"True" Competency-Based Certifications
Professional Standards Institute (PSI) takes a "real world" approach to professional certifications. A professional certification is a credential that certifies the skills and abilities (expertise) of an individual within a specific job role or skill. Our certifications measure what you can actually do - as a result of your real world experience and education.
Our competency-based certifications prove that you can actually do the job. We take the "whole person" approach to certification. You are assessed on what you have accomplished in your career to-date and what you can do today.
Our competency-based assessments are designed to measure your skills and capabilities. This, along with an evaluation your experience and education during the eligibility phase provides a good picture of what you can actually do.
AI Design Assisted
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to help design the Competency-Based Assessments.
Home-Based Assessment
You take the Competency-Based Assessment in the comfort of your home. You do not need to go to a test center.
Peer Evaluation
The peer evaluation of your Competency-Based Assessment is accomplished by our staff and Subject Matter Experts. There is no automated processing accomplished. Our peer evaluators use the same tools and methods to assess your work that college and university professors use.
A Peer Evaluation is not the same as a Peer Review for articles. Our Peer Evaluators are Subject Matter Experts in your field and use rubrics to assess your submission. All evaluation decisions are reviewed by a senior staff member.
Constructive Feedback
Certification applicants do not receive a computer-scored pass or fail. You are provided constructive feedback on your Competency-Based Assessment.
We believe that if you have several years of experience and an advanced education, your certification should reflect your skill level. PSI offers three levels of certification that reflects your level of expertise.
We ONLY certify experts! We do not offer an "associate" or "apprentice" level certification. These levels are entry-level certifications. The purpose of a certification is to certify "expertise" in a field.
Your initial certification period is for a full five (5) years. The master-level certifications do not expire and do not require re-certification. As a master-level certification holder, you will have a minimum of 5 to 7 years experience, to include supervisory, project lead, experience and managerial experience, and a higher level education. You will have reached a mastery of the field.
Emphasis on Skills and Experience
If you are working in the field, you are earning re-certification points. You can earn your complete re-certification by simply working at your job.
There are six different methods to earn the points you need to re-certify. Again, the emphasis is on experience. A majority of the required re-certification points come from work experience. Other ways to earn re-certification points include industry projects, college courses, technical courses, publishing an article or research paper, or earning a professional career award. Detailed information can be found on the Re-Certification Page.
How do you show that you are maintaining your skills?
When you earn a PSI certification, you receive a Professional Career Portfolio - a shareable digital profile documenting your certifications, skills, and future career activities. Your Professional Career Portfolio can be linked to a resume, personal website, or shared with current or potential employers. The Professional Career Portfolio shows employers what you are doing to maintain your skills and certification to keep your skills sharp!
We believe that our "real world" approach to professional certification sets us apart from other certification organizations. Our certifications are role-based, vendor-neutral, and realistic. We believe that quality trumps quantity when it comes to our certifications. We back our certification programs with decades invested in research and development, combined with continuous growth, enhancements, and improvements.
Everything we do at PSI is geared toward ensuring that our professional certifications deliver the value that industry expects and demands, giving our certification holders an advantage in the workforce. You're assessments are evaluated by peers in your field - not graded by computers. You are provided constructive feedback on your assessments. Potential employers will be able to see what you accomplished to earn your certification though PSI on your Professional Career Portfolio.
"Nothing worth having comes easy!" - Theodore Roosevelt