ABOUT NOCA AND NCCA
About the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA)
NOCA originates from the 1977 congressional creation of the National Commission for Health
Certifying Agencies (NCHCA). With federal funding made available through the Department of
Health and Human Services, its mission was to develop standards for quality certification in the
allied health fields and to accredit organizations that met those standards.
With the growing use of certification in other fields, the NCHCA leadership recognized that what
was essential for quality certification of individuals in the healthcare sector was equally essential for
other sectors. Hence, NCHCA evolved into the National Organization for Competency Assurance.
NOCA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. NOCA member organizations represent the leaders
in the certification field. These organizations certify occupational skills in sectors ranging from
healthcare to technology to manufacturing and construction.
Membership in NOCA offers a forum for professional development of the certification professional
and opportunities to learn about competency assurance issues and other best practices for the field
of certification. Membership in NOCA does not require any review of certification activity or
adherence to any specific standards. NOCA membership is open to all disciplines and professions.
NOCA and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
NCCA was created to establish national voluntary certification program standards and recognize
compliance with these standards. NCCA is an accrediting entity and is not a membership
organization.
NCCA uses a peer review process to evaluate adherence to its standards and grant recognition
through accreditation to those organizations judged to have met those standards. NCCA is the only
national accreditation body that provides this service for private certification organizations in all
disciplines.
Organizations that seek NCCA accreditation do so voluntarily, as a means of enhancing the
reputation and marketability of their certification. Fifteen percent of the membership of NOCA
have achieved NCCA accreditation.
• NCCA accreditation is a voluntary opportunity for certification programs to achieve recognition
for meeting the highest standards of competency assurance.
• The cost associated with achieving NCCA accreditation is intended to cover expenses directly
associated with program evaluation.
• Individual reviewers, who are volunteer professionals in the certification field drawn from
NOCA member organizations are not compensated for their time.