What the heck is a "registered" dog breeder?

How do you become "registered". I know that the AKC, UKC and other registries don't "register" breeders unless something has changed some where. I know that kennel names can be registered but that isn't the same. Now a "registered" breeder through the USDA is someone that I would not buy a puppy from as those are commercial kennels Do breeders have to be "registered" in Canada or the UK? Is that where this term is coming from?