INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Broadcast Engineers says it has joined the Professional Certification Coalition.
The organization “was formed to challenge” proposed state legislation that would govern how holders of non-governmental certifications, including SBE members, would be able to use these certifications.
Led by the American Society of Association Executives and the Institute for Certification Excellence, the more than 50 coalition member organizations are lobbying state legislators “to modify bills to remove any effect they have on certifications offered by private, non-profit associations and other certification granting organizations,” SBE explains.
Of specific concern are bills that define certifications as limited to those authorized by the state. Also concerning to the SBE is legislation that would prevent people from using non-governmental certifications to promote their businesses or convey knowledge/experience, according to the announcement.
The SBE notes that the legislation is intended “to remove perceived employment barriers” and originally targeted “state professional licensing laws,” but some of the language has put voluntary certifications into this same category.
