In the United States, we use accreditation and licensing to verify that predetermined, standardized criteria are met. For any business or organization to function successfully, these processes need to be in place. Accreditation is a voluntary process by which a non-governmental body grants time-limited recognition or credentials to an organization after ensuring that predetermined, standardized criteria are met. However, accreditation is voluntary, sometimes it becomes so important that it can be considered mandatory. The emphasis of an accreditation evaluation is placed on safe and effective developments and results. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Accreditation typically has ongoing requirements such as applications or site visits that must be met to maintain accreditation. An example of such applications and sites are: Joint Commission, Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), Planetree, etc. Licensing is a method by which a government agency grants time-limited permission to an individual to participate in a profession after authenticating that he or she has met certain, standardized criteria, usually education, experience, and examination. The objective of the license is to ensure that licensees have the minimum level of competence necessary to ensure the protection of public health, safety and welfare. To become licensed, you usually need to meet eligibility requirements and pass an assessment that covers a wide range of knowledge and skills, usually at entry level. There are usually ongoing requirements that must be met to maintain your license such as CEUs, retests, physical exams, etc. Of course, they are approved at the state level if the individual works in multiple domains, then he or she must be licensed in each domain. Licensing requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Professional associations do not grant licenses but can play a role in licensing activities, such as promoting licensing and working with agencies responsible for developing and administering licenses. An example of this credential would be a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The difference between accreditation and licensing is that accreditation is both a process and a credential and the accreditation process is voluntary and only organizations, agencies or programs can be accredited. While involuntary licensing exists primarily for public safety and the welfare of consumers such as individuals, facilities, programs, organizations or agencies. Accreditation in the United States was developed to protect health and safety and to serve the public interest. Communities were growing rapidly, and it was necessary to establish quality standards for organizations that met public needs, such as health care and education. By the 1800s, higher education was gaining ground in the United States, but few standards existed to regulate an institution's educational quality and differentiate one school from another. The first hospitals in the United States were accredited by the American College of Surgeons to promote outcomes-based hospital reform in managing patient care. The American College of Surgeons Hospital Standards Program was merged in 1951 with similar efforts by the American College of Physicians, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the Canadian Medical Association. There.