ByAudra Murray-Siu, Expert Notary™
Siu Mobile Signings

Credentialing, certification, and state authority are not the same thing.
Legal authority belongs to the state. Commissioning, statutory requirements, testing, and discipline are all governed by the Secretary of State in each jurisdiction. A private organization cannot override that, and no one is suggesting it does.
Commissioning is legal authority granted by the state to perform notarial acts.
Certification typically verifies that a specific course or training program was completed.
Credentialing is different. It verifies competency, experience, and adherence to standards set by an independent body.
These three serve different roles.

A commission proves you met the baseline requirements to hold office. That is the floor.

A certificate confirms you completed required or voluntary education.

Credentialing evaluates whether someone has gone further. Experience. Ongoing education. Ethical standards. Demonstrated competency beyond simply passing an exam. That is not a legal upgrade. It is a professional distinction.

Credentialing is not about replacing the state. It is about distinguishing beyond the minimum.
Confusing these terms creates misunderstanding about what is required versus what is voluntary. Clarity matters.

This is common across many industries. For example:
Project Management Institute does not issue business licenses, but its credentials signal competency beyond entry requirements.
FINRA regulates licensing, but additional certifications still exist within finance to demonstrate specialization.
National Board of Trial Advocacy does not grant law licenses, yet board certification signals advanced expertise beyond passing the bar.

In each case, licensure is authority. Certification reflects education. Credentialing is differentiation.