OMG! Check this out!
You can get your Surgery Certification in just 6 weeks with our online Medical Degree class (Just a joke to grab your attention)
You can get a “Mini MBA” in just a few 4-hour classes from our college (I thought only universities could grant post-bachelor’s degrees! Misleading advertising)
Become a project management professional and earn big money in just weeks (I guess the PMI no longer has a say in certification standards!)
Although the first bullet was a joke, the other two were serious and either some of the most intentionally misleading marketing that I have ever experienced or its been created by someone who does not realize how important the certification truly is to companies that depend on a standard in their employment process.
Providers and individuals
Let’s look at what the definition of certification is:
Certification is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit. Accreditation is a specific organization's process of certification. According to the U.S. National Council on Measurement in Education, a certification test is a credentialing test used to determine whether individuals are knowledgeable enough in a given occupational area to be labeled "competent to practice" in that area.
Additionally, Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task.
There are many organizations and individuals who have taken the intentional liberty with the terms “certification” and “certification” in hope that the individual does not notice that they have simply received a “piece of paper” that says they paid for and completed the training. These organizations often market their programs by saying that if one takes their class or classes, that they will receive a highly sought-after certification. What they are appealing to are those individuals who want immediate gratification or a quick fix. They buy into the program only to be disappointed by the fact that companies that have gotten wise to “diploma mill” certification. Sadly, companies and individuals who do this strictly to make a profit, have destroyed the true value of a certification, because they can no longer trust them.
Certifications Matter!
True certifications matter or should to everyone involved.
The Importance of Certifications to Employers
Organizations looking for a specific “skill-set” look to certifications to validate that the individuals that they employ possess and have previously exhibited success. They usually do not care if the individual has taken a class or watched a series of online videos, they want to trust that they will do what they are paying to get done.
The Importance of Certification to Individuals
Individuals want to be able to trust that the money that they pay and the work that they do to achieve the certification is recognized by the companies that seek employment with. Over the years numerous organizations rose up purporting to be a college or university and granting degrees and diplomas for a cost and no course work. These have been called “Diploma Mills” because all they produced were pieces of paper worth nothing more than the paper that they were printed on. It didn’t take long for reputable organizations to recognize that they were worthless. Sadly, many individuals were taken in and continue to be to this day, especially by many online providers, only to be disappointed by the realization that what they carried into the potential employer was not what they were led to believe.
The Importance of Certification to the “Certifier”
The individuals or organizations that provide “misleading certificates” or “diploma mill certifications” appear to be focused on “making money” through deceptive marketing, lacking pride or unworried about their reputation. One could argue that these providers were unaware of the expectations and are doing what they think they should be doing. I disagree! Certification providers should be keenly aware of the needs and expectations of those who look to certifications for knowledge and experience that fulfills their needs and pursue behaviors and standards that can be trusted.
What to look for in a “Certifier”
Returning to the definition of certification that we originally referenced, A certifying entity or one claiming to provide certifications need to do so with consistency and integrity that can be trusted. There are two areas that naturally need to be validated:
Knowledge Base – Certifying entities should be able to confirm that the knowledge of the individual meets or exceeds the level of certifications as defined by the entity and the expectations of the organizations that accept the certification. To do so, exams as generally conducted. Reputable certifying providers conduct the exams under controlled environments often with an independent agency conducting the exam as to eliminate any biases.
Experience Base – If someone were to ask me which of the two areas related to certification was the most important, I would answer that it is experience. Organizations need to trust that the individual carrying a certification can perform to a certain level of expertise. This is validated by successful delivery of certain activities or projects depending on the certification presented. I am highly suspicious of any certification that carries no experience requirement with it. A certified surgeon with no surgical experience is not a surgeon by this standard. The same holds true in the project management or the process improvement arenas to name two others that have been highly misstated.
Certifications are important and will be even more important in the future. Organizations are looking for individuals who can do what the certifications claim. We no longer have the luxury of allowing time to weed out the weak certifications. Individuals need to realize that quick and easy certifications are worthless, as too do organizations. Certifications can be a game changing tool when properly created with high, uncompromising standards.
The Continuous Improvement Institute provides numerous certifications that organizations can trust. We will not compromise our integrity or reputation for the sake of profit. If you are interested in seeing our programs check out our website at www.thecii.com.