In the United States, we use accreditation and licensing to verify that predetermined, standardized criteria are met. For any business or organization to operate successfully, these processes must be followed. Accreditation is a voluntary process by which a non-governmental body grants recognition or accreditations for a limited period to an organization after verifying that predetermined and standardized criteria are met. Accreditation is voluntary, but sometimes it becomes so important that it can be considered mandatory. The evaluation of an accreditation focuses on safe and effective developments and results. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Accreditation usually has ongoing requirements such as applications or site visits that must be completed to maintain accreditation. Some examples of such apps and sites include: Joint Commission, Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB), Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), Planetree, etc. Licensing is a method by which a government agency grants time-limited authorization to an individual to practice a profession after authenticating that he or she meets specified and standardized criteria, usually education, experience and the exam. The purpose of licensing is to ensure that licensees possess the minimum degree of competence necessary to ensure the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public. Obtaining a license typically requires meeting eligibility requirements and passing an assessment covering a broad range of knowledge and skills, usually at the entry level. There are usually ongoing requirements that must be met to maintain the license, such as CEUs, retests, physical exams, etc. Naturally, they are approved at the state level. If the individual works in more than one dominion, then he or she must be licensed in each dominion. . Licensing requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Professional associations do not grant permits but may play a role in permitting activities, such as promoting permitting and working with agencies responsible for permit development and administration. An example of this title would be registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The difference between accreditation and licensure 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. Although licensure is involuntary, it is primarily intended for public safety and the welfare of consumers such as individuals, facilities, programs, organizations, or agencies. In the United States, accreditation was developed to protect health and safety and to serve the public interest. Communities were growing rapidly and quality standards needed to be established for organizations serving public needs, such as health care and education. In the 1800s, higher education was gaining ground in the United States, but few standards were in place 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 hospital reform based on health management outcomes..