate Holder: one who completes a professional certificate program.
Source: Durley, Cynthia C. “The NOCA Guide to Understanding Credentialing Concepts”: National Organization for Competency Assurance. Washington D.C. 2005.
Credentialing Terminology (CVA 2000 – 2005)
Body of Knowledge Based on the Content Outline and Job Analysis Study, references are identified that support and explain the elements with the Content Outline. It can be a reference list, single text or a combination. All questions on the examination are documented to the Body of Knowledge and Content Outline.
Certificate The focus is on training a specific knowledge and/or skill set. Typically there are no eligibility requirements. Attainment verifies mastery of a specific knowledge or skill set (as outlined in the curriculum). No designation is awarded, it is not time-limited (like a diploma) and cannot be revoked.
Certification The focus is on recognition of experience and expertise, typically there are education and experience requirements, attainment verifies
experience and expertise in a field, and a designation is awarded. It is usually time-limited and can be revoked
Content Outline The outline defined by grouping skills identified by the Job Analysis Study. It is the core document of the examination process as every item/question must be documented to the Content Outline and the Body of Knowledge. It is a basic tool for candidates and committee members.
Item Writing Volunteers, topic experts representative of the scope of the profession, write items/test questions based on the Body of Knowledge and Content Outline.
Job Analysis Study A study to determine key responsibilities of a particular job/position and the knowledge and skills required to competently perform the responsibility. Members and non-members, practitioners and supervisors are included in the survey.
Legally Defensible The test development, test and test administration processes meet certification industry guidelines and standards. In the US, this is based on case law.
Portfolio “A portfolio is a self-chosen, representative sample of work that an individual puts together for someone to evaluate. The portfolio is meant to indicate mastery within a given area of expertise by showing the author’s ability to perform at a high level of proficiency in most, if not all, of the major forms or genres within the area.” (Kemp Gregory, The Psychological Corporation)
Recertification Required on a regular schedule to maintain a certificant’s level of knowledge through continuing education and professional development activities.
Reliability The degree tests are free of measurement error; their degree of consistency and degree of dependability of scores.
Test Review Topic expert volunteers, the majority of whom do not write the items, review and revise as necessary the item pool.
Validity The extent to which a test result measures what it purports to measure
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