Assessing the need for a certification program for oceanographie professionals

Certification is a way to recognize that an individual has demonstrated professional competence and integrity in an occupational field. The Marine Advanced Technology Education Center undertook a study from September 2006 to June 2009 to assess whether there is a need for a voluntary certification program for oceanographic professionals (CPOP) in the U.S. The study, funded by NOAA, was motivated in part by the rapid growth in recent years of operational oceanographic activities and ocean observing systems, and the increased public attention to ocean issues. The goals of the project were to explore the pros and cons of certification programs in similar fields of expertise; collect and analyze data on the opinions about the need for, and structure of, a CPOP; report the analysis results; and make recommendations to the oceanographic community in order to: improve ocean-related education, enhance professional development for oceanographic professionals, help meet national ocean-related workforce needs, and assist users of oceanographic products and services in making well-informed decisions.