Certification, Credentialing, Licensure, Competencies, and the Like: Issues Confronting the Field of Evaluation

Abstract

Abstract: After a brief review of recent history framing the debate about certification, the discussion begins by defining key terms (certification, credentialing, licensure, accreditation, and professional development). It then briefly summarizes the three main articles on the topic in this journal issue, analyzing their content in terms of similarities and differences. Lastly, implications are provided for the future of certifying or credentialing evaluators.