1. The process by which a governmental agency grants a time-limited status on a registry, determined by specified knowledge-based requirements (e.g., experience, education, examinations), thereby authorizing those individuals to practice, similar to licensure. Its purpose is to maintain a continuous record of past and current occupational status of that individual, and to provide title protection.
2. A listing of practitioners maintained by a governmental entity, without educational, experiential or competency-based requirements, e.g., maintaining a list of practitioners on a state "registry."
3. A professional designation defined by a governmental entity in professional regulations or rules. However, the governmental regulatory body does not itself maintain a listing or registry of those who purport to meet registration requirements. Verification and authentication of such individuals are left to the employer of the individual claiming to be registered.
Institute for Credentialing Excellence’s Basic Guide to Credentialing Terminology, 2006.