By Lisa Rosenfield
A common definition of certify is “to recognize as having met special qualifications (as of a governmental agency or professional board) within a field” (Merriam-Webster, 2023). Holding a certification can be used as a standardized mechanism to establish and demonstrate competence in a set of special qualifications, as noted in this definition. Certification requirements are traditionally based on the outcomes of a job analysis. A job analysis is a standardized process that is used to determine the specific knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for a practitioner to competently perform the job.1
A job analysis can therefore provide two important pieces of information: 1) the identification of a set of current skills, and 2) the application of these skills to a specific occupation within a specific industry. The scope can range from a basic level (e.g., foundational knowledge and skills) to an advanced level (e.g., highly specialized knowledge and skills), thus rendering the resulting certification applicable to various stages of the career cycle.2
The National Science Board (NSB) identifies a robust need for a Skilled Technical Workforce (STW), which reflects technical knowledge without a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, the NSB estimates that there are more than 16 million skilled technical jobs for workers who don’t have a four-year degree but do have either an associate degree, or a level of qualification which is similar to a two-year degree.3 The NSB has identified two types of skill clusters: technical (e.g., health care) and non-technical (e.g., finance). Since health care is included in the technical skill cluster, this introduces the conversation about whether certifications in the health care field could be useful not only to meet some of the STW needs, but also to help develop viable career pathways for certificants.
Some of the inherent characteristics of a certification program suggests that there could be some alignment between the STW needs and certifications within the health care industry. Certifications are, by nature, portable and can be taken from state to state for utilization, as long as they remain current. They demonstrate minimum competence in a profession, while also serving as models for competent practice. Most certifications have renewal components which are based on current and updated knowledge in a particular field, so the renewal process continuously embeds changes in the field. Certifications can be stackable and therefore build on each other. Finally, they have the potential to be used to develop pathways for future career advancement.
The Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) is a nonprofit credentialing organization for perioperative nursing. CCI’s mission is to promote continuous professional development which drives safe, quality patient care (CCI, 2023). CCI offers six credentials, each of which serves to validate a nurse’s knowledge, skills and abilities in a defined role and clinical area of expertise.
Professional validation, personal accomplishment, and career advancement are three reasons why perioperative nurses may want to pursue certification. Upon obtaining certification, nurses can also demonstrate their commitment to patient safety (CCI, 2023).
Certifications in any industry can offer the opportunity for certificants to demonstrate dedication, along with specialized knowledge and skills. Certifications in the field of healthcare may also offer the potential to meet some of the existing needs for a Skilled Technical Workforce. Certifications in general may also serve to establish, and build upon, potential career pathways for those who choose to earn them.
– Lisa Rosenfield, MA, works in the area of special projects and partnerships at the Competency and Credentialing Institute. Her scope of work includes designing, implementing, and managing organizational-wide initiatives and signature programs. She also develops, cultivates and maintains external partnerships. She holds a BS in human development and an MA in educational administration, supervision and curriculum.
- https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/hr-glossary/pages/job-analysis.aspx
- https://share.ansi.org/wc/Shared%20Documents/Workcred-Reports/Understanding-Certifications- Study/Certifications-as-Tools-for-Promoting-Economic-Mobility.pdf
- https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/NSBActivities/skilled-technical-workforce.jsp
- https://www.cc-institute.org/
Sources:
- https: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/certify
- Ganzglass, E., Albert, K., Cardenas-Navia, I., Crawford, S., Elzey, K., Forte, J., Goldberg, M., Good, L., and Swift, R. Certifications as Tools for Promoting Economic Mobility. (March, 2022). Retrieved from: https://share.ansi.org/wc/Shared%20Documents/Workcred-Reports/Understanding-Certifications-Study/Certifications-as-Tools-for-Promoting-Economic-Mobility.pdf
