Professional Certification Coalition

About the Coalition

   

The Professional Certification Coalition (PCC) was established in July 2018 to overcome the unintended consequences that occupational licensing reform bills could have for private professional credential-granting entities. The PCC is comprised of more than 100 private credentialing organizations in various industries and professions, including CFP Board.

The Institute for Credentialing Excellence and the American Society of Association Executives are leading this effort with support from a legal team at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Their collaboration furthers the mutual interests of non-governmental professional certification organizations in addressing unforeseen results of state-level occupational licensing reform bills and emphasizes the value that voluntary private credentialing brings to the marketplace.

Background

Multiple state legislatures recently have considered occupational licensing reform bills aimed at removing unnecessary barriers to entry into professions. While well-meaning, an unintended consequence of these emerging state efforts is the potential to undermine activities or recognition of certifications developed or offered by non-governmental, private certification organizations, such as CFP Board. In some instances, these bills would bar many professionals holding certifications from voluntary private organizations from using the title “certified.” In others, draft bill language would establish governmental certification programs that would supersede and replace private professional certification programs.

To address this issue, CFP Board joined more than 100 other private credentialing organizations in various industries and professions to form the PCC. Acting together, PCC member organizations advance the collective interests of those who rely on professional certification—such as employers and the general public—as well as of individual professionals who earned these certifications.