The first NCCA Standards were issued in the late 1970s. Since that time, the NCCA observed fundamental changes in the nature, scope, and importance of certification. In keeping with its service to the public and to various other stakeholders of professional certification, and in order to address changes in certification, NCCA undertook the review and revision of its accreditation standards. The standards revision project began in 1997 and involved numerous NOCA members, representatives from a multitude of NCCA accredited organizations, the public and other interested parties. The process for drafting revised Standards included a survey that initially provided impartial direction to the revision process, a thorough review of current law and judicial decisions, as well as an assessment of the procedures other accrediting bodies employed to develop, implement and promulgate new standards. Input from the certification field was continuous, with several comment periods and open forums. The revised NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs were approved in February 2002 and will be in effect January 1, 2003.

Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs(PDF file) © 2005 NOCA