8/6/2019 Certification vs Certificate

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 Value o ASQ CertifcationSince 1991, certication has been rated as one o the three most valuedbenets o ASQ membership. A proessional certication ofers tangiblebenets to both the individual and the employer.

Don’t Conuse Certifcation With a Training Certifcate

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to quality and give yoursel a strong competitive advantage. Join today

at www.asq.org/membership and help raise the voice o quality.

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Don’t Conuse Certifcation With Certifcates o Training An authentic proessional certication is ormal recognition by a respected,recognized, and established proessional organization that an individual hasdemonstrated a prociency within, and comprehension o, a specied body o knowledge.

 An ASQ certication, like most authentic proessional certications,

requires that individuals demonstrate these competencies by passing anexam and having a track record o expertise in one o the specied quality disciplines, such as Six Sigma. ASQ does not require you to take the ASQ training—or any other particular courses—as a condition o awardingsuch certications.

Tere has been a great deal o conusion as to the true meaning o certication, especially recently, as individuals and companies strive toachieve and validate competencies in a competitive job market. Numeroustraining companies, educational institutions, and even individual trainingconsultants are competing to sell training courses that purportedly include “certication.”

In many cases, these are not certications based on a noncommercialstandard body o knowledge as developed by objective third-party entities,

but rather paper certicates awarded or participating in specic training.

 While there is nothing wrong with providing evidence o a coursecompletion (whether through a document and/or accredited continuingeducation units), this should not be conused with the rigor and achievemento a proessional certication.

To the individual

proessional it provides:•  Aprocessthatencourages

thelearningonewskillsandamechanismordemonstratedprofciencyupgrades(recertifcation).

• Demonstratedproessionalandpersonalaccomplishment.

• Investmentincareer.

To the organization

it provides:• Demonstrationoemployee

profciencyviavalidationoskillsbyathird-partyorganization.

• Investmentinuturequalityoperations.

• Sharingonewknowledgeintheworkplace.

• Objectiveindicatoroorganizationalexcellence.

i nd iv id uA l O rg A n i z At iO n

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Comparing Certifcation With CertifcatesThe ollowing summary comparison is provided or purposes o clarifcation:

 ASQ Certifcation (Training) Certifcate

Basis or award • Requires passing an exam reecting

proessional consensus and expertise.– Experience and/oreducational prerequisites.

– Exam is proctored and expertlydeveloped to evaluate competencyin a particular feld o knowledge.

• Not awarded or completing anyspecifc course.

• Attending a particular training

session and/or completing acourse or specifed courses.

Awarded by • An established independentproessional association notafliated with any commercial entity.

• An educational institution orcommercial entity.

What it recognizes • Subject mastery o an objective and

consistent body o knowledge basedon expert consensus and objectiveand research-based job analysis.

• Completion o a course or several

courses oered by a particulartraining provider oered at aparticular point in time.

Source o the bodyo knowledge/skillsets reerenced

• Proessional organization memberswho are recognized subject matterexperts and practitioners in the feldo the particular certifcation.

• The course content is developed andoered by the particular provideras o the time it is oered to, andattended by, the student.

Standards or grantingthe award

• Technically rigorous exam questionsand grading structure to which asystematically developed knowledgecontent is applied.

• Use o proessional testing expertsand content subject matter experts.

• Exam ormally administered underscheduled and prescribed conditionsto ensure integrity.

• Adherence to ISO 17024.

• Course content as demonstratedby the student’s participation and/or the specifc provider’s knowledgeassessment method.

Proessionalcredentialing

• ASQ trademarked certifcations canbe listed ater one’s name and usedon business cards.

• Many job postings ask specifcallyor ASQ certifcations.

• ASQ certifcations are recognizedby more than 125 corporations.

• N/A, but the course attended/completed can be reerenced asan educational qualifcation onemployment applications.

• Employers’ recognition o thecompleted training mostly based onamiliarity with the training provider.

Duration o thecredential • Like most proessional certifcations,ASQ certifcations must be renewedby demonstrating continuedcompetency to reect the knowledgeupdates that take place at leastevery fve years.

• A ormal recertifcation processensures that the certifcation holderhas maintained the appropriate levelo competency and is up to date.

• Generally no expiration date isapplicable because the certifcateverifes the completion o a specifccourse o instruction on acertain date.