A certification is a formal process found in many professional fields, such as teaching, information technology, accounting, and martial arts, that ensures a person is qualified in certain areas of knowledge or contains certain skills. Certification programs are usually overseen by a supervisor, certifying agency, expert, or association that is qualified in the relevant field and is able to identify when a person has the needed knowledge or skill to earn the certification.

Some examples of information technology certification programs include Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, or MCSE, Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional, or CCIP, and IBM Certified Lotus Specialist, or CLS. Holding these certifications can show that a person is probably more qualified for a certain job or task than someone without a certification. Not having a certification does not mean someone is not qualified, but certification does prove qualification. There is some debate about whether or not certification is needed for certain information technology jobs, but in general, having a certification can help you beat out another applicant when applying for a position.

In other fields, certification can be required. For example, to be a Realtor, medical assistant, or home inspector you need to be certified in those respective fields. In one sense, certification is sort of like a diploma showing training required in a certain field. Certification is also similar to a license, but has different legal requirements. For example, a doctor needs a medical license to practice medicine legally, and a driver needs a driver’s license to drive legally. A certification can elevate a professional to another level, such as a real estate agent to a Realtor, but isn’t required for a real estate agent to legally be in business.

Some certification programs require the participants to pay money to enter the program, but some companies will allow their employees to go through certification programs for free since it makes them more knowledgeable employees. For example, some trucking companies will allow their employees to get certification in various training programs to make them safer drivers. Not only do the drivers not have to pay to be in the program, but they often make their normally hourly wage while going through the certification program as well. Some certifications need to be renewed to ensure the professional is retaining the skills and knowledge needed, but some certifications are good for life. For example, fork lift certifications usually need to be renewed every few years to make sure the driver is still able to drive safely. Physical changes can make someone who once was able to operate a forklift safely, lose their ability to be a safe driver. One example of this is hearing loss. A forklift operator is no longer able to drive a forklift safely if they cannot hear the people and machines around them. This is why having a forklift certification does not mean you never need to retest and retrain to keep your certification current and valid.