The credibility and comparability of standards

To carry out their charge of protecting the public, licensing and certifying organizations must develop and administer examinations that distinguish between examinees with adequate and inadequate levels of knowledge and skill. Pass-fail decisions must be made, and such decisions need to be the same over time and for different forms of the test. If the results of the credentialing or licensure-certification process are to be useful, it is essential to develop a body of evidence relating to the credibility of the standards and to their comparability. This article reviews the major forms of evidence that are supportive of a standard's credibility and outlines what can be done over time and forms to enhance its comparability in a credentialing setting.