IJCA - Volume I - Flipbook - Page 61
60 The International Journal of Conformity Assessment
2022 | Volume 1, Issue 1
Technical note
61
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Competence Versus Qualification in Personnel
Certification Programs
by Dr. George J. Anastasopoulos, VP, Global Development & Compliance, IAS
Personnel certification has been and will continue
to remain a desirable asset for any modern
professional. Achieving certification often
represents a significant investment in time, effort,
and expense. Frequently, candidates must choose
between a “competence-based” or a “qualificationbased” type of certification program. In most
cases, qualification-based personnel certification
is easier and less expensive to achieve. But is it
actually worth it? What is the difference between
competence-based and qualification-based
personnel certification programs?
In ISO Standard 19011:2011, “Guidelines for Auditing
Management Systems,” competence is defined as
“the ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve
intended results.” Competence-based certification
means that the Personnel Certification Body (PCB)
is expected to examine a candidate’s knowledge,
skills, personal attributes, and qualifications specific
to the program and/or scope of certification. On the
other hand, qualification-based certification relies
on an applicant’s education and qualifications,
rather than being based on measurable competence.
The following short dialogue is catalytic to
understanding, in a few words, the difference
between “competence” and “qualification.”
Do you know how to drive a car?
I was trained and acquired a driving license, but I am
still not confident in my ability to drive a car.
That means you have the qualifications, but not the
competence.
There are college dropouts who are CEOs of Fortune
500 companies because they have competencies,
not qualifications. Therefore, having both
qualifications and competencies helps immensely,
but people can still excel through competencies
rather than qualifications.
Recognizing this fact, the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO), through ISO/IEC Standard
17024, “Conformity Assessment - General
requirements for bodies operating certification
of persons,” mandates that the certification of
persons should be based on the demonstration
of competencies and not the demonstration of
qualifications. ISO/IEC 17024 sets the requirements
and the framework, at a global level, for the
operation of Personnel Certification Bodies. By
using ISO/IEC 17024, business, industry, and other
key stakeholders have recognized that competencybased certification is the optimum way of achieving
confidence in persons certified by PCBs. ISO/IEC
17024 does allow some variation in how competence
is demonstrated; consequently, different PCBs
may interpret and apply the means for competency
assessment in different but technically valid ways.
Still, there are PCBs that insist on offering non
accredited, qualification-based programs on the
assumption that qualification equals competence.
While that assumption may be correct in some cases
and may continue to be acceptable to a range of
users, it is less acceptable for those who operate in
contexts that require a more rigorous demonstration
of competence based on a valid examination. This
creates considerable confusion to the market
and to certification candidates. And of course, as
qualification programs don’t satisfy all competence
requirements, they are non-accreditable.
Another key difference among the competenceand qualification-based programs is the change
of emphasis from training to examination.
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Qualification-based programs emphasize training
while competence-based programs emphasize the
results of training by assessing competence through
one or more methods of examination that must
be valid, reliable, and independent. Competencybased certification programs firstly define the
competencies required so that they can be properly
examined.
So, is it possible to distinguish a competency-based
program from a qualification-based program?
The answer is simple: Check for the accreditation
of the PCB that provides the certification program
to see if it is based on ISO/IEC Standard 17024
requirements. Then, check to see if the PCB’s scope
of accreditation includes that program. Finally,
check if the PCB’s accreditation is provided by an
Accreditation Body that is a Multilateral Recognition
Arrangement (MRA) signatory member of the
International Accreditation Forum.
PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION BODY
ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
Organizations that provide personnel certification are
becoming Accredited Personnel Certification Bodies
from the International Accreditation Service (IAS).
IAS accreditation:
Demonstrates compliance with ISO/IEC 17024.
Provides verification of industry and/or international standards.
Helps organizations protect the integrity, and ensure the validity,
of individual certification programs.
Promotes consumer and public confidence in the capabilities and
competence of the people who provide specialized services.
IAS is an MLA signatory to the International Accreditation Forum
(IAF), helping to increase acceptance in multiple markets.
IAS offers prompt, personal service, including rapid scheduling of
assessments to meet the needs of laboratories.
Become a leader in your field!
Learn more at www.iasonline.org
22-21284
