common, thanks, omen. I need to wrap my head around these multi-tier takonos. I guess it is due to our Rabonim not really having full jurisdiction over kehilos. I would go back ask the Rav who explained the system to me, maybe he meant that this is propagated in his sub-community.
Another thought on “top yeshivos” from another thread. In Europe, you did not have to learn in a particular yeshiva, you can just visit a Rav, he will examine you and give you a semicha. Maybe we need to ask Roshei Yeshivot to provide a similar service and/or have standardized Gemorah test that someone can pass. Anyone does it?
L’havdil, you can go to a 3rd rated college and then pass GRE or LSAT, and then even bar. So, even when you have credentials, you do not get full monopoly and corresponding side effects.