People often ask, "What is the difference between certification and a certificate?" To assist you in
communicating with your colleagues and clients and to help avoid confusion in the marketplace, we have
provided you the comparison below.
By setting and enforcing standards for certification, the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS)
seeks to protect the public and consumers through their mission to provide assurance to the public that
the nurse holding the credential from an accredited certification program possesses the knowledge, skills
and competency for quality practice in the specialty. In compliance with ABNS standards and requirements,
the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB) certifies legal nurse consultant
professionals through the Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) program. Unlike many certificate
programs being offered by colleges and private educational providers, the LNCC program is practice-based.
It is not intended to teach individuals how to become legal nurse consultants. Rather, it is designed
to measure an individual's "knowledge-in-use" - the application of knowledge and skills by those with
real-life experience in this role.
| Certification |
Certificate |
| Results from an assessment process that recognizes an individual's knowledge, skills and
competency in a particular specialty |
Results from an educational process |
| Typically requires professional experience |
For newcomers and experienced professionals |
| Awarded by a third-party, standard-setting organization, typically not for profit |
Awarded by educational programs or institutions often for-profit |
| Indicates mastery/competency as measured against a defensible set of standards, usually by application
or exam |
Indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific focus (different than a
degree granting program) |
| Standards set through a defensible, industry-wide process (job analysis/role delineation) that
results in an outline of required knowledge and skills |
Course content determined by the specific provider or institution, not standardized |
| Typically results in credentials to be listed after one's name (LNCC, ONC, CCRN) |
Usually listed on a resume detailing education |
| Has on-going requirements in order to maintain; holder must demonstrate he/she continues to
meet requirements |
Demonstrates knowledge of course content at the end of a set period in time |
Certification generally refers to an earned credential that demonstrates the holder's specialized
knowledge, skills, and experience.
Certification differs from a certificate program, which is usually an educational offering that
confers a document at the program's conclusion.
Accreditation of a certification involves a voluntary, self-regulatory process. Accreditation is
granted when stated quality criteria are met.
LNCC is the only legal nurse consulting credential recognized by AALNC and accredited by ABNS.