National certification for child and youth workers: Does it make a difference?

•We compare the competence of certified with uncertified youth workers.•We examine the impact of certification components on worker performance.•Evidence supports the incremental validity of the certification program.•Each component accounts for additional variance in the performance criterion.•Certified practitioners are 2.7 times more likely to be high performers.

This article examines the impact of professional certification on worker performance as well as the incremental validity of key facets of the national child and youth care practitioner certification (e.g., education, years of experience, certification exam, and professional portfolio) sponsored by the Association for Child and Youth Care Practice and administered by the Child and Youth Care Certification Board. Findings reveal that certified practitioners receive higher performance ratings from their supervisors than non-certified practitioners. Education, experience level, certification exam result (pass/fail), and successful completion of the application packet including a professional portfolio were all significant predictors of performance (as reported by supervisors). Each component progressively accounts for additional variance in the performance criterion. Certified practitioners are 2.7 times more likely to be high performers than non-certified practitioners after accounting for the effect of race, gender, education, experience and certification exam result.