Certification is a voluntary process through which individuals are recognized for specialized knowledge and skill in a specified field of endeavor. The purpose of voluntary certification is to enhance public safety and welfare by providing assurance that the certification holder possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities required to provide services to the public at a professional level with a competence which will safeguard life, health and property and protect the general public welfare. Voluntary certification is firmly established in such professional areas as accounting, financial planning, association management and medical specialties. The certification process which has been adopted for Professional Traffic Operations Engineers requires that the holder be a licensed professional engineer if he or she practices in the United States, Canada or any other country that provides governmental licensing of engineers.
Comparable credentials exist in some other countries.
However, as engineering knowledge and practice have expanded, it has become more difficult for decision-makers to discern which practitioners hold skills appropriate for practice in the growing number of engineering specialties. State and provincial registration agencies have found it impractical to expand into these specialty areas. Voluntary certification seeks to meet this need by providing an additional credential which the public, employers and clients can rely upon to assure that the required specialty skills and knowledge are held. The certification process is designed to protect and promote the public safety and welfare. Keeping the certification valid requires the holder to pay attention to regularly upgrading knowledge and skills through continuing education.