Guest editorial – Credentialling: the process so far

Abstract

For the Australian Infection Control Association (AICA), 2006 heralded a new stage in professional accountability with the relaunching of the credentialling process to members at the National Conference in Sydney. Since the inception of the idea a decade ago, followed by the formation of the inaugural Credentialling Subcommittee in 1997, the AICA Executive has been committed to offering a rigorous, equitable and transparent process of conferring a credential to infection control professionals (ICPs) who demonstrate competence in the specialist role of infection control. This was borne out of a belief that such a process would be of benefit to individual members and the healthcare facilities that employ them, to the Association and, ultimately, to healthcare consumers.