What describes the difference between licensure and certification in many state boards?

• A. Certification confirms competency in a specialty.
• B. Licensure grants legal authority to practice teaching.
• C. Licensure and certification are the same.
• D. Licensure grants legal authority to teach; certification confirms competency in a specialty.

Answer: (C)

Licensure and certification serve different purposes. Licensure is a government-granted permission to practice a profession, providing legal authority to teach. Certification is a voluntary credential that shows competency in a specific area or specialty, beyond the basic ability to teach. Because they address different needs, they are not the same. The accurate description is that licensure grants legal authority to teach, while certification confirms competency in a specialty.