The goal of a certification is to acknowledge the expertise of a professional in a specific
field and also to provide an indication to the public about that person’s abilities in a particular field.
Certifications are not meant to replace professional licensure, but the reality is that many engineers don’t seek professional licensure.   However, certifications offer an alternate means for professionals to be recognized and to validate their expertise.

Amongst professional engineers with licenses, certifications can offer a means a measured distinction.  To the professional skeptics I offer responses to the the most common questions:

Of course certifications are not without short comings.  Probably the most significant issue with certifications is the perception that they are solely developed for the financial gain of the governing bodies.  Unfortunately this theory gains traction when you consider how expensive some certifications are.   However, the reality is that certification administration is not cheap.  Governing bodies have to pay professinals to develop the course material, develop the testing criteria, develop  testing procedures.   There are also costs associated with the administration and maintenance of candidates credentials.

Based upon my extensive research into engineering certifications I’ve concluded that they indeed value to the careers of engineers and I would encourage any engineer (licensed or unlicensed) to explore the available certifications within their chosen discipline.

Please feel free to provide feedback on this topic.