Bogus Certification Proliferation - No One Should Be Surprised…

Here we go again as another provider gets on the self-created, self-administered, self-endorsed, self-proclaimed, for-profit certification bandwagon using self-developed and self-approved standards.

The latest, Certified Classification Specialist (CCLS), from the Global Trade Academy, in Princeton, New Jersey, appears to be like other invalid certifications out there with no publicized, credible, external, independent, unbiased, third-party validation by any authority with no conflicts of interest. 

Does that sound familiar?

Perhaps it’s time again to read August 2010, Export Practitioner article “Certificate vs. Certification: Buyer Beware.”  It’s available through The Export Practitioner website at http://www.exportprac.com.  

Much has not changed since it was written and you might as well get ready for more of these as organizations expand their efforts here or join in to increase revenue.  It’s apparently a lucrative marketplace as some practitioners seeking credibility have misplaced value in paying a lot of money and adding an acronym or multiple acronyms after their name. 

In this case, for a mere $2,499, after five days of training, reading the regulations/rules and passing a test, you too can become a CCLS.  There’s no indication on what the L stands for in the acronym, but it’s there.  Word has it they decided not to use CCS as that acronym was being used by another invalid certification provider.  It appears as though some of these for-profit vendors are working together to maximize the return on investment and not step on each others toes. 

After reading through the vendors many emails on the offering and reviewing online promotional material for the CCLS, many of the same concerns, problems and questions that have come up before in the lively discussions on bogus certifications apply here as well.

Again, it’s a timely reminder about thorough due diligence anytime you outsource anything.  Do not spend a penny until you are absolutely certain you have all the relevant facts to make the best and most informed decision possible.

If you can’t access or have problems getting to the article, please contact John Priecko, President and Managing Partner, Trade Compliance Solutions, at 703-895-1110, jpriecko@comcast.net, or Sam Gilston, Editor & Publisher, The Export Practitioner and Washington Tariff & Trade Letter, 301-570-4544, sgilston@comcast.net.