Organizations & publications
of interest to certifying bodies

Organizations

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
ASAE is the world’s leading membership organization for the association management profession.  Members include those who manage trade and professional associations, individual membership societies, voluntary organizations, and other not-for-profit associations, as well as those who provide products and services to the association community.  ASAE provides periodic educational programs on professional certification.

Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR)
CLEAR is an international association of state and provincial officials involved with occupational and professional licensing and regulation.  Many of CLEAR’s educational programs and publications focus on issues relevant to both professional certification and licensure.

National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA)
NOCA is a membership organization for individuals and organizations interested in the field of competency assurance.  It is the leader in setting quality standards for credentialing organizations.   Through its educational programs and publications, NOCA serves as a clearinghouse for information on the latest trends and issues of concern to practitioners and organizations focused on certification, licensure, and human resource development.

National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
NCCA is the accreditation body of NOCA.  Certification organizations seeking accreditation by NCCA must demonstrate that their programs are in compliance with the NCCA standards.  NCCA is the only national accreditation body for private certification organizations which encompasses all occupations and professional disciplines.  

Publications

Certification:  A NOCA Handbook.  National Organization for Competency Assurance, Washington, D.C.

Development, Administration, Scoring and Reporting of Credentialing Examinations:  Recommendations for Board Members.  Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation, Lexington, KY.

Licensure Testing:  Purposes, Procedures, and Practices.  Buros Institute of Mental Measurements, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Principles of Fairness:  An Examining Guide for Credentialing Boards.  Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation, Lexington, KY and National Organization for Competency Assurance, Washington, D.C.

Standards for Accreditation of National Certification Organizations.  National Commission for Certifying Agencies, Washington, D.C.