Professional Certification: Why It's Important, Why You Should Embrace It

Source: http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2718

May 8, 2013 

By Peter Budnick, PhD, CPE

This article is reprinted with permission from The Ergonomics Report™ Archives, where it originally appeared on February 15, 2012 -- over a year ago.

My history with professional certification goes back to 1977 when I was awarded an associate level certification designation by the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). I was just 16 years old, and I was looking hard for a way to at least cover my costs, or better yet, make a living at my favorite sport. At the time, I surely didn't understand the importance and significance of professional certification, and though I knew the marketplace demanded it, the reasons were not clear to my young mind. In retrospect, I recognize that the skiing marketplace demanded certification as a means to protect the public we served from charlatans, reckless actors and frauds; to maintain a level of quality in knowledge, skill sets and service delivery; and to protect certified instructors and the ski resorts that employed us from liability. I remained active as a ski instructor, and current with my certification through the mandatory training clinics, throughout my undergraduate college years, when the flow of life took me in new directions.

Fast forward to 2012, and I find myself deeply involved in professional certification, but now in my chosen field of ergonomics. Oddly, for all the benefits ergonomics can and does bring to the public, the ergonomics marketplace remains somewhat scattered and confused. The reasons for this are many, and it's in no way unique to our field, but arguably, our market is still in an emerging phase. Professional certification, however, has already played a significant role in our market maturity, and it will play an even greater role in the future. The ergonomics profession has made great strides in this direction in recent years, but as with anything, there will always be room for improvement, and a continuous improvement strategy is required to stay abreast of the evolving needs of the stakeholders, including end-users, our ultimate customers (see BCPE Announces Pilot Exam as Part of Updated Certification Process as an example of an effective organization practicing continuous improvement).

This topic is very fresh in my mind for several reasons: (1) yesterday [February 14, 2012] I participated in an IEA Conference session, Ergonomics Certification Around the World; (2) I've recently heard that IEA (the International Ergonomics Association) considers professional certification a critical aspect of the growth and influence of ergonomics; and (3) I've recently encountered fraudulent chiropractors, driving home the importance of professionalism in any credible field of practice. 

The word "certification" is used in a lot of different contexts, but there are distinct differences between the most common uses of the term:

• Certificate: This is not certification; attending a course and receiving a certificate (of completion) is not certification.
• Certification: This term is often misused to describe what is better understood as a certificate of completion. There are private groups that provide training, then claim to issue a certification. Don't be fooled. Sometimes, however, such organizations will go one step further and provide an exam, usually immediately following training that was tailored to that exam. Others may even do some follow-up work-product review. While this may technically fit some definitions of certification, the value and credibility of that certification in the marketplace rests entirely on the strength and rigour of the examination and review process, and upon the market's recognition and respect for that organization. There is nothing wrong with this type of certification, but it should not be confused with professional certification. Do your homework before pursuing these types of certificates or certifications, and recognize that the easier it is to attain, the less rigorous it will be, and the less value it will bring you in the marketplace.
• Associate Certification: This is usually a certification designation that is offered by a certification body that also offers professional level certification. It can either be a level of certification that demonstrates that the candidate has acheived a defined level of competency in a given field, but that he or she either does not practice in that field on a full time basis, or that he or she practices with or under the direction of a professional level certified individual. Associate certification may also be designed as a stepping stone to a professional certification as an individual progresses in a field of practice. Associate certifications should include the same process rigour and ethical requirements as professional certification, but require a lower level of knowledge and experience than the professional level.
• Professional Certification: This requires a rigorous evaluation process, and it requires an organization whose sole focus and goal is to ensure that the people to whom it issues certification designations have demonstrated a defined minimum level of competency and experience in a given field of practice. It also requires adherence to ethical codes of conduct. It should not be "easy" to achieve professional certification through organizations that establish strong, credible professional certification systems. Professional certifications must also incorporate requirements that a certificate holder remain active and continue to learn and stay up to date in their field (this is often called recertification, or continuance of certification).

There is no doubt that someone can be very competent and ethical in a field of practice, yet not be certified. We all know examples of such people. And there is no guarantee that someone who has achieved professional certification will actually practice in a competent or ethical manner. We all know examples of that, as well. However, a good certification system should "raise the bar" for practice, continually improving and updating its requirements to match the needs of the marketplace and the state-of-the-art in the field of practice. It must also not stifle innovation, but instead allow the field to mature and meet the ever changing demands of the marketplace.

Professional certification should not be a system devised merely to protect those who have achieved it from their competition. Instead, it should be inclusive, yet also exclusive, in that there will always be some candidates that are unable to meet the requirements. 

If you are not certified at some level in ergonomics, I strongly encourage you to do so within your interests and your means. If you already have some form of ergonomics-related certification, I encourage you to seek a higher level certification. If you are already certified at a professional level, I encourage you to review the credibility of the organization that certified you and make sure it meets the requirements of true professionalism. If you are certified by a credible certification body that maintains a rigorous certification system, I encourage you to get involved and help that organization continually improve. 

Embrace certification for yourself, for your profession, but most important, embrace it for the public we serve and protect.

[Follow-up note: If you've ever considered pursuing professional certification, BCPE's upcoming Pilot Exam offers candidates a substantial discount.]

Copyright (c) 2013 Ergoweb Inc. Used by permission.

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