Certification Programs

Options for Professional Development That Make a Difference 

Certificates and certification programs can offer great value to association members. In fact, many members say that professional development is their top reason for belonging to an association. Whether your organization is considering adding a program, revamping an existing program or something in between, we have some considerations to think about, along with case studies. 

What Benefits Can Your Members See? 

1. Career Advancement 

• Job Opportunities: Certifications make someone more competitive by demonstrating their expertise in areas like, for example, portable sanitation or professional organization. 

• Promotion Potential: Employers may prioritize certified employees when promoting internally, seeing them as more qualified for leadership or specialized roles. 

2. Skill Validation

• Proof of Expertise: Certification acts as formal recognition of someone’s skills and knowledge, especially in technical fields like, for example, concrete repair, project management, or healthcare. 

• Industry Standards: Many certifications set or are based on industry-wide ANSI, ISO, or IACET standards, showing that a professional has met or exceeded the required level of competency. 

3. Increased Earning Potential

• Higher Salary: Certified professionals often earn more than their non-certified counterparts. 

• Negotiation Leverage: A certificate or certification can give someone leverage to negotiate a better salary or a raise. 

4. Professional Credibility

• Trust and Confidence: Employers, clients, and colleagues are more likely to trust and value someone’s expertise when it is backed by a certificate or certification. 

• Stand Out in the Industry: Having a certificate or certification enhances one’s professional reputation and distinguishes them from others in their industry, whether they are a building inspector, a financial planner, or a perioperative blood management technologist. 

5. Personal Satisfaction and Confidence

• Achievement Recognition: Obtaining a certification provides a sense of accomplishment and validation of one’s hard work and dedication to their industry. 

• Boost in Confidence: It can reinforce one’s self-confidence in applying their knowledge in practical situations, such as conducting an impartial workplace investigation. 

6. Networking Opportunities

• Join a Certified Community: Certifications or certificates offer access to a professional community, which can lead to networking, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities. 

• Industry Events and Conferences: Certified professionals are often invited to special events, conferences and workshops where they can continue to grow their network, including becoming certification or certificate program trainers. 

7. Continuous Learning and Development

• Staying Current: Certifications require ongoing education to maintain, ensuring that an individual stays up to date with industry trends and new technologies. 

• Personal Growth: The process of becoming certified pushes a professional to learn and master new concepts, improving their knowledge base and industry-related skills. 

8. Regulatory or Legal Requirements

• Compliance: In certain industries, certification can be a legal requirement to perform specific tasks or hold certain job titles, including portable sanitation, healthcare, law, and engineering. 

• Safety and Standards: Some certifications ensure that professionals meet safety or quality standards, which is crucial in regulated industries like construction or finance. 

To Accredit or Not to Accredit? 

Here are the benefits and drawbacks of seeking third-party accreditation for certificate or certification programs. 

Associations must weigh the benefits of enhanced credibility and recognition against the costs and effort involved. For some, accreditation is a strategic asset, while for others, it may not be necessary for their goals or resources.

Reasons to Become Accredited: 

• Boosts Credibility 
  Accreditation provides third-party validation that a certification program meets industry standards, enhancing its trustworthiness among employers, professionals, and stakeholders. 

• Competitive Advantage 
  Accredited programs stand out in the market, signaling high quality and reliability, which can attract more candidates and partners. 

• Global Recognition 
  ANSI, for example, is internationally recognized, giving accredited programs wider recognition and increasing their appeal globally. 

• Compliance and Risk Reduction 
  Accreditation ensures alignment with industry regulations and standards, minimizing legal or regulatory risks. 

• Improves Reputation 
  Accredited programs reflect positively on the association, enhancing its reputation as a leader in the field. 

• Stakeholder Confidence 
  Accreditation reassures candidates, employers, and partners that the certification is rigorous, secure, and follows best practices. 

• Partnership and Funding Opportunities 
  Accredited programs may be eligible for partnerships, grants and other funding opportunities that non-accredited programs may not access. 

• Continuous Improvement 
  The accreditation process encourages ongoing program evaluation and improvement, ensuring relevance and quality over time.
  

Reasons Not to Become Accredited: 

• Cost 
  Accreditation can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, both in upfront costs and ongoing fees, which may not be feasible for smaller organizations. 

• Time-Consuming Process 
  Preparing for accreditation requires significant time and resources, from staff training to adjusting program structures, which may strain limited organizational capacity. 

• Sufficient Market Position without Accreditation 
  Some associations already have a strong reputation or industry influence and may feel that accreditation wouldn’t significantly boost their standing. 

• Complexity and (In)Flexibility 
  Accreditation demands adherence to specific standards, which can reduce flexibility in customizing or evolving the certification program. 

• Lack of Regulatory Requirement 
  If accreditation is not required for the industry or doesn’t offer clear advantages in the marketplace, some associations may decide it’s not worth pursuing. 

The team at Ewald Consulting can help review your association’s situation and guide you to the solution that works best for you! Here are just two recent examples. 

When the Professional Development team at Ewald Consulting took over certification management for the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO), they faced a significant challenge: candidates lacked a formal preparatory course to help them succeed in the certification process. We assessed the need and guided development of a full-fledged preparatory course. After evaluating the gaps and opportunities, we recommended not only moving forward with a prep course — but also adding a practice examination to enhance candidate readiness. The newly developed prep course and practice exam have equipped candidates with the tools they need to succeed, further strengthening the certification program. 

When we first partnered with AmSECT, our team received numerous daily inquiries from candidates asking basic questions like exam schedules, requirements, application status, and renewal timelines. This detracted from the candidate experience. We assessed the process to identify areas for improvement, focusing on creating a more user-friendly system. We restructured AmSECT’s website to present key certification information more clearly, reducing the number of incoming questions. We also implemented automated confirmation and renewal reminder emails to ensure candidates are well-informed throughout the process. Candidates now experience greater clarity, convenience, and support, enhancing both the credibility of the certification and the satisfaction of those pursuing it. 

Contact us to learn how we can create a better experience for your members.