The proliferation of uses of "certificate" in education and business is rendering the term meaningless. Higher education institutions should seek consensus on the types and categories in order to maintain clarity. A delineation between nonbaccalaureate and postbaccalaureate and between credit and noncredit is a starting point. (Contains…

Profiles an economist, a literary scholar, a bioinformatics researcher, and an expert on Islam who found good jobs in a tight academic market. (EV)

Defines the emergence of marital and family therapy as a distinct clinical discipline and an area of clinical practice. Describes significant historical developments that shaped the field and integrative aspects of family systems theory. Reviews role of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in professional credentialing and…

Schiro-Geist and Donlon describe the development of five types of credentials for rehabilitation professionals in workers' compensation, addressing the importance of accreditation to monitoring minimum standards. Comments by Thomas and Nolte are provided. (SK)

Steps for hiring training consultants are (1) check credentials; (2) specify needs; (3) ensure a fit with the organization; (4) request written program proposals; (5) make clear evaluation arrangements; (6) monitor appointed consultants; (7) give clear feedback; and (8) be prepared to answer awkward questions. (SK)

Discusses licensure and credentialing in rehabilitation counseling in the context of larger professional and social movements. Introduces critical aspects affecting licensure movement for rehabilitation counselors; provides overview of history of counselor licensure and participation of rehabilitation counselors; and describes issues current…

Provides accreditation and credentialing information for counselors. Counseling centers fully and provisionally accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) are listed alphabetically by state. Canadian listings are included. Contacts for state licensing board information are listed alphabetically by state, as are…

Registered nurses (n=368) participated in a skills recredentialing program in which competencies were assessed by a knowledge test and performance test under simulated conditions and evaluator ratings in actual patient-care situations. No significant differences in results between the simulated and actual conditions support the validity of the…

How do unselective schools that serve disadvantaged students get employers to recognize their graduates' qualifications? This study examined whether low-status colleges (whose credentials may not be widely understood) rely on the traditional college charter or engage in charter-building activities to get employers to recognize students' value.…

Nearly one out of five Canadian residents was born outside of Canada and approximately two-thirds of Canada's population growth results from net international migration. Only Australia, where immigrants represent 24% of the population, has a greater percentage of immigrants than Canada (18%). Immigration is a major factor in Canada's economic…

The "2007 GED[R] Testing Program Statistical Report" is the 50th annual report in the program's 66-year history of providing a second opportunity for adults without a high school diploma to earn their jurisdiction's GED credential, and, as a result, advance their educational, personal, and professional aspirations. Section I, "Who…

The report highlights the differences among California counties and regions in their use of under-prepared teachers and their needs for new teachers in the coming decade as driven by projected student enrollment changes and teacher retirements. The analyses, based on expected teacher retirements and student enrollment growth, suggest that…

The 2008 presidential election stands as a "change" election. The public's anxiety over the challenges globalization poses to the future of the American Dream is driving a desire for the country to change direction. The American people understand that what will give the nation a competitive advantage in a global marketplace are the…

Using data from Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, this issue of "Data Notes" looks at students who returned to their original Achieving the Dream institution after completing credentials or transferring to another institution. Forty-two percent of students who either received a degree or certificate or transferred from an Achieving…

Extensive education research on the contribution of teachers to student achievement produces two generally accepted results. First, teacher quality varies substantially as measured by the value added to student achievement or future academic attainment or earnings. Second, variables often used to determine entry into the profession and…