Credential definitions
Completion record
Confirms participation or completion of stated educational requirements. It does not independently verify professional competence.
Role certificate
Confirms successful completion of a role-specific knowledge and/or practical standard described by the program.
Professional certification
An assessed credential with published eligibility, competence requirements, decision authority, term, renewal, registry status, complaints, suspension, and appeals.
Facility designation or certification
A time-limited organizational status based on a published facility standard and defined evidence or audit process.
License
Contractual permission to use specified intellectual property, training, materials, marks, or methods within stated limits. A license is not automatically a competency credential.
Renewal
The recommended individual term is two years. Renewal requires continuing education, ethics and scope reaffirmation, current registry information, the renewal fee, and any material update required by the current standard.
Verify a credential
The public registry should show name, facility where authorized, credential, number, issue date, expiration date, current status, and any limitation. Inactive, expired, suspended, and revoked statuses should be defined.
Complaints and appeals
Complaints about conduct, misuse of marks, or eligibility are different from appeals of an assessment decision. Each needs a published process, evidence standard, decision maker, notice, timeline, conflict management, and record rule.