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Background

• Non-governmental agencies, associations, and private sector companies may grant certifications to individuals who meet predetermined qualifications. These qualifications are generally set by professional associations (for example, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners) or by industry (for example, the Anti-terrorism Accreditation Board, the American Society for Industrial Security, etc.) and product-related organizations (for example, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Novell Certified Engineer, etc.). Certification is usually an optional credential for most professions although some state licensing boards and some employers may require one or more certifications. While largely optional, certifications may be a discriminating factor in obtaining or maintaining employment, and may be a key element in career advancement. For many occupations, more than one organization may offer certifications.

• Every profession requires a set of general and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully fulfill job requirements. However, not every recruiter or employer knows whether or not you possess these requisites or how to measure your level of competency. Certification is highly recommended and is some instances required, in order to remain as competitive as possible in today’s job market. Even in the best of times, employers seek the largest possible return on their investment in human resources and have raised the bar in recent years to ensure they hire and retain the most highly knowledgeable and skilled individuals in their business. Certification is one way of demonstrating your mastery of a given area of expertise and demonstrates that you made an investment in yourself, your career, and your future.