Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply ''certification'' or ''qualification'', is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task. Not all certifications that use post-nominal letters are an acknowledgement of educational achievement, or an agency appointed to safeguard the public interest.

Overview

A certification is a third-party attestation of an individual's level of knowledge or proficiency in a certain industry or profession. They are granted by authorities in the field, such as

professional societies A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and th ...

and universities, or by private certificate-granting agencies. Most certifications are time-limited; some expire after a period of time (e.g., the lifetime of a product that required certification for use), while others can be renewed indefinitely as long as certain requirements are met. Renewal usually requires ongoing education to remain up-to-date on advancements in the field, evidenced by earning the specified number of continuing education credits (CECs), or

continuing education unit A continuing education unit (CEU) or continuing education credit (CEC) is a measure used in continuing education programs to assist the professional to maintain their license in their profession. Continuing education or professional development is ...

s (CEUs), from approved professional development courses. Many certification programs are affiliated with professional associations, trade organizations, or private vendors interested in raising industry standards. Certification programs are often created or endorsed by professional associations, but are typically completely independent from membership organizations. Certifications are very common in fields such as aviation, construction, technology, environment, and other industrial sectors, as well as healthcare, business, real estate, and finance. According to ''The Guide to National Professional Certification Programs'' (1997) by Phillip Barnhart, "certifications are portable, since they do not depend on one company's definition of a certain job" and they provide potential employers with "an impartial, third-party endorsement of an individual's professional knowledge and experience". Certification is different from professional licensure. In the United States, licenses are typically issued by state agencies, whereas certifications are usually awarded by professional societies or educational institutes. Obtaining a certificate is voluntary in some fields, but in others, certification from a government-accredited agency may be legally required to perform certain jobs or tasks. In other countries, licenses are typically granted by professional societies or universities and require a certificate after about three to five years and so on thereafter. The assessment process for certification may be more comprehensive than that of licensure, though sometimes the assessment process is very similar or even the same, despite differing in terms of legal status. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines the standard for being a certifying agency as meeting the following two requirements: # Delivering an assessment based on industry knowledge that is independent from training courses or course providers # Granting a time-limited credential to anyone who meets the assessment standards The

Institute for Credentialing Excellence The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) is one of the two main U.S. organizations that accredit personnel certifications or certificates. In November 2009 the ICE formally changed its name from the National Organization for Competency Ass ...

(ICE) is a U.S.-based organization that sets standards for the accreditation of personnel certification and certificate programs based on the ''

Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing ''The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing'' is a set of testing standards developed jointly by the American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Psychological Association (APA), and the National Council on Measurement i ...

'', a joint publication of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME). Many members of the Association of Test Publishers (ATP) are also certification organizations.

Categorization

There are three general types of certification. Listed in order of development level and portability, they are: corporate (internal), product-specific, and profession-wide. Corporate, or "internal" certifications, are made by a

corporation A corporation is an organization—usually a group of people or a company—authorized by the state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law "born out of statute"; a legal person in legal context) and ...

or low-stakes organization for internal purposes. For example, a corporation might require a one-day training course for all sales personnel, after which they receive a certificate. While this certificate has limited portability – to other corporations, for example – it is the most simple to develop. Product-specific certifications are more involved, and are intended to be referenced to a product across all applications. This approach is very prevalent in the

information technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of Data (computing), data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information te ...

(IT) industry, where personnel are certified on a version of

software Software is a set of computer programs and associated software documentation, documentation and data (computing), data. This is in contrast to Computer hardware, hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work. ...

or hardware. This type of certification is portable across locations (for example, different corporations that use that software), but not across other products. Another example could be the certifications issued for shipping personnel, which are under international standards even for the recognition of the certification body, under the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The most general type of certification is profession-wide. Certification in the medical profession is often offered by particular specialties. In order to apply professional standards, increase the level of practice, and protect the public, a professional organization might establish a certification. This is intended to be portable to all places a certified professional might work. Of course, this generalization increases the cost of such a program; the process to establish a legally defensible assessment of an entire profession is very extensive. An example of this is a certified public accountant (CPA), which would not be certified for just one corporation or one piece of

accountancy Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "langua ...

software but for general work in the profession.

Professional certificates awarded by tertiary education providers

Many tertiary education providers grant professional certificates as an award for the completion of an educational program. The curriculum of a professional certificate is most often in a focused subject matter. Many professional certificates have the same curriculum as master's degrees in the same subject. Many other professional certificates offer the same courses as master's degrees in the same subject, but require the student to take fewer total courses to complete the program. Some professional certificates have a curriculum that more closely resembles a baccalaureate major in the same field. The typical professional certificate program is between 200 and 300 class-hours in size. It is uncommon for a program to be larger or smaller than that. Most professional certificate programs are open enrollment, but some have admissions processes. A few universities put some of their professional certificates into a subclass they refer to as advanced professional certificates. Some of the more commonly offered professional certificates include: * Professional Certificate in Accounting (PCA) * Professional Certificate in Accounting and Finance (PCAF) * Professional Certificate in Taxation (PCIT) * Professional Certificate in Transfer Pricing (PCITP) * Professional Certificate in Contract Management (PCCM) * Professional Certificate in Customer Relationship Management (PCCRM) * Professional Certificate in Facility Management (PCFM) * Professional Certificate in Financial Planning (PCFP) * Professional Certificate in Graphic Design (PCGD) * Professional Certificate in Small Business Management (PCSBM) * Professional Certificate in Human Resources (PCHR) * Professional Certificate in Marketing (PCM) * Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing (PCDM) * Professional Certificate in Paralegal Studies (PCPS) * Professional Certificate in Project Management (PCPM) * Professional Certificate in Supply Chain Management (PCSCM) * Professional Certificate in Store Management (PCSM) * Professional Certificate in Materials Management (PCMM) * Professional Certificate in Technical Communication (PCTC)

Advanced professional certificate

''Advanced professional certificates'' are professional credentials designed to help

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and ski ...

s enhance their

job performance Job performance assesses whether a person performs a job well. Job performance, studied academically as part of industrial and organizational psychology, also forms a part of human resources management. Performance is an important criterion for or ...

and marketability in their respective fields. In many other countries, certificates are qualifications in

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after comple ...

. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, a certificate may be offered by an institute of higher education. These certificates usually signify that a student has reached a standard of knowledge of a certain

vocation A vocation () is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. People can be given information about a new occupation through student orientation. Though now often used in non-religious ...

al subject. Certificate programs can be completed more quickly than associate degrees and often do not have general education requirements. An advanced professional certificate is a result of an educational process designed for individuals. Certificates are designed for both newcomers to the industry as well as seasoned professionals. Certificates are awarded by an educational program or

academic institution Academic institution is an educational institution dedicated to education and research, which grants academic degrees. See also academy and university. Types * Primary schools – (from French ''école primaire'') institutions where children ...

. Completion of a certificate program indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific concentration that is different from an educational degree program. Course content for an advanced certificate is set forth through a variety of sources i.e. faculty,

committee A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more ...

, instructors, and other subject matter experts in a related field. The end goal of an advanced professional certificate is so that professionals may demonstrate knowledge of course content at the end of a set period in time.

Areas of certification

Accountancy, auditing and finance

There are many professional bodies for accountants and auditors throughout the world; some of them are legally recognized in their jurisdictions. Public accountants are the

and

control Control may refer to: Basic meanings Economics and business * Control (management), an element of management * Control, an element of management accounting * Comptroller (or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization * Controllin ...

experts that are legally certified in different

jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels. J ...

s to work in public practices, certifying accounts as

statutory auditor Statutory auditor is a title used in various countries to refer to a person or entity with an auditing role, whose appointment is mandated by the terms of a statute. World usage A "statutory audit" is a legally required review of the accuracy ...

s, eventually selling advice and services to other individuals and businesses. Today, however, many work within private corporations, financial industry, and government bodies.

Accounting and external auditing

Cf.

Accountancy qualifications and regulation An accountant is a practitioner of accounting or accountancy. Accountants who have demonstrated competency through their professional associations' certification exams are certified to use titles such as Chartered Accountant, Chartered Certifi ...

* CPA (

Chartered Professional Accountant Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA; french: comptable professionnel agréé) is the professional designation which united the three Canadian accounting designations that previously existed: :* Chartered Accountant ( CA), :* Certified Gen ...

), the unified accounting designation in Canada conferred by

CPA Canada Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) (french: Comptables professionnels agréés du Canada) is the national organization representing the Canadian accounting profession through the unification of the three largest accounting o ...

. * CA or Chartered Accountant conferred by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. * Institute of Chartered Accountants within the Commonwealth e.g. Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Canada (before merger into CPA). With mutual recognition with each other and with the UK * ACA, FCA or CA ( Chartered Accountant) conferred by Institutes of Chartered Accountants in various territories, namely the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. * ACMA or FCMA (Associate or Fellow Chartered Management Accountant) conferred by the

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is the global professional management accounting body based out of the UK. CIMA offers training and qualification in management accountancy and related subjects. It is focused on accountan ...

(UK) * Associate or Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant ( ACCA or FCCA) conferred by Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK) * AFA or FFA (Associate or Fellow Incorporated Financial Accountant) conferred by the

Institute of Financial Accountants The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) is a professional accountacy body representing and providing certification for financial accountants in the United Kingdom. The IFA is a full member of the International Federation of Accountants. H ...

(UK) * AAIA or

FAIA Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-member ...

(Associate or Fellow International Accountant) conferred by

Association of International Accountants The Association of International Accountants (AIA) is a professional accountancy body. It was founded in the UK in 1928 and since that date has promoted the concept of ‘international accounting’ to create a global network of accountants in ov ...

* MIPA or FIPA (Member or Fellow of the

Institute of Public Accountants The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) is one of the three legally recognised professional bodies for accountants in Australia. The IPA represents more than 40,000 members and students working in industry, commerce, government, academia and p ...

who use the designation "Public Accountant") conferred by the

(Australia) * CPA ( Certified Public Accountant) conferred by State Accountancy Boards in the US, Hong-Kong, Canada ... * CMA (

Certified Management Accountant Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a professional certification credential in the management accounting and financial management fields. The certification signifies that the person possesses knowledge in the areas of financial planning, an ...

) conferred by

Institute of Certified Management Accountants The Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA) is an Australian organisation operating globally, focused on management accounting. It differs from other Australian Accounting societies: CPA Australia, Institute of Chartered Accountants ...

(ICMA in Australia),

Institute of Management Accountants The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), formerly known as the National Association of Cost Accountants (NACA), is a professional organization of accountants. History IMA was founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York as the National Associ ...

(IMA in US) * CCC (Chartered Cost Controllers) issued and conferred by the

American Academy of Financial Management The American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM) was a US-based board of standards, certifying body, and accreditation council focused on the finance sector and wealth management professionals.. AAFM was superseded by the Global Academy of Fi ...

USA Certifying Board ( AAFM) * CFS (Certified Finance Specialist) conferred by IQN

Internal auditing and fraud combat

* cAAP (Certified Agile Auditor Professional) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in Agile Auditing * cCAE (Certified Chief Audit Executive) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in starting and running an Internal Audit department * cORCM (Certification in Objective-Centric Risk and Certainty Management) awarded by cRisk Academy * cPIA (Certified Practitioner in Internal Audit) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in Internal Auditing * cRBIA (Certified Risk-Based Internal Auditor) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in Risk-Based Internal Auditing * CIA (

Certified Internal Auditor The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an organization which advocates, provides educational conferences, and develops standards, guidance, and certifications for the internal audit profession. History Established in 1941, the IIA today ...

): CCSA, Certification in Control Self Assessment; CGAP, Certified Government Auditing Professional; CRMA, Certification in Risk Management Assurance; QIAL, Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership, conferred by the internationally recognized

Institute of Internal Auditors The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an organization which advocates, provides educational conferences, and develops standards, guidance, and certifications for the internal audit profession. History Established in 1941, the IIA today ...

(IIA) headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, with chapters in many countries * CFE (

Certified Fraud Examiner The Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a credential awarded by the ''Association of Certified Fraud Examiners'' (ACFE) since 1989. The ACFE association is a provider of anti-fraud training and education. Founded in 1988 by Dr. Joseph T Wells. The A ...

) conferred by the

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is a professional organization of fraud examiners. Its activities include producing fraud information, tools and training. Based in Austin, Texas, the ACFE was founded in 1988 by Joseph T. Wells ...

(ACFE) headquartered in Texas with chapters in many countries * CFF (

Certified in Financial Forensics Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) is a specialty credential in financial forensics issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). History The CFF credential was established in 2008 to designate expertise in forens ...

) awarded by the American Institute of CPAs * CISA (

Certified Information Systems Auditor ISACA is an international professional association focused on IT (information technology) governance. On its IRS filings, it is known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, although ISACA now goes by its acronym only.

) awarded by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association headquartered in the US with chapters in many countries * CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) offered by

Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) is an organization that provides training and certification, runs conferences and disseminates information on detection and prevention of money laundering. ACAMS was founded ...

(ACAMS) and advanced CAMS * CGSS (Certified Global Sanctions Specialist) conferred by

(ACAMS) *CSA (Certified Strategic Auditor) conferred by Association of Certified Strategic Auditors (ACSA) https://www.acsaglobal.com *IACCP (Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional) conferred by the Investment Adviser Association (IAA) and National Regulatory Services (NRS) *CPERM (Certified Professional in Enterprise Risk Management) conferred by the Academy of Professional Certification Company (APC) which endorsed by HKSARG

Finance

* CFS (Certified Finance Specialist) conferred by IQN * CFA (

Chartered Financial Analyst The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program is a postgraduate professional certification offered internationally by the American-based CFA Institute (formerly the Association for Investment Management and Research, or AIMR) to investment and fina ...

) conferred by

CFA Institute The CFA Institute is a global, not-for-profit professional organization that provides investment professionals with finance education. The institute aims to promote standards in ethics, education, and professional excellence in the global investme ...

(CFA) * ChFM Chartered Financial Manager International Board of Standards
, gafm.org conferred by International Board of Standards * CIIA (

Certified International Investment Analyst Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA) is a global finance designation offered by the Association of Certified International Investment Analysts (ACIIA) to financial professionals; candidates may be financial analysts, portfolio managers ...

) conferred by the Association of Certified International Investment Analysts (ACIIA) *IACCP (Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional) conferred by the Investment Adviser Association (IAA) and National Regulatory Services (NRS)

= Investments

= * CFS (Certified Finance Specialist) conferred by IQN * CFA (

) conferred by

(CFA) * ChFM Chartered Financial Manager conferred by International Board of Standards * CIPM ( Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement) conferred by

(CFA) * CIIA (

) conferred by the Association of Certified International Investment Analysts (ACIIA) * ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser), AM (Accredited Member), and CEIV (Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations) conferred by the

American Society of Appraisers The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) is an American nonprofit organization which serves as a professional affiliation of appraisers of all disciplines. The organization is the largest multi-discipline, voluntary membership, trade association ...

* CBV (Chartered Business Valuator) conferred by the

CBV Institute The CBV Institute (french: L’Institut des CBV), formerly known as the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (CICBV), is a Canadian business valuation organization. The CBV Institute is a not-for-profit valuation professional organi ...

. * CVA ( Certified Valuation Analyst) conferred by the NACVA. * CAIA (

Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) (pronounced "KAI-ah") is a professional designation offered by the CAIA Association to investment professionals who complete a course of study and pass two examinations. The "alternative investment ...

) conferred by the CAIA Association *IACCP (Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional) conferred by the Investment Adviser Association (IAA) and National Regulatory Services (NRS) * FRM (

Financial Risk Manager Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) is a not-for-profit organization and a membership association for risk managers. Its services include setting standards, training, education, industry networking, and promoting risk management practi ...

) conferred by

Global Association of Risk Professionals Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) is a not-for-profit organization and a membership association for risk managers. Its services include setting standards, training, education, industry networking, and promoting risk management practi ...

(GARP) * PRM (

Professional Risk Manager A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...

) conferred by

Professional Risk Managers' International Association The Professional Risk Managers' International Association (PRMIA) is a non-profit, member-driven professional organization that focuses on the development and education of the risk management profession. Its membership provides a network of risk ...

(PRMIA) * FMVA (Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst) conferred by Corporate Finance Institute (CFI). * CQF (

Certificate in Quantitative Finance Following is a partial list of professional certifications in financial services, with an overview of the educational and continuing requirements for each; see and :Professional certification in finance for all articles. As the field of finan ...

), conferred by the CQF Institute

= Payroll

= * CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) and FPC (Fundamental Payroll Specialist) conferred by the

American Payroll Association The American Payroll Association (APA) is a professional association for individuals responsible for processing company payrolls. The Association conducts payroll training courses and seminars on a yearly basis and publishes a library of payroll r ...

. * Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) and Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) conferred by the National Payroll Institute

= Personal finance

= * CFS (Certified Finance Specialist) conferred by IQN * CFA (

) conferred by

(CFA) * ChFM Chartered Financial Manager conferred by International Board of Standards * CFP (

Certified Financial Planner The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation is a professional certification mark for financial planners conferred by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) in the United States, and by 25 other organizations affiliate ...

) conferred by

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) is an American 501(c)(3) certifying and standards-setting organization that administers the Certified Financial Planner certification program and oversees more than 89,000 profess ...

and Financial Planning Standards Board * EA ( Enrolled Agent) by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) * CFC (Certified Financial Consultant) conferred by the Institute of Financial Consultants

= Public finance

= * CCMT (

Certified California Municipal Treasurer A Certified California Municipal Treasurer (CCMT) is a post-nominal professional certification awarded by the California Municipal Treasurers Association (CMTA) to California public treasurers who meet standards of education, experience, and a sta ...

) conferred by California Municipal Treasurers Association (CMTA) * CGAP (Certified Government Auditing Professional) conferred by the

, based on the US

Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) The Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), commonly referred to as the "Yellow Book", are produced in the United States by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The standards apply to both financial and performance audits ...

and additionally on COSO, IIA standards and

INTOSAI The International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) is an intergovernmental organization whose members are supreme audit institutions. Nearly every supreme audit institution in the world is a member of INTOSAI. Depending on t ...

ISSAI standards recognized worldwide in public finance * CDFM (Certified Defense Financial Manager) conferred by American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) * CFO (Certified Financial Officer) conferred by the

Carl Vinson Institute of Government The Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) is an organization that works closely with officials and employees from state and local governments in the U.S. state of Georgia and internationally to help them achieve their missions and improve pub ...

of the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

CGFM A Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) is a professional certification issued by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) in the United States. It was created in 1994 to provide a professional standard of financial expertise and eth ...

( Certified Government Financial Manager) conferred by Association of Government Accountants (AGA) * CGAT (Certified Governmental Accounting Technician), conferred by Government Finance Officers Association of Alabama * CGFO (Certified Government Finance Officer) conferred by

Government Finance Officers Association of Texas The Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (or GFOAT) is a professional association of state, county, and local government finance officers in Texas. The Government Finance Officers Association of Texas is the statewide organization ser ...

(GFOAT) * CGFO (Certified Government Finance Officer), conferred by Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA) * CGFO (Certified Government Finance Officer) conferred by Louisiana Government Finance Officers Association * CMFO (Certified Municipal Finance Officer) conferred by Government Finance Officers of New Jersey,

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and was ...

, and the State of

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

* CMFO (Certified Municipal Finance Officer) conferred by Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury and the

Municipal Technical Advisory Service The Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) is an agency of the University of Tennessee System#University of Tennessee Institute of Public Service, University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS) that provides assistance and training ...

* CPFO (Certified Public Finance Officer) conferred by

Government Finance Officers Association The Government Finance Officers Association (or GFOA) is a professional association of approximately 19,000 state, provincial, and local government finance officers in the United States and Canada. GFOA is headquartered in downtown Chicago. Name ...

* CPFA (Certified Public Finance Administrator) conferred by Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada (APTUSC) * GFO (Government Finance Officer) conferred by Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina (GFOASC) * North Carolina Local Governmental Finance Officer conferred by North Carolina Government Finance Officers Association and the North Carolina Association of County Finance Officers

Aging services

* Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) * Certified Daily Money Managers * Certified Elder Law * Certified Living in Place (CLIPP) * Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) * Certified At-risk Adult Crime Tactics Specialist (CACTS) * Cognitive Care Certification (CCC)

Architecture

* AIA (Member, American Institute of Architects) conferred by

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

* FAIA (Fellow, American Institute of Architects) conferred by

* RA (

Registered Architect Professional requirements for architects vary from place to place, but usually consist of three elements: a university degree or advanced education, a period of internship or training in an office, and examination for registration with a jurisdict ...

) conferred by National Council of Architecture Registration Boards * NCARB (

Certified Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...

) issued by National Council of Architecture Registration Boards – this allows for state-state reciprocity.

Archival science, information privacy, and records management

* CA (Certified Archivist), conferred by

Academy of Certified Archivists The Academy of Certified Archivists is an American independent, nonprofit organization of professional archivists founded in 1989. History The professional qualifications of archivists became an issue in the 1950s, when the Society of American Ar ...

* CIP (Certified Information Professional) conferred by AIIM * CIPM (Certified Information Privacy Manager) conferred by

International Association of Privacy Professionals The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) is a nonprofit, non-advocacy membership association founded in 2000. It provides a forum for privacy professionals to share best practices, track trends, advance privacy management is ...

* CIPP (Certified Information Privacy Professional) conferred by

* CIPT (Certified Information Privacy Technologist) conferred by

* CRA (Certified Records Analyst) conferred by Institute of Certified Records Managers * CRM (Certified Records Manager) conferred by Institute of Certified Records Managers * IGP (Information Governance Professional) conferred by ARMA International

Aviation

Aviators An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they ar ...

are certified through theoretical and in-flight examinations. Requirements for certifications are quite equal in most countries and are regulated by each National Aviation Authority. The existing certificates or pilot licenses are: * SPL (Sport Pilot License) conferred by the FAA (

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...

) * PPL (Private Pilot License) conferred by the FAA (

) or JAA (

Joint Aviation Authorities The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) was an associated body of the European Civil Aviation Conference representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States who had agreed to co-operate in developing and implemen ...

) * CPL (

Commercial Pilot Licence A commercial pilot licence (CPL) is a type of pilot licence that permits the holder to act as a pilot of an aircraft and be paid for their work. Different licenses are issued for the major aircraft categories: airplanes, airships, balloons, glide ...

) conferred by the FAA (

) or JAA (

) * ATP ( Airline Transport Pilot) conferred by the FAA (

) or JAA (

) Licensing in these categories require not only examinations but also a minimum number of flight hours. All categories are available for Fixed-Wing Aircraft (

airplane An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, Propeller (aircraft), propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurat ...

s) and Rotatory-Wing Aircraft (

helicopter A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...

s). Within each category, aviators may also obtain certifications in: * Instrument Flight Rules ( IFR) * Multi-engine aircraft *

Turbojet The turbojet is an airbreathing jet engine which is typically used in aircraft. It consists of a gas turbine with a propelling nozzle. The gas turbine has an air inlet which includes inlet guide vanes, a compressor, a combustion chamber, an ...

Engines * Jet Engines * Experimental aircraft * Amphibious aircraft *

Seaplane A seaplane is a powered fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing (alighting) on water.Gunston, "The Cambridge Aerospace Dictionary", 2009. Seaplanes are usually divided into two categories based on their technological characteri ...

s Usually, aviators must be certified also in their log books for the type and model of aircraft they are allowed to fly. Currency checks as well as regular medical check-ups with a frequency of 6 months, 12 months, or 36 months, depending on the type of flying permitted, are obligatory. An aviator can fly only if holding: * A valid pilot license * A valid medical certificate * Valid certifications for the type of aircraft and type of flight. In

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

, the ANSP,

ATCO Atco or ATCO may refer to: Businesses * ATCO, a Canadian diversified company involved in manufacturing, utilities, energy and technologies ** ATCO Electric, a subsidiary of the above company * Atco (British mower company), a mower manufacturing ...

& ANSP technicians are certified according to EUROCONTROL Safety Regulatory Requirement (ESARRs) (according to EU regulation 2096/2005 "Common Requirements").

Biomedical

* BMD (Biomedical Electronics Technician) conferred by

Electronics Technicians Association The Electronics Technicians Association, International® (doing business as ETA® International) is a US-based not-for-profit 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 1978. The association provides certifications in industries such as basic electroni ...

* BIET (Biomedical Imaging Electronics Technician) conferred by

Business

* CSA (Certified Strategic Auditor) conferred by Association of Certified Strategic Auditors (ACSA) * CSM (Certified Strategic Manager) conferred by IQN * CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) conferred by Institute for Supply Management (ISM) * CPSD (Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity) conferred by Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

Chiropractic

Communications

In the United States, several communications certifications are conferred by the

Computer technology

Certification is often used in the professions of

software engineering Software engineering is a systematic engineering approach to software development. A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software. The term '' ...

and

. * CITP (Chartered IT Professional) conferred by British Computer Society,

The Institution of Engineering and Technology The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a multidisciplinary professional engineering institution. The IET was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), dating back to 1871, and ...

and by other professional engineering institutions in the UK and commonwealth

Contract management

* CPCM (Certified Professional Contract Manager) conferred by the National Contract Management Association. * CPM (Commercial Project Manager) conferred by Commercial Officers Group. * CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) conferred by Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

Dance

Conferred by the International Dance Council CID at UNESCO, the International Certification of Dance Studies is awarded to students who have completed 150 hours of classes in a specific form of dance for Level 1. Another 150 hours are required for Level 2 and so on till Level 10. This is the only international certification for dance since the International Dance Council CID is the official body for all forms of dance; it is usually given in addition to local or national certificates, that is why it is colloquially called "the dancer's passport". Students cannot apply for this certification directly – they have to ask their school to apply on their behalf. This certification is awarded free of charge, there is no cost other than membership fees. International Dance Council CID at UNESCO administers the International Certification of Dance Studies.

Data management

* Business Intelligence and Data Analyst (BIDA) by Corporate Finance Institute (CFI). * Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) by

DAMA International The Data Management Association (DAMA), formerly known as the Data Administration Management Association, is a global not-for-profit organization which aims to advance concepts and practices about information management and data management. It desc ...

Dentistry

Electronics

In the United States, several electronics certifications are provided by the

Emergency management

The

Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Ex ...

's EMI offers credentials and training opportunities for United States citizens. Students do not have to be employed by FEMA or be federal employees for some of the programs. * Advance Professional Series (APS) Credential * Continuity Excellence Series, Level I and II * Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience * Disaster Field Training Operations (DFTO) * Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) * Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) * Integrated Emergency Management Courses (IEMC) * Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP) * Master Trainer Program (MTP) * Professional Development Series (PDS) Credential * Virtual Table Top Exercise (VTTX) Series

Engineering

Professional engineering is any act of planning, designing, composing, measuring, evaluating, inspecting, advising, reporting, directing or supervising, or managing any of the foregoing, that requires the application of engineering principles and that concerns the safeguarding of life, health, property, economic interests, the public interest or the environment. * P.Eng. (

Professional Engineer Regulation and licensure in engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage life, public welfare, safety, well-being, then environment and other interests of the general public and to define the licensure process thro ...

), conferred by provincial licensing bodies in Canada. * Ir. or P.Eng. (

), conferred by Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) in Malaysia. * PE (

), conferred by Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and state licensing bodies in the United States. * PE ( Power Engineer), conferred by provincial safety authorities in Canada. * EUR ING (

European Engineer European Engineer (EUR ING) is an international professional qualification and title for highly qualified engineers used in over 32 European countries. Contemporary EUR ING engineers are degree-qualified and have gained the highest level of profes ...

), conferred by the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI). * C.Eng. (

Chartered Engineer Regulation and licensure in engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage life, public welfare, safety, well-being, then environment and other interests of the general public and to define the licensure process thr ...

), conferred by professional engineering institutions in the UK and commonwealth. * SMIEEE (Senior member of the

IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a 501(c)(3) professional association for electronic engineering and electrical engineering (and associated disciplines) with its corporate office in New York City and its operat ...

), a

professional designation Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply ''certification'' or ''qualification'', is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task. Not all certifications ...

throughout all of the United States. * CET (

certified engineering technologist Certified Engineering Technologist is a Canadian professional title awarded on the basis of academic qualification and work experience. Abbreviated as C.E.T., most Canadian provincial engineering and applied science technology associations offer t ...

) or AScT (

applied science technologist Applied Science Technologist is a Canadian professional title awarded on the basis of academic qualification and work experience. Abbreviated as A.Sc.T., some, but not all, Canadian provincial engineering and applied science technology association ...

), conferred by provincial licensing bodies in Canada. * SPE Society of Petroleum Engineers Certificate Is a program whereby it certifies the technical knowledge of petroleum engineers. The certification is granted based on an examination in conjunction with experience of the applicant.

Event planning

Event planning Event management is the application of project management to the creation and development of small and/or large-scale personal or corporate events such as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, weddings, formal parties, concerts, or conventions. ...

includes budgeting, scheduling, site selection, acquiring necessary permits, coordinating transportation and parking, arranging for speakers or entertainers, arranging decor, event security, catering, coordinating with third-party vendors, and emergency plans. Common event planning certifications include: * CMP: Certified Meeting Professional * CSEP: Certified Special Events Professional * CPCE: Certified Professional in Catering and Events * CGMP: Certified Government Meeting Professional * CWEP: Certified Wedding & Event Planner

Facility management

Facility management can be defined as an aspect of engineering management science that deals with the planning, designing, coordination of space and maintenance of a built environment to enhance quality service management system. Service Quality System includes activities like security, maintenance, catering, and external as well as internal cleaning. In general, it is also the coordination and harmonization of various specialist disciplines to create the best possible working environment for staff. Facility management is an interdisciplinary field devoted to the coordination of space, infrastructure, people and organization, often associated with the administration of office blocks, arenas, schools, convention centers, shopping complexes, hospitals, hotels, etc. However, FM facilitates on a wider range of activities than just business services and these are referred to as non-core functions. *FMP- Facility Management Professional *CFM- Certified Facility Manager *SFP- Sustainability Facility Professional

Warehousing management

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a part of the supply chain and primarily aims to control the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse and process the associated transactions, including shipping, receiving, putaway and picking. The systems also direct and optimize stock putaway based on real-time information about the status of bin utilization. A WMS monitors the progress of products through the warehouse. It involves the physical warehouse infrastructure,

tracking system A tracking system, also known as a locating system, is used for the observing of persons or objects on the move and supplying a timely ordered sequence of location data for further processing. It is important to be aware of human tracking, fu ...

s, and communication between product stations. More precisely, warehouse management involves the receipt, storage and movement of goods, (normally finished goods), to intermediate storage locations or to a final customer. In the multi-echelon model for distribution, there may be multiple levels of warehouses. This includes a central warehouse, a regional warehouses (serviced by the central warehouse) and potentially retail warehouses (serviced by the regional warehouses).

Environment

* CEnvP – Certified Environmental Practitioner ''of Australia and New Zealand'' (CEnvP) *Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), Society for the Environment (UK) *MIEMA - Full Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) *FIEMA - Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)

Environmental health

CPHI(C) The Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) is the national professional association that represents environmental public health professionals (EPHPs) in Canada. CIPHI has a national executive council and eight regional branches. ...

– Certified Public Health Inspector (Canada)

Explosive atmospheres

IECEx covers the specialized field of explosion protection associated with the use of equipment in areas where flammable gases, liquids and combustible dusts may be present. This system provides the assurance that equipment is manufactured to meet safety standards, and that services such as installation, repair and overhaul also comply with IEC International Standards on 60079 series. The UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), cited IECEx as one example of a practice model for the verification of conformity to IEC Standards, for European smaller countries with no certification schemes for such equipment. It published a "Common Regulatory Framework" as a suggestion for those countries implementing a certification program for the explosive atmospheres' segment.

Fiber optics and data cabling

* RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) by BICSI * DCI (Data Cabling Installer) conferred by

* FOI (Fiber Optics Installer) conferred by

* FOT (Fiber Optics Technician) conferred by

* FOT-OSP (Fiber Optics Technician-Outside Plant) conferred by

* FOD (Fiber Optics Designer) conferred by

* TTT (Termination and Testing Technician) conferred by

Geology

* EurGeol (European Geologist) conferred by the European Federation of Geologists (EFG). * PGeo (Professional Geologist) conferred by the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG).

Genealogy

* AG (Accredited Genealogist) conferred by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). * CG (Certified Genealogist) conferred by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG). * CGL (Certified Genealogical Lecturer) conferred by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG).

Health leadership

* CHE ( Certified Health Executive) conferred by the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL)

Human Resources

* aPHR (Associate Professional in Human Resources) conferred by the Human Resources Certification Institute * PHR (Professional in Human Resources) conferred by the Human Resources Certification Institute *SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) conferred by the Human Resources Certification Institute *SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resources Management – Certified Professional) conferred by the Society for Human Resources Management *SHRM-SCP (Society for Human Resources Management – Senior Certified Professional) conferred by the Society for Human Resources Management

Hospitality and tourism

* CHA ( Certified Hotel Administrator) conferred by American Hotel & Lodging Association * CMP ( Certified Meeting Professional) conferred by

Convention Industry Council The Events Industry Council (formerly known as the Convention Industry Council (CIC)) is a non-profit federation of more than 30 U.S. and international organizations involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. The Events Indust ...

* CEM (Certified in Exhibition Management) conferred by International Association of Exhibitions and Events

Insurance and risk management

In the United States, insurance professionals are licensed separately by each state. Many individuals seek one or more certifications to distinguish themselves from their peers. * American College of Financial Services: **

Chartered Life Underwriter The American College of Financial Services (The American College) is a private online university focused on professional training for financial practitioners and located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. It offers several professional certifica ...

(CLU) ** Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) * American Institute For Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (The Institutes): ** Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU®) ** Associate in Risk Management (ARM) * National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research administers the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) * Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) administers Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU). * American Educational Institute (AEI) ** Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) ** Accredited Claims Professional (ACP) ** Accredited Claims Professional Candidate (ACAc) ** Associate in Claims (AIC) ** Applied Microbial Remediation Technician AMRC ** Casualty General Adjuster (CGA) ** Certified Claims Adjuster (CCA) ** Certified Claims Professional (CCP) ** Certified Claims Professional Candidate (CCPc) ** Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter candidate (CPCUc) ** Certied Forensic Litigation Consultant (CFLC) ** Certified General Adjuster (CrtGA) ** Certified Mold Specialist (CMS) ** Certified Mold Inspector (CMI) ** Certified Property Appraiser and Umpire (CPAU) ** Certified Property Loss Appraiser (CPLA) ** Certified Property Loss Umpire (CPLU) ** Casualty General Adjuster (CGA) ** Certified General Adjuster (CrtGA) ** Casualty General Adjuster (CGA) ** Executive General Adjuster (EGA) ** Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician (FSRT) ** GrandMaster General Adjuster (GMGA) ** HAAG Engineering Certified Roofing Inspector Residential/Commercial (HCI-R/C) ** Insurance Claims Expert (ICE) ** Legal Principles Claims Specialist (LPCS) ** Master General Adjuster (MGA) ** Master Public Adjuster (MPA) ** Property Claims Law Associate (PCLA) ** Property General Adjuster (PGA) ** Registered General Adjuster (RGA) ** Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA) ** Universal Claims Certification (UCC) ** Windstorm Insurance Network Professional (WIND-P) ** Water Remediaton Technician (WRT)

Language education

TESOL is a large field of employment with widely varying degrees of regulation. Most provision worldwide is through the state school system of each individual country, and as such, the instructors tend to be trained primary- or secondary school teachers who are

native speakers A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tongu ...

of the language of their pupils, and not of English. Though native speakers of English have been working in non-English speaking countries in this capacity for years, it was not until the last twenty-five years or so that there was any widespread focus on training particularly for this field. Previously, workers in this sort of job were people engaging in

backpacker tourism Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel, which often includes staying in inexpensive lodgings and carrying all necessary possessions in a backpack. Once seen as a marginal form of travel undertaken only through necessity, it has b ...

hoping to earn some extra travel money or well-educated professionals in other fields

volunteering Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serv ...

, or retired people. These sort of people are certainly still to be found, but there are many who consider TESOL their main profession. One of the problems facing these full-time teachers is the absence of an international governing body for the certification or licensure of English language teachers. However,

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III of England, Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world' ...

and its subsidiary body

UCLES University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) is a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge, which operates under the brand name Cambridge Assessment, and is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. It provi ...

are pioneers in trying to get some degree of accountability and quality control to consumers of English courses, through their

CELTA Celta is Galician, Portuguese and Spanish for the Celts. It may also refer to: * Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA), an English teaching certificate * Celta (train), an international train service connecting Vigo and Port ...

and

DELTA Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * D ( NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta") * Delta Air Lines, US * Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 Delta may also ...

programs.

Trinity College London Trinity College London (TCL) is an examination board based in London, United Kingdom, which offers graded and diploma qualifications (up to postgraduate level) across a range of disciplines in the performing arts and English language learning and ...

has equivalent programs, the CertTESOL and the LTCL DipTESOL. They offer initial certificates in teaching, in which candidates are trained in

language Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of ...

awareness and classroom techniques, and given a chance to practice teaching, after which feedback is reported. Both institutions have as a follow-up a professional diploma, usually taken after a year or two in the field. Although the initial certificate is available to anyone with a high school education, the diploma is meant to be a post-graduate qualification and can in fact be incorporated into a master's degree program.

Legal affairs

An increasing number of attorneys are choosing to be recognized as having special expertise in certain fields of law. According to the

American Bar Association The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. Founded in 1878, the ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of aca ...

, a lawyer who is a certified specialist has been recognized by an independent professional certifying organization as having an enhanced level of skill and expertise, as well as substantial involvement in an established legal specialty. These organizations require a lawyer to demonstrate special training, experience and knowledge to ensure that the lawyer's recognition is meaningful and reliable. Lawyer conduct with regard to specialty certification is regulated by the states. Legal administrators vary in their day-to-day responsibilities and job requirements. The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) is the credentialing body of the Certified Legal Manager (CLM) certification program. CLMs are recognized as administrators who have passed a comprehensive examination and have met other eligibility requirements.:

Librarians

In Australia, ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) certifies librarians and library technicians. Distinguished librarians who have completed a high level of professional learning are awarded the Distinguished Certified Professional Award. Prior to 2013, this award was known as Associate Fellows. In New Zealand, the accrediting body is LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Te Rau Herenga O Aotearoa). LIANZA accredit prominent librarians at three levels, Fellows, Life Members and Associates.

Logistics and transport

Logistician A logistics officer is a member of an armed force or coast guard responsible for overseeing the support of an army, air force, marine corps, navy or coast guard fleet, both at home and abroad. Logistics officers can be stationary on military base ...

is the profession in the logistics and transport sectors, including sea, air, land and rail modes. Professional qualification for logisticians usually carries post-nominal letters. Certification granting bodies include, but are not limited to, Institute for Supply Management (ISM), Association for Operations Management (APICS), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), International Society of Logistics (SOLE),

Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation The Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation, CITT, was founded in 1958. It is a not-for-profit professional development association in the supply chain and transportation logistics sector. The CITT head office is located in Toronto, Ontar ...

(CITT), and Allied Council for Commerce and Logistics (ACCL).

Management Consulting

Management consulting Management consulting is the practice of providing consulting services to organizations to improve their performance or in any way to assist in achieving organizational objectives. Organizations may draw upon the services of management consultan ...

is the practice of providing consulting services to organizations to improve their performance or in any way to assist in achieving any sort of organizational objectives. The profession's primary certification is the "

Certified Management Consultant "Certified management consultant" (CMC) is an international professional certification established in 1967 for management consulting professionals, awarded by institutes in 50 countries (as of February 2014). The CMC enjoys global reciprocity; cons ...

" (CMC) designation. Certification granting bodies are the approximately 50 Institutes of Management Consulting belonging to the

International Council of Management Consulting Institutes The International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) has since 1987 been the professional body worldwide for management consultants. ICMCI since 2013 is called CMC-Global. It exists to: * Elevate the standards of the certified ...

(ICMCI).

Marketing

* CDMP (Certified Digital Marketing Professional), conferred by

Digital Marketing Institute Digital usually refers to something using discrete digits, often binary digits. Technology and computing Hardware *Digital electronics, electronic circuits which operate using digital signals **Digital camera, which captures and stores digital i ...

. * CME (Certified Marketing Executive), conferred by Sales & Marketing Executives International, Inc.. * CyQUal (Cyber qualification), The Digital Degree Accredited certification offered by FreeUniversityOnline.com * Social Media Marketing Certification, Digital Marketing Master Certification, SEO Certification, conferred by Boot Camp Digital

Ministers

Churches have their own process of who may use various religious titles.

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...

churches typically require a Masters of Divinity, accreditation by the denomination and

ordination Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform v ...

by the local church in order for a minister to become a " Reverend". Those qualifications may or may not also give government authorization to solemnize

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

Medicine

Board certification Board certification is the process by which a physician or other professional demonstrates a mastery of advanced knowledge and skills through written, practical, or simulator-based testing. Certification bodies There are more than 25 boards that ...

is the process by which a physician in the United States documents by written, practical or computer based testing, illustrating a mastery of knowledge and skills that define a particular area of medical specialization. The

American Board of Medical Specialties Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is a non-profit organization which represent 24 broad areas of specialty medicine. ABMS is the largest physician-led specialty certification organization in the United States ...

, a not-for-profit organization, assists 24 approved medical specialty boards in the development and use of standards in the ongoing evaluation and certification of physicians. Medical specialty certification in the United States is a voluntary process. While medical licensure sets the minimum competency requirements to diagnose and treat patients, it is not specialty specific. Board certification demonstrates a physician's exceptional expertise in a particular specialty or sub-specialty of medical practice. Patients, physicians, health care providers, insurers and quality organizations regard certification as an important measure of a physician's knowledge, experience and skills to provide quality health care within a given specialty. Other professional certifications include certifications such as

medical license A medical license is an occupational license that permits a person to legally practice medicine. In most countries, a person must have a medical license bestowed either by a specified government-approved professional association or a governme ...

Membership of the Royal College of Physicians Member may refer to: * Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon * Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set * In object-oriented programming, a member of a class ** Field (computer science), entries in ...

, Fellowship of the

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (french: Collège royal des médecins et chirurgiens du Canada) is a regulatory college which acts as a national, Non-profit organization, nonprofit organization established in 1929 by a speci ...

nursing board certification Nursing credentials and certifications are the various credentials and certifications that a person must have to practice nursing legally. Nurses' postnominal letters (abbreviations listed after the name) reflect their credentials—that is, their ...

, diplomas in social work. The

Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy The Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy (CCGP) is a non-profit organization which has established a voluntary professional certification program for pharmacists. Pharmacists must pass a written examination to become certified and mus ...

certifies pharmacists that are knowledgeable about principles of geriatric pharmacotherapy and the provision of pharmaceutical care to the elderly. Additional certifying bodies relating to the medical field include: *

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) is the leading professional organisation for the promotion of the science and practice of the medical specialties of clinical radiology (diagnostic and interventional radiology) ...

American College of Emergency Physicians The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is a professional organization of emergency medicine physicians in the United States. The organization was founded August 16, 1968, by eight physicians in Lansing, Michigan. ACEP established t ...

Royal Australasian College of Physicians The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is a not-for-profit professional organisation responsible for training and educating physicians and paediatricians across Australia and New Zealand. The RACP is responsible for training both ...

Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) is a professional qualification to practise as a senior surgeon in Ireland or the United Kingdom. It is bestowed on an intercollegiate basis by the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons (the Royal ...

* Membership of the College of Emergency Medicine * Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology * American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Medical coding and billing

* AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) * AAPC * Medical Association of Billers

Peer support

NCPRP stands for "National Certified Peer Recovery Professional", and the NCPRP credential and exam were developed in collaboration with the International Certification Board of Recovery Professionals (ICBRP) and is currently being administered by PARfessionals. PARfessionals is a professional organization and all of the available courses are professional development and pre-certification courses. The NCPRP credential and exam focus primarily on the concept of peer recovery through mental health and addiction recovery. It has the main purpose of training student-candidates on how to become peer recovery professionals who can provide guidance, knowledge or assistance for individuals who have had similar experiences. Each student-candidate must complete several key steps which include initial registration; the pre-certification review course; and all applicable sections of the official application in order to become eligible to complete the final step, which is the NCPRP certification exam. The NCPRP credential is obtained once a participant successfully passes the NCPRP certification exam by the second attempt and is valid for five years.

Physical asset management

* CMRP – Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) * MMP –

Maintenance Management Professional The Maintenance Management Professional designation (MMP) is a registered professional designation in Canada issued on the authority of the President of PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada (PEMAC) to individuals who successfully complete a ...

Pilates

* PMA(R) CPT

Plumbing

* ASSE (American Society of Sanitary Engineering) – an ANSI Accredited standards developer and certification body

Project management

Organizations that offer various certifications include: * American Academy of Project Management * Project Management Institute * Stanford University through the Stanford Advanced Project Management Certificate Program * CPMA (Certified Project Management Analyst) conferred by IQN *

Association for Project Management The Association for Project Management is a British professional organisation for project and programme management. It received a Royal Charter in 2017, and is a registered charity. It has over 37,500 individual and 550 corporate members, and ...

* IPMA (International Project Management Association) * Commercial Project Manager through Commercial Officers Group

Public health

National Board of Public Health Examiners, www.nbphe.org

Public relations

In the US, the Universal Accreditation Board, an organization composed of the

Public Relations Society of America The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is a nonprofit trade association for public relations professionals. It was founded in 1947 by combining the American Council on Public Relations and the National Association of Public Relations Cou ...

, the Agricultural Relations Council, the National School Public Relations Association, the Religious Communicators Council and other

public relations Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the public in order to influence their perception. ...

professional societies, administers the

Accreditation in Public Relations The Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), Accreditation in Public Relations and Military Communications (APR+M), and Certificate in Principles of Public Relations are voluntary certifications in the USA for persons working in the field of publi ...

(APR), a voluntary certification program for public relations practitioners.

Public Participation

The Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3) and Master Certified Public Participation Professional (MCP3) are awarded by two regions of th
International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
: IAP2 Canada and IAP2 USA. As of 2019, only 25 individuals had achieved either of these distinctions. The CP3 designation is awarded upon successfully completing a three-step process that includes a written application documenting the individual's experience in the profession, a written response to a case study, and an in-person oral assessment. Individuals seeking certification are assessed against 5 Core Competencies, which are the essential capabilities for a professional in this field to effectively design, implement, and evaluate public participation programs. The competencies emerged from qualitative analysis of a comprehensive list of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills, behaviors, and capabilities identified in June 2014 by more than 100 P2 professionals from around the world. The descriptions and quality standards for each competency were developed, tested, and refined through an iterative process involving IAP2 members. Each competency is further divided into individual criteria. An individual must meet or exceed every criterion to achieve the CP3 designation. IAP2 USA's program includes 29 criteria. IAP2 Canada's program includes 31 criteria; the two additional criteria in Canada address federal requirements for indigenous engagement. The MCP3 designation recognizes additional specialization and expertise and is assessed through a written application available only to individuals who have already achieved the CP3 designation. To maintain professional certification, individuals must maintain active membership in IAP2, provide a minimum of 20 hours (annually) of volunteer (unpaid) service to IAP2, and participate in a minimum of 12 hours (annually) of continued professional development.

Real estate management

The Building Owners and Managers Association and the

International Facility Management Association The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), originally the National Facility Management Association (NFMA), is a professional membership association for facility management professionals. IFMA's global headquarters office is located i ...

offer professional certifications for the operation and management of commercial properties.

Renewable energy

* PVIP (PV Installation Professional) conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * PVDS (PV Design Specialist) conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * PVIS (PV Installation Specialist) conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * PVCMS (PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist) conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * PVSI (PV System Inspector) conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * PVTS (PV Technical Sales) conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * SHI (Solar Heating Installer) conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * SHSI (Solar Heating System Inspector conferred by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners * EVT (Electronic Vehicle Technician) conferred by

* PVI (Photovoltaic Installer) conferred by

* SWI (Small Wind Installer) conferred by

Safety and Occupational Hygiene

* Certified Safety Professional offered by th
Board of Certified Safety Professionals
* Certified Industrial Hygienist * Certified Safety Specialist

Sales

Organizations offering certification include: * Sales & Marketing Executives International * Canadian Professional Sales Association

Security

* ASIS International administers the Certified Protection Professional – Board-Certified in Security Management (CPP) * ASIS International administers the

Physical Security Professional A Physical Security Professional (PSP) is a Board certification process for individuals involved in the physical security of organizations. This certification process is offered by ASIS International. Certification lasts for three years, during w ...

, Board-Certified (PSP) * ASIS International administers the Professional Certified Investigator, Board-Certified (PCI) *

administers the

(CFE) * International Foundation of Protection Officers administers the Certified Protection Officer (CPO) * Society of Payment Security Professionals (SPSP) administers the Certified Payment-Card Industry Security Manager * National Protective Services (www.npsorg.com) administers the Certified Protection Executive (CPE) professional certification *

Certified Information Systems Security Professional CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) is an independent information security certification granted by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, also known as (ISC)². As of January, 2022 there ...

(CISSP) from ISC2.org *

National Sheriffs' Association The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) is a U.S. trade association. Its stated purpose is to raise the level of professionalism among U.S. sheriffs, their deputies and others in the fields of criminal justice and public safety. Since its found ...

administers the Certified Homeland Protection Professional (CHPP) Certification * Associated Locksmiths of America administers the

Registered Locksmith ALOA Security Professionals Association (ALOA, formerly known as the Associated Locksmiths of America) is an American trade organization for locksmiths and other physical security professionals. The organization represents more than 6,000 locksmi ...

(RL) Certification * Associated Locksmiths of America administers the Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL) Certification * Associated Locksmiths of America administers the

Certified Professional Locksmith ALOA Security Professionals Association (ALOA, formerly known as the Associated Locksmiths of America) is an American trade organization for locksmiths and other physical security professionals. The organization represents more than 6,000 locksm ...

(CPL) Certification * Associated Locksmiths of America administers the

Certified Master Locksmith ALOA Security Professionals Association (ALOA, formerly known as the Associated Locksmiths of America) is an American trade organization for locksmiths and other physical security professionals. The organization represents more than 6,000 locksmi ...

(CML) Certification * Associated Locksmiths of America administers the Certified Professional Safe Technician (CPS) Certification * Associated Locksmiths of America administers the Certified Master Safe Technician (CMST) Certification * Security Industry Association administers the Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM) Certification

Speaking

Conferred by the National Speakers Association, the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) is the speaking profession's international measure of professional platform competence. This certification is awarded by the National Speakers Association. Only about 10% of the speakers who belong to the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) hold this designation. Those who have earned their certification have done so by demonstrating a track record of experience and expertise.

Other applications

* The

American Academy of Environmental Engineers The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) is a society of professional engineers and scientists who have demonstrated special expertise in environmental engineering or science beyond that normally required for professio ...

board certifies licensed environmental engineers (Board Certified Environmental Engineer—BCEE) and unlicensed environmental engineering practitioners (Board Certified Environmental Engineering Member—BCEEM) for those with a degree in engineering and at least 8 years of practice and responsible charge in environmental engineering. * The American Institute of Floral Designers offers two levels of certification for individuals in the field of professional floral design. Certified Floral Designer (CFD) and accredited membership (AIFD) are both designed to establish a gold standard in professional floral design while ensuring the certified individual maintains that standard through continued education credits. While many state-level floral associations also offer state-level floral design certification known as Master Florist certification, AIFD certification is the highest level of professional floral design awarded in the United States. * The Canadian National Association of Infrared Imaging Technologists (AIIT) awards the IIT designation to infrared thermographers who meet the training standards regulated by the association. AIIT aims to ensure service delivery standards and public trust through regulating training standards, codes of conduct and continuing education. * The

Society for Technical Communication The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is a professional association dedicated to the advancement of the theory and practice of technical communication with more than 4,500 members in the United States, Canada, and the world. The society pu ...

(STC) is planning to create a certification program for

technical writers A technical writer is a professional information communicator whose task is to transfer information between two or more parties, through any medium that best facilitates the transfer and comprehension of the information. Technical writers researc ...

in 2011. * The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is the International body who administers ANSI-accredited certification programs for arborists and tree care specialists. Certifications vary from Tree Worker to Certified Arborist to Master Arborist.

Criticisms

Political commentators have criticized professional or

occupational licensing Occupational licensing, also called occupational licensure, is a form of government regulation requiring a license to pursue a particular profession or vocation for compensation. It is related to occupational closure. Professions that can have ...

, especially medical and legal licensing, for restricting the supply of services and therefore making them more expensive, often putting them out of reach of the poor.Professional Licensing Watch, Liberal Division – Hit & Run
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709001801/http://reason.com/blog/2010/09/17/professional-licensing-watch-l , date=9 July 2012 . Reason.com (17 September 2010). Retrieved on 2013-10-05. The proliferation of IT certifications (both offered and attained) has led some technologists to question their value. Proprietary content that has been distributed on the Internet allows some to gain credentials without the implied depth or breadth of expertise.{{citation needed, date=December 2018

References

{{reflist Professional ethics

all All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All al ...

Standards