What is the difference between certification and licensing?
Certification is a professional credential that states you have voluntarily completed a course of study, passed an exam and met specified criteria. It’s usually issued by private organizations. Certification provides consumers with more information about you. It also gives you a way to increase your competency through study and exams, and then advertise or inform others about it. Certification sets standards, ensures practitioners are educated and competent and informs the public.
Licensing is the broader term. It describes all programs that prepare people for teaching or leadership roles in schools. Many licensure programs also lead to a degree. The ones that do not lead to a degree are known as certification programs. Since certification programs lead to licensure only, they are appropriate for people who already hold degrees. Certification programs may lead to initial teaching licenses (for people who hold non-teaching degrees) or may result in the addition of content or developmental areas to existing teaching licenses.
