Promoting the Profession
Many students of CCNH are already practitioners in a conventional healthcare profession when they enroll, and some are already practicing an alternative healing approach. They are all seeking to expand their education and choose our programs to supplement the prior training they received. Then there are many graduates who complete their CCNH program and choose to practice in the field of natural health. It is important that practitioners are recognized and have substantial credentials that convey to their clients that they have expertise, that they follow excellent standards of practice, and that they are engaged in ongoing continuing education to maintain their knowledge and competency in the field.
Credentials in the field can vary. It is important to understand the differences in the credentials some practitioners receive. Licensure, certification, and registration are often confused. Licensure is a state regulated legal requirement for specific professions that generally has title protection and scope of practice protection. Each state determines which occupations and professions must be licensed in order to practice in that state. In most states, any practice in which the practitioner addresses a client's condition in terms of a medically diagnosable illness or disease is generally within the scope of the state's medical practice act and in most cases requires a healthcare professional license.
Certification can be either public or private. State certification generally means that there is an application process coupled with either state or private examination of proficiency in the field. Also, state certification generally contains some title protection, but usually does not contain scope of practice protection. Persons certified by the state are generally authorized to hold themselves out to the public as “state certified.” Private certification is a voluntary process determined by a professional organization. The organization sets the standards, expertise, training, and experience required for certification. This is a professional, not legal, issue. Therefore, while certification may denote a certain level of professional expertise, it does not necessarily allow or disallow a person to legally practice in that profession in a particular state.
| NOTICE: There are organizations claiming to provide federal or state licenses, certifications, or registrations to practice in the healing arts. Remember: Buyer Beware!—There are fundamental differences between state and private licenses, certifications, and registrations. |
Registration, similar to certification, again, can be either public or private. Public registration generally means that there is a routine application process with the state. In most states, registration contains no title protection or scope of practice protection. Persons registered by the state are generally authorized to hold themselves out to the public as “state registered.” Private registration is regulated by a professional organization. Some professions require registration with the designated professional organization in order for an individual to practice in the field. However, these required registrations generally require a state professional license before registration is granted. Other professional organizations offer national registration as a demonstration of the education and experience that the individual has demonstrated in the field.
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Note: Certification or registration by a professional organization may or may not require that the individual pass an examination before they are recognized as “certified” or “registered.” Some of these organizations have trademarked the certification or registration that they offer, which means that only those professionals who have met the requirements set by the organization can use the term or credentials associated with the recognition. The best example of this is the National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR). NAR is a private organization that sets up requirements for membership. In exchange for membership, members have the exclusive right to use the trademark, “REALTOR®.” In every state, you do not have to be a REALTOR® to sell real estate, but you must have a state license. An example in the natural health field is the CTNSM designation trademarked by the American Naturopathic Certification Board (ANCB), which certifies that the individual has met requirements set by ANCB and authorizes the individual to use that designation.
I hope this article provides some general guidance in understanding the distinctions between licensing, certification, and registration and in how state and private organizations view all three. Please make sure you always check your local laws. Practice with professionalism and integrity. This is how you can promote the profession.
Susie Hale 
shale@ccnh.edu
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