Having built a DACUM chart, the Association decided to follow-up with the installation of dacum based professional certification program. Certificates are issued only to those who have clearly established their competence through employment in a development office.
Certificates are currently issued for two categories: Development Control Technician, and General Development Officer.
For each category there is a minimum skill profile that was established by an appointed committee of senior members of the Association. For each category it identifies the minimum performance level that is required in each of the skills identified on the DACUM chart. To qualify for a certificate, an applicant's ability to perform must match or exceed the minimum performance level required for each skill. The Development Control Technician requires competence in fewer skills, and some of those ratings are somewhat lower than required for the General Development Officer.
A member wishing to begin working toward certification applies to the Certification Committee and is assigned a Rater/Coach, an already certified member. After receiving instructions, the applicant self-rates identifying current ability to perform each skill on the Dacum Chart.
The applicant then meets with the Rater/Coach for a rating interview in which the Rater/Coach critically reviews all the applicant's self ratings, helping the applicant improve the accuracy of the skills or clusters of skills that the applicant must improve. They might meet several times over a long period with the Rater/Coach guiding the applicant, suggesting learning activities, recommending materials and other resources, and approving rating increases when there is evidence of skill improvement.
When the Rater/Coach and applicant are confident the applicant is ready for certification, the applicant is brought before the Certification Committee for a rigorous final evaluation in a Certification Rating Interview. The committee must assure the applicant can indeed perform each skill to the level desired for certification.
The certificate finally issued contains the Dacum Chart complete with the applicants skill profile. It is unique and most useful, in that it clearly shows competence and ability to perform in all the skills. It is an excellent resource for describing one's own ability during job interviews, and for confirming competence if ability is questioned in the job environment.