I began this blog the other day, being inspired by part of Kim Kowalczyk’s blog about standardizing the field of paranormal investigation on PUG, and today when I looked I see that Karen was inspired as well.

Paranormal Certification has always made me shake my head. How can you be certified in something that has no basis in fact? What gets me more is how many places certify people in paranormal investigation when what they should be certifying them in is pseudo-paranormal investigation since what they are teaching is pseudoscience. But the thing that gets under my skin with paranormal certification is the money that is made by people who are no more expert in the subject that a kid who watches Scooby Doo, Supernatural, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There are no experts in the field of paranormal investigation as it is widely practiced.

I know many will argue with what I say here, but they can argue all they want. It does not change the facts. Just because someone is well versed in folklore and unsubstantiated theories, it does not make them an expert on anything more than folklore. In fact, most of these people who claim to be professional investigators do not understand the basics of critical thought, rules of evidence, or anything remotely close to investigating where facts are established. This is much like those who decree that so-and-so has done more for the paranormal community and advanced paranormal research more than anyone else out there.

What’s really revealing on the last bit is when asked, those who make such a claim can never provide an example where they have really done anything for paranormal research, other than to further perpetuate unfounded and untested theories. Just once I’d like to hear one of them actually cite something that has accomplished what they speak of, but so far I have not heard, seen, or read anything where anyone has made any progress in substantiating the paranormal where ghost hunting is concerned. And yet these people that are so highly revered and charge hundreds of dollars for courses so people can be certified.

“Certified at what?” Is what I always ask. “How to hunt anomalies?” These people can’t even explain the basic principles on how the equipment works. Often courses for certification offer courses in subjects that have been long proven to be nothing paranormal; and have loads of evidence to substantiate that fact, yet they are taught as though they are true. Another type of subject is one that deals with broad results that can easily be interpreted to fit just about any situation. Things such as astrology or tarot card reading fall into this category. How can subjects which can be shown how they work to deceive, as well as being shown to have no paranormal traits, be recognized as part of a certification for paranormal investigation? Unless of course it’s not certification of scientific methods or knowledge.

I see a growing number of groups and “schools” that fall into this category. My advice to those thinking about paying to be certified in paranormal investigation is to take that money and spend it on a physics class, or some other science class at a college. At least that way it will mean something and it is an investment, whereas the other is pretty much flushing your money down the toilet on piece of paper with printing on it. You’ll get way more bang for your buck, and you may wind up applying that knowledge and actually help in establishing facts instead of merely hunting the next anomaly. And, if you still want a piece of paper then I’ll give you certification which is just as credible as the next guy. Click for Certification