Certification Management System

A Certification Management System (CMS) or Credential Management System plays a pivotal role in streamlining the key processes surrounding the certification or credentialing of people, namely that they have certain knowledge or skills in a profession.  It helps with ensuring compliance, reducing business operation costs, and maximizing the value of certifications. In this article, we explore the significance of adopting a CMS and its benefits for both nonprofits and businesses.

What is a certification management system?

A certification management system is an enterprise software platform that is designed specifically for organizations whose primary goal is to award credentials to people for professional skills and knowledge.  Such an organization is often a nonprofit like an Association or Board, and is sometimes called an “awarding body” or similar term.   However, nowadays there are many for-profit corporations which offer certifications.  For example, many IT/Software companies will certify people on their products.  Here’s a page that does nothing but list the certifications offered by SalesForce!

These organizations often offer various credentials within a field.

• Initial certifications (high stakes and broad) – Example: Certified Widgetmaker
• Certificates or microcredentials – Example: Advanced Widget Design Specialist
• Recertification exams – Example: taking a test every 5 years to maintain your Certified Widgetmaker status
• Benchmark/progress exams – Example: Widgetmaker training programs are 2 years long and you take a benchmark exam at the end of Year 1
• Practice tests: Example: old items from the Certified Widgetmaker test provided in a low-stakes fashion for practice

A credentialing body will need to manage the many business and operation aspects around these.  Some examples:

• Applications, tracking who is applying for which
• Payment processing
• Eligibility pathways and documentation (e.g., diplomas)
• Pass/Fail results
• Retake status
• Expiration dates

There will often be functionality that makes these things easier, like automated emails to remind the professionals when their certification is expiring so they can register for their Recertification exam.

Reasons to use a certification management system

1. Enhancing Compliance and Regulatory Adherence:  A comprehensive CMS provides a centralized repository where organizations can securely store, track, and manage certifications and credentials. This ensures compliance with industry standards, regulatory bodies, and audits.  A certification management system will also help your organization achieve accreditation like NCCA or ANSI/ISO 17024.
2. Streamlining Certification Tracking and Renewals: Managing certifications manually can be a time-consuming and error-prone process. A CMS simplifies this task by automating certification tracking, renewal reminders, and verification processes. By digitizing the management of certifications, organizations can save valuable time and resources, eliminating the need for tedious paperwork and manual record-keeping.
3. Improving Workforce Efficiency and Development: An efficient CMS empowers organizations to optimize their workforce’s knowledge and skill development. By capturing comprehensive data on certifications, skills, and training, organizations gain valuable insights into their employees’ capabilities. This information can guide targeted training initiatives, succession planning, and talent management efforts. Moreover, employees can leverage the CMS to identify skill gaps, explore potential career paths, and pursue professional development opportunities.
4. Enhancing Credential Verification and Fraud Prevention: Verifying the authenticity of certifications is critical, especially in industries where credentials hold significant weight. A CMS with built-in verification features enables employers, clients, and other stakeholders to authenticate certifications quickly and accurately. By incorporating advanced security measures, such as blockchain technology or encrypted digital badges, CMSs provide an added layer of protection against fraud and credential forgery. This not only safeguards the reputation of organizations but also fosters trust and confidence among customers, partners, and regulatory bodies.

Of course, the bottom line is that a certification management system will save money, because this is a lot of information for the awarding body to track, and it is mission-critical.

Conclusion

Implementing a Certification Management System is a strategic investment for organizations seeking to streamline their certification processes and maximize their value. By centralizing certification management, enhancing compliance, streamlining renewals, improving workforce development, and bolstering credential verification, a robust CMS empowers organizations to stay ahead in a competitive landscape while ensuring credibility and regulatory adherence.

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Nathan Thompson, PhD

Nathan Thompson earned his PhD in Psychometrics from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on computerized adaptive testing. His undergraduate degree was from Luther College with a triple major of Mathematics, Psychology, and Latin. He is primarily interested in the use of AI and software automation to augment and replace the work done by psychometricians, which has provided extensive experience in software design and programming. Dr. Thompson has published over 100 journal articles and conference presentations, but his favorite remains https://scholarworks.umass.edu/pare/vol16/iss1/1/ .

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