Reexamining professional certification in human resource management

This article explores certification issues in human resource management based on a survey of four well-known associations. First, it distinguishes certification from accreditation and licensure. Second, it presents information on certification practices, policies, and standards for four major certifying organizations. Third, it discusses the benefits and drawbacks of certification at the individual, company, and professional levels. Lastly, it points up the importance of continued research on certification in the human resource management field. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.