Much like it’s better to go to a college or university with accreditation, a technical certification with ANSI Accreditation is given more credibility than one that lacks it. Since many technical certifications are offered by vendors, Microsoft, Cisco, etc; through their licensed partners, Prometric, Pearson VUE, etc; accreditation isn’t as crucial, but still important.

ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, is the accreditation body for technical certifications and when a particular program is accredited, it’s recognized as being a reputable certification. They provide accreditation in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 65 for product certification programs and is overseen by the ANSI Product Certification Accreditation Committee (ACC). They are responsible for accreditation of all certifications, not just technical certifications, which includes certifications from sanitation products to solar energy, food service equipment to sealed insulated glass, and many more.

Technical certifications seek accreditation and compliance with ISO 17024, the international standard that sets out the criteria for an organization’s certification program for individuals. It’s meant to demonstrate that the program defines what it examines, the exam must be independent, and the exam must be a valid test of competence (which is arguably a broad measure).

In general, ANSI accreditation is seen as the highest standard and one that is recognized by governments around the world.