To Be or Not to Be Certified

The pathway to professional development does not require a start or end date. Professional development is a perpetual process that is set into motion the day you first ask "why?" or "how?" Anyone who has spent time with a toddler knows that the endless pursuit of knowledge and, therefore, intellectual growth starts at a very young age. As we mature, we refine our questions beyond the whys and hows and start the professional development journey. Throughout each academic pursuit, we accomplish another rung on the ladder of our achievements. As we graduate from kindergarten, grade school, high school, and college, we easily point to the parchment most of these ceremonious events yield. Once we start our careers, though, what do we have to show for our professional development efforts? The mountains of literature provide a constant reminder of what you have left to learn. Most professions provide a formal pathway to aid in professional development, and medical practice management is no exception. The certification and fellowship program and process available from the Medical Group Management Association provides a system to map your journey of professional development--complete with its own version of parchment. This article explains why you would want to pursue professional development in the form of certification and Fellowship.