Bratton and Hildebrand (1980) offer the following definitions to help clarify the distinctions between certification, accreditation, and licensure.
Certification: The process by which a professional organization or an independent external agency recognizes the competence of individual practitioners.
Accreditation: the process whereby an agency or an association grants public recognition to a school, college, or university, or specialized study program that meets certain predetermined qualifications or standards.
Licensure: A mandatory legal requirement for certain professions in order to protect the public from incompetent practitioners. Licensing procedures are generally established or implemented by a political governing body that prescribes practice without a license.