Certification

Certification is a way to show that a product, service, or person meets certain standards or requirements. It involves an independent body giving a written assurance, called a certificate, that the item or individual meets specific rules or qualities. This process often includes review, education, assessment, or an audit to confirm the characteristics of the object, person, or organization.

Accreditation](/w/2) is a special type of certification done by a specific organization. For example, in education or professional fields, certification can show that someone is knowledgeable and competent to practice in a certain area. According to the U.S. National Council on Measurement in Education, certification tests are used to determine if individuals are skilled enough in a particular occupational area.

Certificates usually need to be renewed regularly by a certifying body, which can be a government authority or an independent company. Sometimes, companies issue certificates themselves mainly for marketing purposes, though these may not always guarantee trust. Studies have shown that having certain certifications can lead to higher salaries. For example, IT professionals with CompTIA certificates saw an average salary increase of 15%, and certified PMP® project managers earned about 20% more than those without certification.

Types

One of the most common types of certification is professional certification, where a person proves they can do a job well by passing a test or finishing a course. Some certifications also require work experience before you get the certificate. These certifications can last a lifetime or need updates with more learning and tests over time.

Certifications can vary by profession and area of expertise. For example, in the IT industry, there are certifications for software tester, project manager, and developer. Another type is product certification, which checks if a product meets certain standards, similar to quality assurance. Other types of certification include academic degrees, cyber security certification, food safety certification, and many more.

Standards and Certification

Certification happens when a product, service, or system meets certain rules described in a technical standard. These standards can be international or private. Some private groups like the ISEAL Alliance and the Global Food Safety Initiative help businesses use private standards in their supply chains. In contrast, the public sector and Intergovernmental organizations support international standards. One big difference is that private standards often charge yearly fees for certificates, while international standards do not have ownership or fees.

Attestations of conformity

Attestations of conformity are ways to show that a product, service, or system meets certain standards. There are three types: first-party, where the provider themselves promise the standards are met; second-party, where a group the provider belongs to gives the promise; and third-party, where an independent group checks and confirms the standards are met.

In the European Union, special organizations called notified bodies are responsible for checking and confirming that products and services follow the rules. This helps make sure everything is safe and works properly.

In software testing Certifications

For software testing, certifications can be divided into two main types: exam-based and education-based. In exam-based certifications, a person must pass a test, which they can prepare for by studying on their own. Examples include the International Software Testing Qualifications Board Certified Tester and certifications from the American Society for Quality.

Education-based certifications involve taking instructor-led courses. To earn these, a person must complete and pass each course. Examples are the Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP) and other certifications offered by the Institute for Software Testing. Many people choose to pay for structured learning programs to help them get these certifications.

Certification based on participation or participation-based guarantee systems

In some certification systems, groups of producers and consumers work together to create rules and standards. These systems are called participatory guarantee systems. They rely on trust and sharing knowledge among the people involved.

The good thing about these systems is that they help everyone learn from each other. They can include important topics like the environment and fair business practices. They also help small businesses get certified by being part of a group.