IAB Certification Programs Gain Internationally Recognized Accreditation

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) certification programs for Digital Media Sales and Digital Ad Ops have received accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The recognition marks a first for any personnel certification in the digital advertising industry.

“This honor distinguishes IAB’s program in the US credentialing marketplace, where less than 10 percent of certification programs can claim accreditation by a third party,” Lane Hallenbeck, Vice President, Accreditation Services, ANSI, said. “It also signifies the IAB program’s credibility, legitimacy and commitment to improve.”

Since its launch in 2012, over 300 companies have participated in the IAB Certification Program. AOL, Bloomberg, CBS Interactive, Collective, Condé Nast, Discovery Communications, NBCUniversal, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable Media and Tremor Video have each pledged to have all eligible digital sellers in their organization go through the program. To date, more than 7,500 professionals from over 40 countries have been in the program.

ANSI’s personnel certification accreditation program was the first program of its kind in the United States to meet the requirements governing international accreditation practices.

The entire accreditation process took 18 months and included the submission of an extensive written application with more than 500 pages of supporting documentation, followed by an nearly two-day on-site audit with independent assessors who conducted personnel interviews, reviewed paperwork and verified that the application matched everyday practice and procedure. The audit turned up just one non-conformity with the application, which the IAB corrected.

Assessors then presented their findings to the ANSI board of accreditors, along with the correction for final review and approval.

“This confirms that IAB certification is a credential of the highest caliber,” said Michael Theodore, Senior Vice President, Learning and Development, IAB, and General Manager, IAB Education Foundation. “The IAB Certification Program was launched to elevate the perception of our industry, accelerate the growth of companies and individuals in digital advertising, and curate a body of knowledge for its players. This achievement further exemplifies our mission and validates the expertise and skill set of those who have achieved the credential.”

The IAB announced the accreditation Monday at the IAB Ad Operations Summit in New York City.