Accreditation is the process and the result of accrediting. This verb can refer to what is worthy of credit or consideration, or to the act of reliably documenting that someone has the right to perform a certain task or to remain in a certain place.
An accreditation is a document that testifies to the status or position of an individual to assume a position or perform a function. For example: “We have already started the process to obtain the quality accreditation granted by the Ministry of Production”, “The institutions that wish to offer these courses must process an accreditation with the agency”, “The accreditation to the event will take place between 9 and 9.30 am ”.
Accreditations are very important in the field of journalism. In this case, these are permits issued by the organizers of an event so that journalists can enter the place of the event and carry out their work, taking photographs, interviewing the protagonists and observing the events and then communicating them. Take the case of the Soccer World Cup. Journalists who wish to access the matches must apply for accreditation with FIFA, the body in charge of organizing the tournament. This way they obtain a card that allows them to enter the playing field, attend press conferences, etc.
Throughout history we have to expose that this noun has had numerous and different meanings. Thus, for example, in the Middle Ages there was what was called the pilgrim’s credential or accreditation. This was a document that was to be delivered to the pilgrims who made the Camino de Santiago as a safe-conduct.
Currently, those who carry out this pilgrimage can also receive their relevant accreditation, although, as it is logical to imagine, in another sense. Specifically, those who own it can access hostels and you can also obtain the famous Compostelana, which is the document that certifies that they have completed all the way.
Of course, in order to obtain this official accreditation, it must be borne in mind that a series of principles that are perfectly established must be met:
-It is only intended for pilgrims who make the journey on foot, on horseback or by bicycle with a marked Christian sense.
-It is issued by the institution of the Church through its parishes, brotherhoods, bishoprics…
-It is important to note that those who wish to have this accreditation in order to obtain the Compostelana must know something: it will only be given to those who have completed the last 100 kilometers to the tomb of the apostle Santiago on horseback or on foot or the last 200 kilometers by bicycle.
-In that accreditation appear the personal data of the pilgrim as well as his way of making the journey or the seal with which it is recorded that the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela has been reached.
When the concept refers to an organization, accreditation serves as proof of a quality level, measured according to different parameters and evaluated by experts.