Why Do You Need to Get Certified? What Are the Benefits of Professional Certification?
	Professional certification offers individuals a wide range of important benefits. The certification designation demonstrates to current and potential employers that the employee possesses a solid foundation of experience and education in a field of endeavor that can have a positive impact on bottom-line results. Certification symbolizes knowledge and accomplishment and is highly regarded by colleagues and employers. As a certified professional, the employee can proudly join a successful group of professionals who are enriching and advancing their careers and their chosen professions. Specific benefits include the following:
	Professionalism -- Certification indicates a high level of professionalism to both coworkers and customers, increasing one's value in the market place.
	Leadership -- Certification signifies an employee as dedicated to continuous improvement of himself/herself.
	Recognition -- Only a small fraction of professionals ever achieve certification, indicating that they are a leading professional in their fields.
	Knowledge -- Certification will improve one's understanding of the most current processes and trends in one's profession.
	Ethical Behavior—Individuals who become certified must subscribe to a rigorous code of ethics appropriate to the specific profession.
	Research data has shown that employers typically reward certified employees with salaries that are 25 to 40% higher than those who are not certified. A high correlation between certification and salary exists for virtually all professions and all industries sampled.
          


