Credentialing

Credentialing is a process for granting a designation, such as a certificate or license, by measuring an individual’s competence in a specific knowledge, skill, or performance area. The purpose of credentialing is to assure the public that an individual meets the minimum requirements within an area of competence, typically an occupation or a profession. There are three principal types of credentialing. Licensure, the most restrictive type, refers to the mandatory government requirement needed to practice an occupation or a profession. The second type, certification, is a voluntary process that is traditionally established by nongovernmental agencies. The final type of credentialing, registration, is the least restrictive and typically requires individuals to apply for a credential through a governmental or private agency.

Although registration credentials usually involve a ...