What concept is best defined as the process states use to ensure that teachers meet professional standards?

The concept that is best defined as the process states use to ensure that teachers meet professional standards is teacher certification. Teacher certification is a formal, regulated process that typically involves meeting certain educational qualifications, passing exams, and completing required training or experience that align with the standards set by the state. This system is designed to ensure that individuals entering the teaching profession possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide quality education to students.

In contrast, while teacher evaluation is related to assessing teachers' performance within their roles, it often occurs post-certification and serves to monitor and improve teaching quality rather than certify an individual's qualifications. Teacher professional development focuses on the ongoing training and learning opportunities available to teachers after they are certified, which aim to enhance their teaching skills and effectiveness. Teacher tenure refers to a policy that grants job security to teachers after they have successfully completed a probationary period, protecting them from dismissal without just cause, but it does not directly address the standards of entry into the profession.