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C ertification is defined in the nursing literature in several ways; no one consistent definition of certification exists. The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) defines it as “the formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health outcomes.” The American Nurses Association explains certification as “the documented validation of specific qualifications demonstrated by the individual registered nurse in the provision of professional nursing care in a defined area of practice.” Specialty organizations also provide their definition of certification. For example, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) defines certification as “a process by which a nongovernmental agency validates, based on predetermined standards, an individual nurse’s knowledge for practice in a defined functional or clinical area of nursing.” The National Certification Board: Perioperative Nursing, Inc, defines certification as “the documented validation of professional achievement of identified standards of practice by an individual registered nurse providing care for patients before, during, and after surgery.” Certification is defined in the nursing literature in several ways; no one consistent definition of certification exists. Nursing specialty certification programs are intended for consumer protection. Certification protects the public by enabling consumers to identify competent people more readily. However, benefits for stakeholders other than patients and families are also described in the literature. This article describes the value of specialty certification from the perspective of the patient and family, nurse, and employer.