Live from the Benefits and Risks of Certification Session
The attendance at the Benefits and Risks of Certification Programs session once again shows the strong interest and need of association executives for more guidance in this area. We’re discussing some of the most problematic issues facing certification programs, including:
Maintaining autonomy in decision-making by the certifying governing body from the association’s board of directors. The body does not have to be independently incorporated, but at minimum, it must have autonomy in decision-making of all essential certification decisions.
Establishing fair and reasonable eligibility requirements. Be careful of antitrust violations. Requiring membership is not recommended.
Establishing defensible grounds for revocation. Here are 3: criminal conviction in the area of responsibility covered by the credential; gross negligence or malpractice; and misrepresentation of information in the certification or recertification process
Being careful about what you promise. It’s safe to say that your certificants meet your rigorous standards, but not safe to guarantee they are competent or say they’re better than someone else without the credential.
Having disciplinary policies and procedures in place before launching the program (versus creating when the issues arise!). Key elements are notice of the violation, opportunity to respond, and fair and impartial decision-makers.