| A | B |
|---|
| accreditation | official authorizaton or approval for conforming to a specified standard |
| certification | voluntary credentialing process giving applicants who meet specific requirements a certificate |
| licensure | mandatory credentialing process established by state law; grants the right to practice certain skills and endeavors |
| endorsement | process by which a licensee may practice in another state-based on review of credentials judged to meet requirements of new state |
| medical practice acts | state laws written to govern the practice of medicine; varies each state |
| medical boards | set forth by medical practice acts; protects health, safety & welfare of healthcare consumers through licensing and regulation for MDs and other HCWs |
| reciprocity | process in which a professional license obtained in one state is accepted as valid by a new state by prior agreement without re-examination |
| registration | entry into an official record the names of persons in a certain occupation who have satisfied specific requirements |
| allied health professional | HCWs other than physicians |
| scope of practice | duties that may or may not be performed under ones professional license |
