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Certifying specialized skill-sets affirms the knowledge and experience base for professionals in a particular field, their employers and the public at large. Certification represents a declaration of a particular individual's competence.
In some professions, certification is a requirement for employment or practice. Physicians, mechanics, accountants, professional secretaries, surveyors, hair stylists and many others are often required to go through a certification process of some kind.
For laboratory professionals, there are eleven states requiring licensure of laboratory personnel. Ten out of the eleven states recognize national certification as a qualification for licensure and the eleventh state is working toward recognizing national certification versus a state-developed and administered examination.
In all instances, certification enhances the employability and career advancement of the individual practitioner or employee.
Many organizations in today's competitive and challenging economy have recognized their workforce as their most valuable asset. Likewise, individuals, whether employed or self-employed, know now, more than ever before, they must acquire and maintain more comprehensive skill-sets to ensure their own employability in the workplace.
Certification Benefits
The benefits of certification can include:
- higher wages for employees in the form of bonuses, education assistance or higher salary;
- a more productive and highly trained workforce for employers;
- prestige for the individual and a competitive advantage over non-certified individuals in the same field;
- enhanced employment opportunities;
- assisting employers in making more informed hiring decisions;
- assisting consumers in making more informed decisions about qualified providers;
- protection of the general public from incompetent and unfit practitioners;
- establishment of a professional standard for individuals in a particular field; and
- compliance with Joint Commission standards and CLIA regulations for laboratory personnel.
Today's world continues to grow more and more into a global economy and society. With international travelers moving across national borders frequently, competent and certified laboratory professionals are an integral part of the global healthcare team.
With recent outbreaks of pandemic disease pathogens, laboratory professionals remain an extremely important component of the diagnosis and treatment team.
The National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel Inc. (NCA) meets all of these criteria:
- provides accredited examination programs;
- requires continuing competence for active credential;
- supports the baccalaureate/associate degree benchmarks;
- is peer-established; and
- relies on job task analyses to set examination content.
By choosing to hire certified laboratory personnel, your organization is choosing to hire professionals dedicated to excellence and committed to the profession.
NCA achieved accreditation of all nine of its examination programs with the first application to the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) , the gold standard in examination development and measurement standards and a committee of the National Organization for Competency Assurance.
Sheila O'Neal is NCA executive director. For more information, visit http://www.nca-info.org/ or e-mail nca-info@goamp.com.
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