In the load-handling industry, certifications are relied upon every day to help employers verify that personnel have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the work safely on the job. But what happens when a certification looks official, yet the organization issuing it is not independently accredited? For employers, site owners and individuals working around load-handling equipment, that distinction matters.
Certification Is More Than a Test
Training and certification both play important roles in developing a qualified workforce, but they are not the same. Training provides individuals with the education needed to perform their job duties. Certification independently verifies that an individual has demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to perform the job. Completing a class or passing an exam does not necessarily result in a certification. The value of a certification depends on the process behind it, including how the exams were developed, how the standards were established, and the validity of the exam.
Why Accreditation Matters
Accreditation provides an independent review of the certification body itself. ISO 17024 is the internationally recognized standard for organizations that certify personnel. The standard includes requirements related to impartiality, examination development, certification decisions, management systems and the ongoing operation of a personnel certification program. Many of CCO Certification’s programs are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board to ISO 17024. This accreditation was awarded only after extensive reviews of CCO’s policies, psychometric procedures, examination development processes and program administration. Accredited certification bodies must continue to demonstrate compliance with the standard and remain subject to independent oversight. This rigorous process gives employers and certified individuals confidence that the examinations are fair, valid and reliable assessments of the knowledge and skills they measure.
Independence Protects the Process
Impartiality protects the integrity of the certification process and provides an objective way to determine whether comprehension has occurred. CCO is committed to impartiality in carrying out its certification activities, managing any conflicts of interest, and ensuring the objectivity of its certification activities. In this industry, training is often essential. CCO actively encourages candidates to receive appropriate training. However, CCO does not provide training. That separation is important. Training teaches. Certification verifies. By remaining independent from training, CCO can serve as an impartial third-party certification body.
Employers Should Verify Before They Trust
Employers should not accept a certification based only on its appearance. Just because someone presents a card does not mean it’s a legitimate certification. The employer or owner should verify the organization that issued it, confirm that the certification program falls within the organization’s accredited scope and check that the individual’s certification is current. CCO offers public certification verification through VerifyCCO so employers, site owners and other industry stakeholders can confirm an individual’s current certification status directly from the source. Anyone can go to verifycco.org and search a candidate to verify their certification status. Certification cards can expire, be fraudulently made or be tampered with. Choosing the Gold Standard in certification means trusting that the certification being presented meets the rigor required for safe operation. It means verifying the individual, the certification and the organization standing behind it.
For further information about CCO’s accreditation, visit https://www.nccco.org/nccco/about-nccco/accreditation. For information about the certification process, visit https://www.nccco.org/nccco/get-cco-certified/certification-process-overview to learn more.
