Use any search engine and type in “bogus certification” or a similar term and you will likely find offers for certification credentials in your profession of choice without any required skills, training, or experience evaluation except for a valid credit card. Obviously, entering a “bogus certification” will primarily result in “fresh” credential offers; however, many of the so-called “legitimate” certification credentials can be as useless as counterfeits. How can this be so? Well, the certification industry is largely unregulated. Basically, there are no regulatory agencies to enforce the standards, so each certification body can create its own.
In fact, almost anyone can become a certifying entity using a home computer and printer. This is not to say that all certifications are false; There are certification bodies that actually have high standards, but unfortunately, most do not. For every credible and recognized certification, there are likely to be several in competition that are unrecognized, questionable, or outright false. Unregulated, the certification industry is truly a “wild west spectacle,” making it difficult for the uninformed to identify the good from the bad. However, with a little footwork, it is not that difficult to filter the value of the “junk”.
Evaluation criteria
If your goal is to get a credential that truly validates your experience, it will likely be based on a combination of experience, a skills assessment, training and education, and a reference check. However, keep in mind that even a show that claims to use these criteria may be “less than credible” if it dilutes them or allows them to be “played” to an extent that allows anyone to qualify. For example, a skills assessment could be a questionnaire that even a five-year-old could pass, training could take place in an unrelated field, and experience or references could be stated and unverifiable. One way to measure the validity of a certification program is to find out its pass rate. Generally, the higher the approval rate, the more likely it is to fall into the “less than credible” category.
General reputation
Name recognition can be good or bad; good as trustworthy, valuable and respected; bad as infamous, notorious or scammer. Before enrolling in a certification program, it would be wise to know your reputation and that of the awarding organization. Search the web, ask friends, family, co-workers and others. For obvious reasons, the goal is to filter out certifications and / or organizations with negative reputations. However, keep in mind that just because a certification or organization is not known does not mean that it is of no value. There are well-known organizations that offer certifications that are considered a “joke” by industry professionals, but those same credentials can seem credible to a uniformed public due to the name recognition factor. Additionally, small organizations offer certification programs that are often highly regarded within their professions, but relatively unknown to the general public. To add to the confusion, some reputable certifying organizations may offer multiple certification programs, some that are credible and some that are not. While name recognition alone can provide an initial boost of credibility in the short term, it should only be considered if there are other indicators of quality and credibility.
Peer acceptance
After filtering out the obvious garbage, the next step is to discover which certification credentials are valued by professionals in your industry. Talking to practicing professionals, employers, and clients can uncover a lot of valuable information. Highly regarded certifications, as well as those regarded as “worthless”, are often well known within particular industries, but there may be little information, good or bad, about them in the general public. Certification programs with high acceptance among affected professionals, employers, and clients improve ROI (return on investment) and reduce your chances of earning a worthless credential that may label you as “wannabe” or “fake.” It is equally important to discuss certification with experienced professionals who are not certified.
Professionals may have valid reasons not to seek certification because they may consider the available credentials to be unbelievable, unnecessary, a gimmick, or fraudulent. Sometimes certain certifications become very popular within an industry. If this is the case with a certification program you are considering, it might be worth finding out why. Certifications often become popular just because they are easy to obtain, the selling point is that any paper credential will give you an “edge” over the competition. But the awesome-looking credentials given by official sounding organizations can only go so far, regardless of the ribbons, buzzwords, signatures, and other embellishments used to make them look legitimate. Furthermore, the vast majority of seasoned professionals and employers will not be fooled by appearances and will surely investigate any unfamiliar credentials they find. In any case, due to all the variables, it is vitally important to research all the certifications available in your field of interest and discuss your findings with professionals in that field.
Summary
Certifications can be valid indicators of experience or plans to make money. As long as people are misled by “official appearance” credentials, the fraudulent certification industry will continue to thrive and prosper. At the moment, the certification industry is largely unregulated. However, if and when the safety and interests of the general public, employers or clients are perceived as threatened by professionals with questionable credentials, regulation or licensing will be the necessary response as it was for medicine, law, engineering, education, and other professional fields. In fact, due to the proliferation of accreditation programs, society and companies are already becoming more skeptical and selective about certification credentials, and this trend is likely to continue. Most career fields have multiple certification program offerings from industry vendors, professional organizations, and private companies. For obvious reasons, all of these certifying organizations will try to project an image of professionalism and integrity, regardless of whether or not it actually applies. It is up to the individual to look beyond appearances and sales pitches to find the best options available. At the very least, doing some basic research before using a credit card will help ensure that you don’t end up with a totally useless credential that primarily benefits scammers.