Industry Certifications

A certification is a third-party attestation of an individual's level of knowledge or proficiency in a certain industry or profession.

BRIEF SUMMARY

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.  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 units (CEUs), from approved professional development courses.

KEY POINTS

  • Many certification programs are affiliated with professional associations, trade organizations, or private vendors interested in raising industry standards. Certificate 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.

RESOURCES

SHARED WISDOM

  • The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) defines industry recognized credentials as developed or supported by business and industry to verify student mastery of technical skills competencies in an occupational area that aligns with Indiana’s economic sectors and is approved by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD)

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