Certifying volunteers based upon their level of training and experience is beneficial to both volunteers and hospices. Often volunteers will transition to a new hospice organization and will be required to go through the new organization's training because of the uncertainties associated with the quality of the training in their previous organization.

Standardization of hospice volunteer training and the assignment of certification levels will provide a level of training quality assurance for hospices. Hospices may also need to augment the HVTI online program for the special needs of their organization but the training will meet a baseline level of quality. This standardization approach will assist hospice agencies in recruiting and staffing their volunteer force with a broad level of experience without the necessity for extensive retraining.

HVTI is presently collecting information from hospices across the country regarding certification. Based upon our research we preliminarily suggest the following levels of certification for hospice volunteers and hospice volunteer managers:

• Hospice Volunteer (HV) - this is the basic level of certification which is achieved through completion of the core elements of the hospice volunteer training program.
• Hospice Volunteer Pediatric (HVP) - this is an advanced level of certification which is achieved through completion of the HV certification with additional training in Pediatric Palliative Care to serve children with life-threatening illness and their families. The HVP certification requires at least one year's experience at the HV level prior to starting the coursework for this certification level.
• Hospice Volunteer Mentor (HVM) - this is an advanced level of certification requiring one year's experience at the HV certification level and completion of additional coursework on how to guide new volunteers through the HV curriculum, including field work. HVM certified volunteers will be qualified to facilitate the HV certification training of groups of volunteers in their hospice.
• Hospice Volunteer Mentor Pediatric (HVMP) - this is an advanced level of certification requiring one year's experience at the HVP certification level and completion of additional coursework on how to guide new volunteers through the HVP curriculum, including field work. HVM certified volunteers will be qualified to facilitate the HVP certification training of groups of volunteers in their hospice.
• Hospice Volunteer Coordinator (HVC) - this is an advanced level of certification requiring one year's experience at the HVM certification level and completion of additional coursework on how to teach volunteers the HV and HVM curriculum. Coursework also includes training on managing a volunteer force.
• Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Pediatric (HVCP) - this is an advanced level of certification requiring one year's experience at the HVMP certification level and completion of additional coursework on how to teach volunteers the HVP and HVMP curriculum. Coursework also includes training on managing a volunteer force.