The CERTISKILLS project aims at implementing a certification system to enhance the transparency of training and educational experience in the handicrafts and commerce sectors. The project will undergo the development of a series of 40 skills dictionaries relating to the selected sectors (15 at secondary education level, 15 at higher education level and 10 at the level of continuing vocational training). Additionally, a series of minimum skills standards will be developed and introduced for use with potential certification and a software tool and on-line support service further developed by the project. The final outputs of the project will be a standard competence based analysis system aiming at reducing the mismatch between Human Resources specialists and a potential workers perception of required professional skills. The beneficiaries of the project include trainers, vocational counsellors, designers of training programmes, policy and decision makers, individual employees and the unemployed.