user14122: The vast majority of chess titles today are fundamentally competitive. To be a "master" of any kind according to bodies like FIDE is defined in terms of being able to beat others rather than mastering a specified body of chess knowledge, theory, or skills. In educational theory, such chess titles are norm-based rather than criterion-based.
A recent question establishes that there are criterion-based curricula that an aspiring chess player may self-study, but it appears that none of them lead to any sort of recognized title, certification, degree, or other formal designation.
Are there criterion-based titles or other designations in the world of chess? For example, is there a "GED" type qualification that doesn't represent any particular competitive rating but represents basic competency in all of the basic techniques of chess? Are there specialty skill certifications, e.g. for openings or skewers, that are obtained by passing skills tests rather than by obtaining a specified tournament rating?
I'm mentally comparing this somewhat to martial arts, which typically award color belts based on passing tests (criterion-based) but also have a separate system of trophies and titles that can be earned by winning tournaments (norm-based).
Other common educational terms strongly associated with criterion testing are mastery learning, learning standards, competency-based education, and outcome-based education.
As to the "why", these sorts of titles could appeal to people who see chess as more of a form of mental exercise for themselves than an opportunity to pwn noobs.

user11144: Picking up on part 3 by Brian, indeed there are such things as "Bauerndiplom" for (not exclusively!) kids in Germany. The questionnaire is built by the national federation, the test usually done by the clubs. Naturally, it's more like a decorative diploma landing in some drawer, but then, my official FM title can't buy me anything either...

user4418: The short answer is "No".
The kind of certification you describe serves three purposes:

It serves as a gate for a job. For instance in the UK police and nursing are graduate only professions despite the fact that a degree has no useful benefit for a nurse or policeman/woman.
An academic form of qualification. For instance The ABRSM and Trinity School of music have a grade system of music achievement. When I was growing up Grade 5 equated to an "O" level (qualification taken at age 16) and a grade 8 to an "A" level (qualification taken at age 18). If you want to study music at university then you will generally require a grade 8 qualification in your instrument.
As motivational devices for young children, a bit like scout badges or girl guide badges.

The problem is that none of these really work in the world of competitive chess. Tournament results and ratings are a much better measurement of achievement and ability. I know the old saying "There's a sucker born every minute" has an element of truth but given the choice between paying for a certificate that says you've mastered skewers and playing real chess in a competition most people are going to choose the latter every time.
Of course there are two areas of the chess world where certification and qualifications are important and those are in the fields of arbiting and training and FIDE has arbiter qualifications and trainer qualifications which require courses and passing exams but they are for people who want to be arbiters or trainers, not chess players.

14122: <p>The vast majority of chess titles today are fundamentally <em>competitive</em>. To be a &quot;master&quot; of any kind according to bodies like FIDE is defined in terms of being able to <em>beat others</em> rather than mastering a specified body of chess knowledge, theory, or skills. In educational theory, such chess titles are <a href="https://www.edglossary.org/norm-referenced-test/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">norm-based rather than criterion-based</a>.</p>
<p>A recent <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/q/39875/14122">question</a> establishes that there are criterion-based <em>curricula</em> that an aspiring chess player may self-study, but it appears that none of them lead to any sort of recognized title, certification, degree, or other formal designation.</p>
<p>Are there criterion-based titles or other designations in the world of chess? For example, is there a &quot;GED&quot; type qualification that doesn't represent any particular competitive rating but represents basic competency in all of the basic techniques of chess? Are there specialty skill certifications, e.g. for openings or skewers, that are obtained by passing skills tests rather than by obtaining a specified tournament rating?</p>
<p>I'm mentally comparing this somewhat to martial arts, which typically award color belts based on passing tests (criterion-based) but also have a separate system of trophies and titles that can be earned by winning tournaments (norm-based).</p>
<p>Other common educational terms strongly associated with criterion testing are mastery learning, learning standards, competency-based education, and outcome-based education.</p>
<p>As to the &quot;why&quot;, these sorts of titles could appeal to people who see chess as more of a form of mental exercise for themselves than an opportunity to pwn noobs.</p>
 11144: <p>Picking up on part 3 by Brian, indeed there are such things as &quot;Bauerndiplom&quot; for <a href="https://www.schachbund.de/diplome.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(not exclusively!)</a> kids in Germany. The questionnaire is built by the national federation, the test usually done by the clubs. Naturally, it's more like a decorative diploma landing in some drawer, but then, my official FM title can't buy me anything either...</p>
 4418: <p>The short answer is &quot;No&quot;.</p>
<p>The kind of certification you describe serves three purposes:</p>
<ol>
<li>It serves as a gate for a job. For instance in the UK police and nursing are graduate only professions despite the fact that a degree has no useful benefit for a nurse or policeman/woman.</li>
<li>An academic form of qualification. For instance The ABRSM and Trinity School of music have a grade system of music achievement. When I was growing up Grade 5 equated to an &quot;O&quot; level (qualification taken at age 16) and a grade 8 to an &quot;A&quot; level (qualification taken at age 18). If you want to study music at university then you will generally require a grade 8 qualification in your instrument.</li>
<li>As motivational devices for young children, a bit like scout badges or girl guide badges.</li>
</ol>
<p>The problem is that none of these really work in the world of competitive chess. Tournament results and ratings are a much better measurement of achievement and ability. I know the old saying &quot;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27s_a_sucker_born_every_minute" rel="noreferrer">There's a sucker born every minute</a>&quot; has an element of truth but given the choice between paying for a certificate that says you've mastered skewers and playing real chess in a competition most people are going to choose the latter every time.</p>
<p>Of course there are two areas of the chess world where certification and qualifications are important and those are in the fields of arbiting and training and FIDE has <a href="https://arb-learn.fide.com/" rel="noreferrer">arbiter qualifications</a> and <a href="https://trainers.fide.com/" rel="noreferrer">trainer qualifications</a> which require courses and passing exams but they are for people who want to be arbiters or trainers, not chess players.</p>
