A: Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) is a professional designation...

... reserved for those who have met the standards set by the industry group PARW/CC (The Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches). It's legitimate--depending on how you view professional associations. PARW/CC was founded in 1990, and by 1991 had developed a set of criteria to judge member candidates on their knowledge, talent and writing expertise in crafting resumes that meet a level of professionalism and serve the client's career interests.

That criteria incorporates testing for industry knowledge, as well as a command of grammar, spelling, punctuation and proofreading. Finally, it requires the candidate to write--and receive committee approval for--a resume and cover letter based upon background information provided on a hypothetical client.

And yes, I believe it makes for a better writer.

The designation has become the industry standard for professional resume writers. Certainly there are non-certified individuals who write just as well, who can craft a resume with comparable effectiveness. But without a referral from someone you trust, or considerable due diligence on your part, identifying those individuals is a challenge at best. Certification simply makes the process of identifying qualified writers easier.

In the absence of such a referral, I would recommend insisting on a writer with certification. It doesn't guarantee perfection, and some unfortunate clients may find a bum or two among the ranks, but it certainly weeds out most writers who aren't serious about their profession.