Certification and Licensure
One thing you need to be aware of when pursuing your Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, or EKG Technician education is the appropriate terminology for the credential you will achieve. After completing one of these programs you will receive a certificate, not a license. There is a difference between certification and license. It is important to be familiar with these terms so you are aware of the credential you will receive at the end of completion. You also want to utilize the appropriate terminology to ensure you do not lose credibility in the profession!
Let’s begin with the similarities of the two terms so you can understand why it is common to confuse the two. They both demonstrate a level of skill to perform a specific job. They also show that you are knowledgeable in a specified area to accomplish the job duties that are listed for your determined field. More importantly, they both indicate a level of competency to practice in that specified profession. Please note both certificates and licenses need to be renewed for continuing education to accomplish that standards are continually met appropriately.
So what is the difference between these two terms? Certification is a verification that set skills have been met to perform a job that is measured by a third-party agency. It is also verification that the potential employee has met national standards to perform specific job skills. Licensure is a verification by a government agency that a professional can perform a specific occupation in a specific state.
At this point, you may be thinking “well can I get licensed for EKG, Phlebotomy, or MA?” The answer is NO. These programs are always certified and not licensed. They are a national certification which means you can go into any state and work in your specified field. When you think of jobs that need to have a license think of nursing jobs, psychologists, pharmacists, and even teachers!
I hope this helps you when you are preparing for your new career in any of these fields! Again it is important to know your credentials to maintain credibility! More important, it is vital to know your credentials so you can showcase them on your resume appropriately!