Accreditation of teacher education programs and licensing and certification of teachers are interrelated but distinct processes that can easily be confused. This Digest seeks to clarify the three processes and identify the primary national organizations involved in these areas. Accreditation is an evaluation process that determines the quality of an institution or program using predetermined standards. Licensing is the process by which a governmental agency grants a license (or permission) to an individual who has met specified requirements. Certification is the process by which a nongovernmental agency or association bestows professional recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that agency or association. This Digest describes the accreditation process of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council; the certification process of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and the licensing process of both the Interstate New Teacher Assessment Support Consortium and the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium. (SM)