This discussion paper addresses the impact of major trends in certification and credentialing on community colleges. Most community colleges are familiar with traditional credentialing and certification. However, changes in the number of people seeking higher education as a means to a better economic future and the shifting skill requirements of business and industry are creating a major impact. Colleges need to harmonize the current conflicting demands of regional credentialing, state policy and rules, and accreditation and licensure requirements. Colleges should revise their standards and documentation processes to address the reality that business and industry are becoming suspicious about the qualifications of college graduates, given the institutions' inability to document measurable skills. One of the objectives of a new credentialing model is to establish the nation's community colleges as leaders in expressing, adopting, and credentialing nationally recognized, world-class workforce standards. Recommendations for an improved model include: (1) professions should establish and clearly communicate standards for credentials and certifications to community colleges and hold faculty and the institution responsible for implementation; (2) in occupational areas, professions should take responsibility for the design of the curriculum, certificates and credentials; and (3) stakeholders' expectations regarding credentialing and certification should be identified. (JA)