What is the difference between credentialing and accreditation?
Licensure and certification are concerned with evaluating persons, whereas accreditation is concerned with evaluating organizations or educational institutions or programs. Accreditation is broadly defined as a voluntary, self-regulatory process by which governmental, non-governmental, voluntary associations or other statutory bodies grant formal recognition to programs or institutions that meet stated quality criteria. Educational programs or institutions obtain accreditation based on having the required infrastructure, resources and processes to carry out their prescribed roles. Unlike credentialing programs, accreditation does not evaluate the performance or ability of any individual, but rather the educational program or institution as a whole. Students who graduate from an accredited educational program may not possess all of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to pass a licensure or certification test. Graduation from an accredited educational program does not necessaril
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