Certification vs. certificate program: What’s the difference?
By: James M. Tobin, Edited by: Marie Custodio Collazo
Published: May 13, 2025
Students sometimes struggle to understand what distinguishes a certification from a certificate. The terms don't just sound similar — they're also closely related.
This guide explains the difference, drawing distinctions between the professional certifications offered by credentialing agencies and the certificate programs hosted by academic institutions. Read on to overcome any confusion you may have surrounding these two terms.
What is a certification?
A certification is a type of professional credential offered by industry-recognized agencies or organizations. These credentials confirm that you possess a set of standardized hard skills required for certain career paths.
To earn a certification, you'll need to complete a combination of academic and practical training. From there, you'll typically have to pass an examination or another form of verification testing.
Common examples of certifications include the Certified Management Accountant credential from the Institute of Management Accountants or the various project management certifications offered by the Project Management Institute.
What is a certificate program?
A certificate is an academic credential issued by an educational institution. They're usually awarded at the end of a non-degree program built to develop targeted or career-oriented skills.
Some certificates are specifically designed for learners with degrees and/or work experience in the target field. These are commonly known as professional certificates.
Students often pursue certificates as a quicker, less expensive alternative to earning a degree. Certificates in related areas are often called "stackable," meaning that you can combine them to display breadth and depth of knowledge.
What are the main differences between a certification and a certificate program?
Certifications and certificates differ in these three key ways:
Scope
Certificates are generally more limited to academic and theoretical training, while certifications require you to demonstrate mastery of a standardized set of hard skills.
Professional relevance
Certifications are widely recognized in-field and may be required for certain professional positions or licenses. Conversely, certificates simply indicate that you have completed a sequence of courses in the subject area.
Maintenance requirements
Once you earn a certificate, you retain it permanently. Certifications, meanwhile, usually have renewal requirements such as continued professional education or reexamination.
Certificate or certification: which is right for you?
Certificates and certifications can advance your professional growth in different ways. It's important that you consider how each path could impact your goals.
If you're seeking an efficient, cost-effective way to develop targeted knowledge or skills, a certificate may help. Certificate programs tend to be short and are usually much less expensive than earning a degree.
Certifications tend to carry more intensive requirements; some may require years of training before you begin. However, these credentials authoritatively verify your abilities, which employers often value.
Also, note that certifications may be required for some career paths. For example, you cannot legally practice as a certified public accountant without completing the certification and licensing process.