Is Certification Necessary?

It looks like alphabet soup after some names, doesn’t it? Do all those letters and numbers mean anything? Do they add value to your company? Do they add more money to your pocket? Is it worth it to even bother?

Certification, designations, or accreditation creates a set of quality standards. In the administrative world, you have several options. CAP?through IAAP, CCAP , PACE , MOS , PMP , and more! I’m not referring to your MD (Medical Doctor), your Bachelor of Arts, or any college/university degree.

I post a weekly “Fact of Fiction” question online on Fridays. Last week’s question caused quite a stir, and we have some very strong opinions on the matter. Let me summarize the pros and cons of the issue, and you can make up your mind.

Pros:

– Designations showcase a commitment to continuous learning as most designations require continued learning to recertify/certify

– It shows a commitment to your chosen profession.

– They show you take your profession seriously and that it isn’t just a job

– It portrays professionalism

– It does raise your resume higher in a pile of applicants when looking for a new job

– It gives a sense of achievement

– It formalizes the experience you have and shows you have gained a level of knowledge

– It is a differential that adds leverage to the conversations and value and worth

– Designations provide a lot of opportunities that wouldn’t be available otherwise

– It shows I know what I’m doing and has given me a voice at the table

– I was suffering imposter syndrome as I was younger than everyone else, and my accreditation helped me feel like I belonged and knew what I was doing

Cons:

– It would have very little impact on my current job (although if I were contemplating a job change, I would consider getting accreditation)

– Unless there was an increase in pay (which no one has indicated there was), why would I bother?

– If you are good, you are good. Certifications just shorten the conversation about your skills, so you can focus on the talents you have that certification can’t measure

– Employers don’t care because they don’t know what the letters mean

– Accreditation doesn’t determine your worth. They add to your knowledge, but they do not make you indispensable. Your letters don’t show your value; your work does

– The time and money involved don’t compensate for the lack of benefit

– There are many ways to be a life-long learner without needing to invest a huge amount of time or money to get letters after your name

Designations and certifications do take time and money, and, as you can tell, there is a case for getting them, as well as a case for not.

I am pro certification. I have all the letters that I can earn in my professional speaking career. I obtained them for my confidence and not necessarily for what they could give me (because I’m not sure that any of you care if I have certification or not). What we deliver will always be how we are measured, but the certifications help some of us to show up knowing we will make a difference! I am very goal-oriented, and it seemed like a good way to set a professional goal that would help me personally in the end.

However, I can understand why some of you wouldn’t be interested in the certification or designations. It will never be a black and white issue, so sit down and ask yourself why you want your designation? If the answer sounds compelling, get it! If it doesn’t, then put the idea aside for a while.

How do you feel about certifications? Join the discussion in the comments box below.