People often ask, "What is the difference between certification and a certificate?" To assist you in communicating with your colleagues and clients and to help avoid confusion in the marketplace, we have provided you the comparison below.
By setting and enforcing standards for certification, the American Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) seeks to protect the public and consumers through their mission to provide assurance to the public that the nurse holding the credential from an accredited certification program possesses the knowledge, skills, and competency for quality practice in the specialty.
Certification
- Results from an assessment process that recognizes an individual's knowledge, skills and competency in a particular specialty
- Typically requires professional experience
- Awarded by a third-party, standard-setting organization, typically not for profit
- Indicates mastery/competency as measured against a defensible set of standards, usually by application or exam
- Standards set through a defensible, industry-wide process (job analysis/role delineation) that results in an outline of required knowledge and skills
- Typically results in credentials to be listed after one's name (LNCC, ONC, CCRN)
- Has on-going requirements in order to maintain; holder must demonstrate he/she continues to meet requirements
Certificate
- Results from an educational process
- For newcomers and experienced professionals
- Awarded by educational programs or institutions often for-profit
- Indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific focus (different than a degree-granting program)
- Course content determined by the specific provider or institution, not standardized
- Usually listed on a resume detailing education
- Demonstrates knowledge of course content at the end of a set period of time
Certification generally refers to an earned credential that demonstrates the holder's specialized knowledge, skills, and experience.
Certification differs from a certificate program, which is usually an educational offering that confers a document at the program's conclusion.
Accreditation of a certification involves a voluntary, self-regulatory process. Accreditation is granted when stated quality criteria are met.
LNCC is the only legal nurse consulting credential recognized by AALNC and accredited by ABSNC.
Some content adapted from Certified Fund Raising Executives International - www.cfre.org