Most specialists believe that certification will protect the public, grow the KM profession, increase and ensure competency of KM professionals, instill ethical behavior, and provide assistance to employers. These goals echo the motivation for professional certification in general. As Phillip Barnhart, author of The Guide to National Professional Certification Programs, explains that certification is important because:
* Certification measures job-related expertise, and therefore reflects an individual's ability to perform more closely than does a university degree.
* Professionals must take responsibility for their career development, and a certification issued by a third party "endorses skills beyond the requirements of a specific position or role".
* The business environment requires constant development and involvement beyond specific job titles, and "certification programs, ... provide guidance to individuals working to stay current in their profession."