Certification

Certification is a way to show that a product, service, or person meets certain standards. An independent group gives a written promise, called a certificate, that the item or person meets specific rules or qualities. This process may include review, education, assessment, or an audit to check the features of the object, person, or organization.

Accreditation](/w/2) is a special type of certification done by a specific group. In education or professional work, certification can show that someone is knowledgeable and able to work in a certain area. According to the U.S. National Council on Measurement in Education, certification tests are used to see if people are skilled enough in a particular job area.

Certificates usually need to be renewed regularly by a certifying body, which can be a government group or an independent company. Sometimes, companies issue certificates themselves mainly for marketing, though these may not always be trustworthy. Having certain certifications can help people earn more money.

Types

One of the most common types of certification is professional certification. This is when a person shows they can do a job well by passing a test or finishing a course. Sometimes, you also need work experience to get the certificate. These certifications can last a long time or need updates with more learning and tests.

Certifications can be different for each job and area. For example, in the IT industry, there are certifications for a software tester, a project manager, and a developer. Another type is product certification. This checks if a product meets certain rules, like quality assurance. Other types of certification include academic degrees, cyber security certification, food safety certification, and many more.

Standards and Certification

Certification is when a product, service, or system meets certain rules from a technical standard. These rules can be used around the world or by private groups. Some private groups like the ISEAL Alliance and the Global Food Safety Initiative help businesses use their rules. The public sector and Intergovernmental organizations support international standards. One big difference is that private standards sometimes charge fees each year, but international standards do not.

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: The provider themselves promise the standards are met.
• Second-party: A group the provider belongs to gives the promise.
• Third-party: 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, there are two main types of certifications: exam-based and education-based.

In exam-based certifications, a person must pass a test. They can study on their own to prepare. Examples include the International Software Testing Qualifications Board Certified Tester and certifications from the American Society for Quality.

Education-based certifications require taking classes led by a teacher. To earn these, a person must finish and pass each class. Examples are the Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP) and other certifications from the Institute for Software Testing. Many people like to pay for organized 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.