Existent public key certificates provide authentication information through some information on user`s public key. However, an attribute certificate which stores and manage user`s attribute information, provides various privilege information such as position, privilege and role. In recent, international organizations establishes standards on attribute certificate, and the researches and developments on attribute certificate have been widely made. In addition it may be expected to be used many real application area requiring for authorization information as well as authentication information. Therefore, this paper considers background and standardization trends of attribute certificate and describes the profile and related techniques of attribute certificate currently established by IETF. In addition, it introduces and access control system using attribute certificate and specifies applications of attribute certificate.