It’s not surprising that the WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals has developed a new certification for executive compensation (CECP), available in October.

As the Washington-based agency notes in its recent announcement of the move, ”In the wake of the economic crisis and continued scrutiny of executive compensation by media and shareholders … executive compensation practitioners are being called upon to design and manage programs that attract, motivate and retain dynamic executives and leaders who have the ability to drive positive business results.”

The new certification – designed for executive rewards practitioners, consultants and human resource professionals involved in the design and administration of executive compensation – would help to “ensure that companies are working with knowledgeable and competent executive rewards practitioners,” the release states.

Don Linner, executive compensation practice leader for the Washington-based total-rewards company, says the alternative – poor executive comp practices — “can lead to intense public scrutiny, organizational instability and turnover.”

It’s about time this expertise became legitimate, test-worthy and trustworthy, especially in this environment. Had something like this been in place several years ago, it might have spared a few organizations I can think of some unwanted publicity.

Source: HRE Online, 9/2010, Kristen Frasch