We get this question a lot.

If you take a training or education, i.e. a weekend or a year course, you might receive a certificate stating your participation. In this case, a certificate is a piece of paper that states that you completed a course, how long it was, and what was covered.

Certification is a professional designation. It can be given by either a private organization or a regulatory body overseeing a profession. It confirms that a practitioner has met and continues to maintain a level of educational and professional standards set out by that body or organization. The practitioner is responsible to the organization’s disciplinary board should a member of the public file a complaint against them. In this case, a practitioner that is certified has a professional body or organization that stands behind their work and to whom they are accountable.