None of this is a bad thing.
Generally, the goal of certification is to establish a minimum set of
skills, knowledge, and attitudes (KSAs), outline educational requirements, and
encourage continuous learning through continuing education units/credits. Many
employers use the provincial credential as a minimum hiring standard and, in
some cases, funders have considered making certification a requirement for various
funded projects.
However, at a January meeting focused on CDP training needs, an
interesting question emerged – Does certification result in more highly-skilled
practitioners and, therefore, better service to clients? It was agreed that, as
many employers are considering certification as a minimum (or at least
preferred) hiring standard, there must be at least some anecdotal evidence.
However, none of the meeting attendees were aware of any research or indication
that certified CDPs were "better" than those who were not certified.
This question piqued my curiosity and I took the opportunity to connect
with several colleagues during CANNEXUS 2014 to explore it further. Although I
only spoke to a few people, the general consensus seemed to be that no one is
tracking how, or if, certification impacts practice. At least one contact I
spoke to mentioned there was no difference between staff who were certified and
staff who were not.
On the surface, the answer to the question, “Does
certification result in more highly-skilled practitioners and, therefore,
better service to clients?” seems to be no but I think this warrants further
investigation. I’d love to hear what readers think; feel free to add a comment
in the space provided.
Of course, the other question may be whether or not the goal of
certification is to improve practice and, if improved practice isn’t the goal,
then what is?
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1 comment:
I didn't consider certification as a route to delivering better service to clients, but I see how certification training programs (the CDP training piece of certification) are preparing new practitioners for delivering quality service. On the other hand, personally I'm pursuing certification, and have been considering it for years, because of the letters behind my name that would guarantee to employers and other practitioners that I have the experience, education, and training that demonstrates that I am committed to professional standards of service. When I look at the benefits of certification listed on the CDAA website, higher quality of service for clients is not listed...
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