An international certification is needed for search consultants operating in Europe in order to raise and standardise industry practices, according to leaders of the European Confederation of Search and Selection Associations (ECSSA).

The organisation, representing 750 headhunting companies in six European countries, is exploring options to train and certify consultants. At a recent meeting in London, ECSSA leaders representing the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, described the proposal as "still embryonic".

Nevertheless, the shortage of skilled consultants across Europe, along with an excess of questionable professional practices among less ethical headhunters, is pressing home the need.

"It's difficult to find quality individuals to take the next step from contingency [recruitment] to retained," said David Winterburn, of the UK Association of Executive Recruiters.

Paul Harper, also of the AER, said: "There's a big issue about what defines proper search and what promises people make. To be able to offer certification to individual consultants across Europe to a common standard would be valuable."

Complicating the issue further is the lack of regulation governing the search industry in much of Europe. Of ECSSA member countries, Belgium and Italy's search industries are regulated. But in the UK, for instance, "anyone can claim to be a headhunter, and some companies end up getting burnt - usually because the people who make the promises to deliver don't have the capabilities to deliver," Harper added.

Under the proposal, the certification would be awarded by the appropriate national association - in the UK, for instance, it would be the AER.