Accreditation:
* Purpose: To ensure an organization (school, hospital, laboratory, etc.) meets certain predetermined standards of quality, competence, or ethical practice. It's an assessment of the *organization's* systems and processes. Accreditation is often a requirement for operating legally or receiving funding.
* Scope: Broad, encompassing an entire organization or a significant part of it. It involves a review of policies, procedures, infrastructure, staff qualifications, and overall performance.
* Process: Usually involves a rigorous audit and on-site evaluation by an independent accrediting body. The accrediting body sets the standards, conducts the evaluation, and grants accreditation if the standards are met. Accreditation is often time-limited and requires periodic re-accreditation to ensure ongoing compliance.
* Example: A hospital receiving accreditation from The Joint Commission (in the US) signifies that it meets nationally recognized standards for patient safety and quality of care. A university receiving regional accreditation means it meets standards for educational quality and is likely to have its degrees recognized by other institutions.
Certification:
* Purpose: To verify that an *individual* or a specific *product* or *service* meets specific criteria and possesses certain skills, knowledge, or qualities. It's a validation of specific competencies or attributes.
* Scope: Narrower than accreditation; it focuses on specific skills, knowledge, or characteristics of an individual or product.
* Process: Typically involves passing an examination, completing a training program, or meeting specific performance criteria. The certifying body sets the standards and administers the process. Certification can also be time-limited and require renewal.
* Example: A person receiving a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification demonstrates proficiency in project management. A software program receiving ISO 27001 certification indicates it meets specific information security standards.
Key Differences Summarized:
| Feature | Accreditation | Certification |
|----------------|-------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Focus | Organization/System | Individual/Product/Service |
| Scope | Broad | Narrow |
| Purpose | Ensure quality and compliance | Verify competence or conformance to standards |
| Recipient | Organizations | Individuals, products, services |
In short, accreditation is about the quality of the organization, while certification is about the quality of the individual, product, or service. Sometimes, an organization might be accredited *because* its employees hold relevant certifications. The two concepts can be complementary.