Hello,
Everyone.
While
exploring on the internet, I came across an excellent article on credentialing terminology written by Georgia Patrick of The Communicators, Inc. I’m going to do my own ‘take’ on her article,
incorporating some items that are specific to credentialing in the massage
therapy industry.
First off, I
think many people are often confused by these terms. Credentialing terminology can be convoluted
and easily misused. The word
‘credential’ itself is often misunderstood.
Dictionary.com defines ‘credential’ as
evidence of authority or anything that provides the basis for confidence, belief,
credit, etc. ‘Credentialing’, then, is
the act of conferring those credentials.
The credentials used by NCBTMB are those of certification. The word ‘certify’ means,
among other things, “to give assurance; testify; vouch for the validity of
something.” NCBTMB gives assurance and
vouches for the validity of a person having the knowledge, skills and abilities
to practice entry-level massage therapy in a safe and effective manner.
In a wider since, credentialing is both a process (the act of conferring credentials) and an industry (institutions relied upon to provide independent verification and certification of individuals or processes). Even among the multitude of people in the credentialing industry, credentialing terms are often misused. Those who work in credentialing interact with people in many fields: education, regulation, assessment, etc. Below are some of the terms you may encounter which relate to credentialing.
This is a voluntary process through which an organization (like NCBTMB) grants recognition to those who have met specified qualifications and demonstrated sufficient knowledge, skills and/or abilities. NCBTMB certificants have earned the NCTM or the NCTMB through the documented completion of NCBTMB’s eligibility criteria (including education), passage of an NCBTMB exam, and a commitment to adhere to the NCBTMB Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Usage: Voluntary certification is evidence that the
articulated standards have been met, but certifications themselves are not the
same as licenses to work in a particular field. In massage therapy, it is
usually the state regulatory bodies that issue licenses. In some cases,
certification programs fulfill some requirements for state licensure. The NCBTMB exams are utilized by 37 states
towards their licensure requirements. You
will find that in fields where little or no regulation is present, certification
programs are created by individuals in their field to provide some sort of
competency measurement. Certifying
bodies in other fields (such as real estate, law, appraisal, and nursing)
recognize competence in advanced or specialized areas not covered by state
licensure.
The credential conferred by these certifying bodies is
frequently generic, at the foundation or entry-level, and broad, since it can
encompass an entire profession. Entry-level certifications require minimum
knowledge, skills and abilities to competently practice the profession. Once established, many broad-based programs
expand their offerings by creating advanced, specialty or added qualification
programs to satisfy the needs of all who seek certification through the same
professional organization. NCBTMB’s
creation of the Advanced Certification is an example of this.
Curriculum-Based Certificate
This is a certificate issued upon completion of a set curriculum. The educational institution that offers the training also provides the certificate. The certificate awarded may be broad (encompassing several dimensions of a profession) or narrow (focusing on a specific area). In massage therapy, many different techniques or modalities off curriculum-based certificate programs.
Usage: Individuals receive this certificate when they complete a course or series of courses and an assessment process. The assessment is limited to course content. As Ms. Patrick stated “The linkage to specific course content differentiates the curriculum-based certificate from the certificate of knowledge and professional certification.”
Portfolio-Based Certification
There are a few certification bodies who issue certification
based upon documentation of predetermined prerequisites, without any sort of
assessment. The recognition is awarded
based upon the submission of documentation showing an individual’s experience, expertise
and education in a given area.
Certificant
The individual who has achieved certification is called a
certificant. During the process of
earning their certification, they are referred to as a candidate.
Certificates of Completion
These can be given to an individual upon the completion of a
specific learning program, with or without an assessment mechanism. For example, Certificates of Completion are sometimes
given at the conclusion of continuing education courses. These are sometimes referred to as Certificates
of Attendance or Certificates of
Participation and are relatively narrow in scope.
Usage: These certificates do not attest to learning achieved ( as opposed to endured – someone can sit through a class and learn very little) and, therefore, are generally considered of little value. They do serve a purpose for NCBTMB by affording a way for certificants to document their continuing education. These are not considered true credentials because its recipients are not required to meet specified standards.
Licensure
This is the mandatory credentialing process handled by regulatory bodies. In massage therapy, it is usually the State Boards who oversee licensure. Licensure is the legal granting of permission to individuals so that they may engage in a given occupation or profession. To earn a license, individuals must usually prove that they have attained a minimum degree of knowledge and skills required to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Usage: A credentialing program that is also used in some part of the licensure process is expensive and complex on national and international levels. Licensure protects the public from incompetent practice, and sometimes chooses to do so by recognizing components of a certification program as part of their requirements. NCBTMB is pleased to assist 37 states towards their licensure process by providing exams or certifications that are recognized towards their requirements.
