What is a certification, exactly?

Understanding the following terms correctly can help you make wise decisions about your professional credentials:

Training is education, with or without testing.  When a student completes a training course, he/she earns a training certificate or diploma.  The student owns the training certificate and can add it to his/her curriculum vitae. Though ACAC does not develop training courses, it does issue training certificates on behalf of certain educational organizations.

Certifications are credentials of industry knowledge granted to individuals by a certification body for a limited time. When an individual demonstrates knowledge, he/she earns a certification designation.  The individual does not own the designation - it is owned by the certifying body.  Certificants must meet certain requirements in order to recertify.   

Accreditation is third-party recognition of a certification program that adheres to specific guidelines and/or standards. Organizations must meet renewal requirements in order to remain accredited. Accreditation is owned by the accredited program. Certification programs accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) must require verifiable field experience. Most ACAC certifications are CESB-accredited.

Licenses are state-issued credentials that allow individuals to practice in state-regulated professions.  Read the CESB position paper on engineering credentials to learn more about the relationship between licensing and certification.