Additional Certifications Research Articles

The Role of Continuing Education in Lifelong Learning: A Quantitative Study in Two Universities in China

This quantitative study explores the role of continuing education (CE) in fostering lifelong learning among students in two universities in China: Hunan University of Science and Technology and Changsha University of Science and Technology. The research investigates students' attitudes, perceptions, and engagement levels towards continuing education, aiming to provide insights into the effectiveness of existing CE programs and identify areas for improvement. A structured questionnaire was administered to 300 undergraduate and graduate students, utilizing Likert scale responses. Results indicate a balanced representation across gender identities, with varying levels of engagement across academic years and fields of study. The majority of respondents report prior experience with CE, indicating proactive engagement in lifelong learning activities. Findings also reveal a generally positive outlook towards lifelong learning, with high levels of agreement on the importance of self-directed learning, adaptability, and openness to new ideas. Engagement with CE activities is predominantly positive, with strong participation in industry conferences, online courses, and additional certifications. Participants perceive CE as positively influencing academic performance, career prospects, and personal growth. The study underscores the significance of integrating CE initiatives into educational frameworks to support holistic student development and promote lifelong learning. It emphasizes the importance of addressing barriers to access and enhancing skills development within CE programs to empower students for success in today's dynamic job market.

Is the proliferation of private standards acting as a non-tariff trade barrier in agrifood trade? Evidence from Chilean grape exports

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the impacts that the recent proliferation of private and overlapping standards is having in the trade of agricultural products from developing countries.Design/methodology/approachIn a first stage industry experts in the Chilean fresh fruit trading industry were interviewed to understand the perceived impact that private standards are imposing in the industry. These interviews allowed to identify the market case study, table grapes, the landscape of private standards and their prevalence in different countries. In a second stage, a gravity trade model for trade in table grapes was estimated, with a focus on the more stringent countries identified by experts in the first stage.FindingsWe show evidence that the proliferation of private standards required by large European retailers has diverted trade away from more stringent countries that require more certifications (and into less stringent European markets). We also show that the costs of these additional certifications have been shared by trading partners, via an increase in direct sales, as opposed to consignment (the traditional marketing mode), which is associated with higher prices.Research limitations/implicationsThe impacts of the recent proliferation of private and overlapping standards in international trade needs to be better understood both by the legal and economic literature. While the use of private standards has been growing since the 1990s, there is a recent trend of large European retailers imposing their own and overlapping standards that needs to be better understood to inform policy.Originality/valueWhile there is a thin literature on the impact of private standards on trade, most of this has studied the effects of the now de facto mandatory GlobalGAP certification. However, there is a recent trend by large European retailers of demanding their own private certifications, together with other already existing overlapping private standards. This study describes and analyzes the impacts of this rather new trend.

Do formal education or certification opportunities in sterile processing enhance career advancement?

BackgroundSterile processing is an essential, yet often overlooked, aspect of surgical operations. An efficient and precise sterile processing department is critical for providing clean, functional instruments without disrupting operating room workflow. Despite the importance of sterile processing in the day-to-day function of operating rooms, little is known about the educational background, opportunities, or incentives for career advancement for individuals working in sterile processing. We conducted a comprehensive online national survey of sterile processing employees to define the role of education in this space. MethodsFollowing IRB approval, surveys were sent via email to 50,000+ sterile processing employees querying them about their work role, education background, and certification history. Data was collected and maintained on the Qualtrics platform and analyzed for descriptive statistics using built-in tools. ResultsIn total, there were 958 respondents. The average age was 47 years, 67% were women and 86% reported working as hospital employees. The average length of employment was 13.5 years. Half (50.52%) reported working as technicians, 16.76% were supervisors, 16.18% were managers, 5.01% were Directors and 3.49% were educators (Table 1). The minority of respondents held a 2-year (19%) or 4-year (21%) college degree Table 2). Approximately half of respondents (427 of 857) had enrolled in a post-high school education program in sterile processing, with an average of 7.2 months of training. Nearly all respondents (92%) held some form of sterile processing certification. Formal training or certification in sterile processing did not correlate with a higher-ranking position of employment. The majority of employees engaged in self-directed learning at least on a monthly basis. On average, directors and managers worked in sterile processing longer than supervisors and technicians and were more likely to have 4-year, master, or doctoral degrees when compared with technicians. Although higher-ranking employees were more likely than technicians to have completed leadership courses, employees overall were significantly less likely to complete leadership courses if they were not provided or reimbursed by their institution (P<0.001). ConclusionThere exists wide variation in formal training and certification backgrounds among sterile processing employees. In most states, a standardized pathway to employment does not exist; rather, individual employers assume responsibility for SPD employee training. Employment requirements are variable, and certifications specific to this space do not correlate significantly with workplace roles or positions of leadership. Managers and Directors are more likely to hold an advanced degree. There is little financial or career incentive to obtain formal training or additional certifications that may improve the quality of sterile processing. Nonetheless, the majority of respondents appear actively engage in self-directed learning consistent with a highly motivated, resourceful workforce. Our data suggest that sterile processing employees would optimize opportunities generated through the creation of formal, incentivized education pathways.

Awareness and Readiness of Dentists to Practice amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic in Pakistan

Background: Corona Virus spreads via droplets and air. Dentists are at high risk due to proximity to the oral cavity and the production of droplets during procedures. Aim: To assess awareness of COVID19 among dental professionals and check their knowledge about the COVID-19 disease, its route of spread, clinical symptoms, tests for diagnosis, prevention in dental practice for a safe return to the dental practice. Methods: Online questionnaires were shared with dentists all over the country using convenience and snowball sampling. The questionnaire assessed knowledge, aptitude and effect on dental practice. SPSS, v. 21.0 was used for analysis. Results: Total number of participants was (316) and were from all provinces of the country (Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, KPK, Gilgit Baltistan). Most of the entries were from Sindh province (58.1%). Most of the participants are qualified as BDS(69.4%), 11.7% are FCPS, 5.7% are BDS with additional certifications. Participation from the age group 20-30 years was 74% followed by 18% of the age group 30-40. Conclusions: Dentists of our country were well aware of this pandemic and are fully equipped to manage their practices while preventing cross-contamination. Keywords: dentists, COVID-19, pandemic, Personal protective equipment

P–771 I hear, I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. An Insight into the need for training for add on techniques

Abstract Study question Do embryologists need additional training or certifications before using add on techniques in the lab ? Summary answer Out of 173 respondents majority feel add on techniques require training and/or certifications, the mode of training varies for different add ons. What is known already Cochrane reviews have suggested that minimal evidence exists for the use of add on treatments in ART, the data on the prevalence of add ons in IVF is unclear but the presence of technologies in ART laboratories world over suggests a increasing trend of adoption of unproven techniques. No data exists suggesting the role of embryologists in performing the Add on techniques and how their training or lack of, can impact patient safety. The most common method of training comes from the manufacturers and there is a lack of structured trainings for add on treatments worldover. Study design, size, duration An internet based survey was designed keeping in mind commonly available laboratory add ons. It comprised of 9 sections and a total of 18 multiple choice questions. Answer choices ranged from a simple yes or no to more complex choices suggesting the type of training and the potential benefits of training. Participants/materials, setting, methods The Survey includes results from 173 embryologists from india with varying degree of experience. Add ons included in the survey were Sperm DNA Fragmentation test, IMSI, PICSI, Microfluidics, MACS, Advanced culture media, Oocyte vitrification, Assisted hatching, Time Lapse imaging, spindle view and Electronic Witnessing. The most common practice suggestions were tabulated and identified. Main results and the role of chance The survey reports huge need for training for different add on treatments (SDF –91.4%, IMSI - 81.2%, PICSI- 66.5%, Microfluidics- 55.9%, MACS –55.3%, MicroTese- 86.9%, using advanced culture medias{Calcium ionophore- 73.4%, Hyaluronan rich media- 52.1%, growth cytokine rich media–48.5%, Theophylline for sperm motility–50.9%},oocyte Vitrification 85.5%, Assisted Hatching 75.4%, Time-lapse and Electronic witnessing 77.3%, Polarised microscopy for spindle assessment 73.5%). The Most preferred mode of training for more invasive procedures was Hands on training, followed by On the job training and validation followed by workshops(SDF- 62.6%, IMSI- 61%,PICSI–56.1%, MACS and Microfluidics 38.8%,microTese- 50.6%,Oocyte freezing 85.5%, assisted hatching 67.8%,Time-lapse and electronic witnessing 77.3%, Spindle view 73.5% ). The most preferred mode of training for non invasive procedures was Workshops and Observerships, followed by CME’s, followed by product Leaflets(44.4%,42.1%,13.5% respectively). The most common answer for the disadvantages of not being trained was unable to use the technology to its fullest potential(88.5%), whereas the most common answer for the benefit of being trained was better outcomes with said technologies(76.6%). Limitations, reasons for caution This study includes responses from embryologists who have varied levels of experience, while the need for training can be established based on these results, a junior level embryologist might answer the survey differently as compared to a senior or a lab director. Wider implications of the findings: This is a first of its kind large survey, suggesting the need for training and validation from the perspective of the embryologist. This data can be used in formulating guidelines for future trainings and can help regulators in deciding on the most preferred mode of training. Trial registration number -

Inappropriateness Penalty, Desirability Premium: What Do More Certifications Actually Signal?

Prevailing theory argues that more certifications increase performance. However, emerging empirical evidence implies that obtaining more certifications may actually decrease performance. How do we reconcile this tension? Practically speaking, why would ventures seek additional certifications in light of these recently identified risks? To address this gap between existing theory and recent empirics, we look more closely at ventures’ activities and performance outcomes after they receive their first certification. We posit that different patterns of certification reflect different forms of experimentation. In particular, ventures may be willing to experiment in ways that incur an inappropriateness penalty for the chance to gain a subsequent desirability premium if their experiments succeed. Inappropriateness means that certifications signal divergence from accepted market norms and standards. Desirability means that certifications signal activities that are in the perceived self-interest of the potential audience. We hypothesize that certifications reflecting broad experimentation incur initial inappropriateness penalties, yet when successful, they are more likely to lead to breakthroughs that generate desirability premia. We find support for this idea through an empirical analysis drawing from a sample of 7,440 U.S. ventures that receive one or more Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants to commercialize new technologies. This study advances institutional theory of certification to better account not only for its benefits but also for its costs.

Health Services Regulatory Analysis: A Novel Method to Connect Policy to Health Services

Research ObjectiveStates regulate licensed care settings, such as assisted living (AL) residences, to protect residents, including many with cognitive impairments such as ADRD. States take varying approaches to critical issues in AL, including defining admission criteria, safety, and egress features, and discharge and eviction processes. Yet, researchers have not fully explored how state regulations affect resident care outcomes, which is the purpose of this study. To accomplish this goal, we developed a novel approach.Study DesignPrevious work by team members linked administrative lists of licensed AL facilities to Medicare claims. The current project created a dataset of states’ regulations with the use of methods from health services research, legal epidemiology, qualitative content analysis, and text mining. Our team sourced state AL license and certification regulations from Nexis Uni legal database for current requirements and changes over time. This method produced documents that describe states’ regulations for each of the 192 licensed or certified settings. We then coded these documents into dichotomous categories that can be linked to our existing dataset of Medicare claims.Population StudiedThis study examined all states’ AL regulations between 2007 and 2018, and lists maintained by state licensing agencies.Principal FindingsWe identified 192 unique types of state‐licensed or certified AL settings distinguished in the regulations, of which 171 were matched to state administrative records. Many states have subcategories or additional certifications with a range of between 2 and 22 license types, and 38 states license or certify at least one dementia‐specific setting. The ability to link our existing dataset of Medicare claims and our categorization of state regulatory requirements allowed for analysis of the relationships between regulatory changes and resident care outcomes.ConclusionsThis method advances previous observations that AL regulation varies by state. However, we extend prior knowledge by establishing a novel and reliable method for sourcing regulations and conducting text analysis that identifies the most salient aspects of facility licensure and certification and determining how these change over time. Our dataset allows us to quantify differences within and across states and to estimate how these regulatory variations impact AL residents’ health service use and outcomes.Implications for Policy or PracticeState agencies lack evidence about what works when implementing administrative requirements for AL settings. This study presents a reliable method for sourcing and analyzing the content of regulatory codes and identifying substantive changes made from one year to the next. This method allows researchers to conduct analyses that provide evidence regarding the impact of regulatory requirements on AL residents’ access to and use of health services. An added benefit to our approach is that researchers can use these methods to conduct more sophisticated analyses of state and intrastate variation on health outcomes. State licensing officials may benefit from and use this information when making regulatory changes.Primary Funding SourceNational Institutes of Health.

Proper Use of Technical Standards in Offshore Petroleum Industry

Ships for drilling need to operate in the territorial waters of many different countries which can have different technical standards and procedures. For example, the European Union and European Economic Area EU/EEA product safety directives exclude from their scope drilling ships and related equipment onboard. On the other hand, the EU/EEA offshore safety directive requires the application of all the best technical standards that are used worldwide in the oil and gas industry. Consequently, it is not easy to select the most appropriate technical standards that increase the overall level of safety and environmental protection whilst avoiding the costs of additional certifications. We will show how some technical standards and procedures, which are recognized worldwide by the petroleum industry, can be accepted by various standardization bodies, and how they can fulfil the essential health and safety requirements of certain directives. Emphasis will be placed on the prevention of fire and explosion, on the safe use of equipment under pressure, and on the protection of personnel who work with machinery. Additionally considered is how the proper use of adequate procedures available at the time would have prevented three large scale offshore petroleum accidents: the Macondo Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010; the Montara in the Timor Sea in 2009; the Piper Alpha in the North Sea in 1988.

An exploratory study analyzing demographics and opinions of assistive technology professionals within the complex rehab technology industry

ABSTRACT This exploratory study investigated the demographics of Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) regarding their age, education, certifications, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, disability status, method of financial compensation, company type, and category. In addition, it analyzed opinions on the Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) industry regarding education level and licensure. An 18-question survey developed and disseminated by the University of Pittsburgh in collaboration with the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) resulted in 252 responses from current ATPs in the Supplier/Manufacturing industry. The average age of respondents of 51.9 years showed to be above the national average workforce age of 42.2 years. Data were analyzed as a whole and by comparing answers for respondents below and above the average age. 92.4% of the respondents were Caucasian and 79.0% were male showing a need for diversity in the field. Forty-five percent of the younger age group had additional certifications compared to 30% of the older group. 79.8% of all respondents would recommend the ATP profession to someone looking for a career. Findings support the need to increase awareness of the ATP supplier/manufacturing profession to attract younger professionals including those from minority groups. Findings also support the need for additional training for the profession.

A pilot registry of trauma surgeons willing and ready to respond to disasters.

A well-defined means of organizing surgeons based on functional capabilities in disaster response has been lacking. We sought to create a pilot registry of surgeons, organized by functional capacities, available to respond to disasters in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Operation Giving Back and to better understand their participation in disaster medicine training. The authors conducted a survey of the members of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma aimed at establishing a pilot registry of qualified trauma surgeons available to respond to disasters. Data from the surveys were analyzed retrospectively for surgical and subspecialty training, board certification, disaster response training, and military or civilian disaster experience to better understand the respondents' functional capacities and disaster training backgrounds. Of 211 respondents, 96% self-identified as trauma surgeons, whereas 87% and 89% reported active practice in acute care surgery and/or critical care. Nearly all had primary board certifications in general surgery (93%), and many had additional certifications in surgical critical care (65%). While many reported participation in American College of Surgeons-sponsored trauma courses, only 30% of those surveyed received disaster-specific training in Federal Emergency Management Agency courses, and even fewer received training in the Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness course. Few had military (26%) or civilian (19%) experience in disaster response. This initiative complements efforts to organize a registry of trauma surgeons who are qualified and willing to respond in all aspects of disaster response. While trauma surgeons are optimally positioned to provide a wide range of surgical expertise in a disaster, this study further demonstrated the lack of a universally accepted disaster training program for surgeons willing to respond to mass casualty incidents. Standardized disaster response training for surgeons remains a challenge for the future. Care management, level IV.

Self-confidence and knowledge of German ICU physicians in palliative care \u2013 a multicentre prospective study

BackgroundLittle is known about ICU physicians’ self-confidence and knowledge related to palliative care. Our objective was to investigate self-confidence and knowledge of German ICU physicians related to palliative care, and to assess the impact of work experience, gender, specialty and additional certifications in pain or palliative medicine.MethodsIn a multicentre prospective observational study ICU physicians of ten hospitals were asked to rate their self-confidence and to complete a multiple choice questionnaire for the assessment of knowledge. Beyond descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests for group comparisons, linear regression analysis was used to assess the impact of independent variable on self-confidence and knowledge. Spearman‘s rank test was calculated.Results55% of answers in the knowledge test were correct and more than half of the participants rated themselves as “rather confident” or “confident”. Linear regression analysis revealed that an additional certificate in either pain or palliative medicine significantly increased both knowledge and self-confidence, but only 15 out of 137 participants had at least one of those certificates. Relation between self-confidence and the results of the knowledge test was weak (r = 0.270 in female) and very weak (r = −0.007 in male).ConclusionsAlthough the questionnaire needs improvement according to the item analysis, it appears that, with respect to palliative care, ICU Physicians’ self-confidence is not related to their knowledge. An additional certificate in either pain or palliative medicine was positively correlated to both self-confidence and knowledge. However, only a minority of the participants were qualified through such a certificate.

Clinical photography: A to Z

Clinical orthodontic photography is a vital skill set that every practicing orthodontist should master to be successful at the documentation of case records, patient education, peer presentations, marketing, and at acquiring additional certifications. This article aims to review various aspects of orthodontic photography and relevant research.

Impact of ISO 9001 certification on firms financial operating performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of ISO 9001 certification on US firms’ financial operating performance for a period of five years including one-year prior to certification, year of certification, and three fiscal years after certification. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on an examination of a sample of 397 firms that had received ISO 9001 certification from 1991 to 2002. Certified-firm, non-certified-firm, and matched-control-firm operating performances were examined over the same period based on the ratio of pre-tax operating income to total assets (EBITA/TA). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test for significant differences in operating performance among the certified, non-certified, and matched-control firms. Findings – The paper concludes that there was significant improvement performance from prior year to year of certification. The certified firms performed better than the non-certified firms. The certified firms also performed better than the matched-control firms. Research limitations/implications – Based on the research approach and the findings, the paper recommends the use of newer ISO data; any additional certifications; and further research into the lack of significant operating values by the certified firms in the post-certification years. Practical implications – The paper shows that ISO 9001 certification is statistically related to operating performance. Certified firms have better operating performance. The positive significance in decile operating performance from prior year to certification year is an important finding for the implementation of ISO 9001. Originality/value – The paper satisfies the need to study when ISO 9001 certification impacts firms’ financial operating performance.

Complementary Medicine for Cancer Patients in General Practice: Qualitative Interviews with German General Practitioners

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate how general practitioners react when their cancer patients show interest in complementary medicine, and how their reaction is related to their knowledge in the field. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 German general practitioners. Interviewees came from 5 different federal states and varied in terms of urban/rural setting, single/joint practice, additional certifications, gender and length of professional experience. Interviews were electronically recorded, transcribed and then analysed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Results: General practitioners feel largely responsible for providing information on complementary medicine to their cancer patients. However, uncertainty and a lack of knowledge concerning CAM lead mainly to reactive responses to patients' needs, and the general practitioners base their recommendations on personal experiences and attitudes. They wish to support their cancer patients and thus, in order to keep their patients' hopes up and maintain a trusting relationship, sometimes support complementary medicine, regardless of their own convictions. Conclusion: Although general practitioners see themselves as an important source of information on complementary medicine for their cancer patients, they also speak of their uncertainties and lack of knowledge. General practitioners would profit from training in complementary medicine enabling them to discuss this topic with their cancer patients in a proactive, open and honest manner.

Reinventing oneself--sustaining employability.

Acquiring additional education and certifications can transform occupational health nurses into leaders who can enhance the workplace.

TU‐E‐137‐01: In‐House Credentialing

The issue of in‐house credentialing has taken on added importance with more complex procedures and the recent emphasis on safety, especially in imaging and radiation oncology procedures. Medical Physicists have been categorized as Allied Health Professionals on most hospital and facility rosters with little more than proof of board certification as their chief credentialing statistic. Now, medical staff credentialing bodies have required more specific training in specialty procedures such as IMRT, SRS, SBRT, IGRT and specialized brachytherapy procedure like HDR, eye plaques, prostate seed implants, etc. Vendor training both on and off site for complex planning and treatment delivery systems like VMAT, RapidArc, TrueBeam, Tomotherapy and GammaKnife/ CyberKnife, to list but a few of the new technologies, are paramount in understanding the accurate and safe use of these systems. Societies offer guidelines and standards that may be useful in their applications and should be considered required reading. Departmental guidelines may require proctoring on a minimum number of cases. Although Board Certification bodies credential candidates over a broad range of specialty procedures, practitioners are more and more called on to have a greater detailed knowledge base of these complex systems and procedures. Many Medical Physicists have limited themselves to becoming proficient at one or two of these more specialized technologies. Indeed, the radiological community has answered this call by instituting additional certifications, the CAQ (Certificate of Added Qualification). These are achieved through spending an additional year of fellowship training to attain this detailed training. And, perhaps, Medical Physicists need to look to this additional fellowship training to achieve similar proficiency in one or more of these fields. Perhaps CAMPEP could take on sanctioning of these specialty fellowships. However it is structured, each department will have the onus of deciding on a program to credential Medical Physicists in these new specialty categories.Learning Objectives:1. Understand the structure of hospital and facility credentialing procedures2. Make use of guidelines and standards to apply new technologies properly3. Understand the departmental evaluation of skill sets for complex procedures, proctoring number of case, etc.4. Finally, explore the possibility of a medical physics fellowship to gain more skills and experience in focused specialties

Additional Certifications For CPA's: A Quality Control Issue

Over the last twenty years public accounting firms have started to provide additional services other than attest services and tax preparation, such as business valuations and financial planning, which can be very profitable for the firms. However, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation that has been used in many cases to market these services provides no assurance that the accountant is adequately trained in these new fields since CPA certification requires neither knowledge nor experience in these areas. This paper reviews the services being provided by accountants and the additional professional certifications available to help accountants deliver quality services consistent with the publics expectations of CPAs. In addition, firms that may be thinking of expanding into new niche areas can make sure that they hire professionals or train existing staff with the appropriate credentials.

Additional Certifications For CPA's: A Quality Control Issue

Over the last twenty years public accounting firms have started to provide additional services other than attest services and tax preparation, such as business valuations and financial planning, which can be very profitable for the firms. However, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation that has been used in many cases to market these services provides no assurance that the accountant is adequately trained in these new fields since CPA certification requires neither knowledge nor experience in these areas. This paper reviews the services being provided by accountants and the additional professional certifications available to help accountants deliver quality services consistent with the publics expectations of CPAs. In addition, firms that may be thinking of expanding into new niche areas can make sure that they hire professionals or train existing staff with the appropriate credentials.

Examining teachers' beliefs about and implementation of a balanced literacy framework

While many embrace balanced literacy as a framework for quality literacy instruction, the way in which teachers operationalise the tenets of balanced literacy can vary greatly. In the present study, 581 teachers in the United States completed questionnaires concerning: (a) their beliefs about literacy skills and literacy instructional strategies that are most essential to reading success; and (b) their implementation of balanced literacy instruction in their classrooms. Results reveal that teachers varied in their implementation of reading and writing routines, with teachers reporting participating less frequently in writing activities. Teachers' implementation of balanced literacy routines varied as a function of the grade level they taught, but not additional certifications or years of experience. In addition, teachers' participation in reading and writing routines was related to their literacy beliefs, particularly their belief in the importance of code‐based literacy skills.

On Alternative and Additional Certifications in English Language Teaching: The Case of Colombian EFL Teachers' Professional Development

National policies for English-Spanish bilingualism require the availability of more and better prepared EFL teachers in Colombia. This paper critically analyzes the use of two international models of teacher development that play the role of alternative and additional certifications for ELT professionals in the country. Through the review of literature in the field, the author argues that the current promotion of the use of the In-Service Certificate in English Language Teaching (ICELT) and the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) as additional and alternative teaching certifications may represent some forms of standardization, exclusion, inequality, and businessification in the professional development of EFL teachers. Conclusions suggest the need for more critical voices from teacher educators, better communication strategies among different educational actors and the construction of a more pluralistic view of the professional development of EFL teachers that values local knowledge.&#x0D; Received: 26-03-09 / Accepted: 30-04-09&#x0D; How to reference this article:&#x0D; Gonzalez Moncada, A. (2009). On Alternative and Additional Certifications in English Language Teaching: The Case of Colombian EFL Teachers' Professional Development. Íkala. 14(2), pp.183-209.&#x0D;