Certificates, certifications, and licenses formally recognize knowledge, skill sets, and qualifications, but…
- Earning a certificate doesn’t mean you’re certified…
- And earning a certification doesn’t mean you’re awarded a certificate…
- Sometimes a license can fulfill alternative certification requirements…
- But a certification doesn’t mean you’re licensed…
- Certifications are necessary for some jobs but not mandatory, like licenses are…
Sounds confusing, right? Don’t worry, we’ll break down the differences between certificates, certifications, and licenses and answer common questions about each.
Comparing certificates, certifications, and licenses
Certificate and certification differences
Differences between a certification and a certificate mainly boil down to who awards them and what’s required to earn them.
- Certificates are awarded after completing a specific course or type of training offered by a school or training provider.
- Completing the course may include quizzes or exams, but passing a final test usually isn’t the main requirement.
- Certifications are awarded by professional associations, certifying bodies, and companies.
- Candidates are usually required to pass an assessment that proves they have skills and knowledge that meet industry standards.
- Candidates are usually required to pass an assessment that proves they have skills and knowledge that meet industry standards.
What is the difference between licensure and certification?
The differences relate to legal requirements and who awards them. Licenses are government-issued credentials that are legally required to practice. Certifications aren’t typically mandated by law, but they may be preferred or required by employers.
Certificate
What is a certificate?
A certificate is a credential awarded by educational institutions, companies, and organizations after completing a course, program, or training for a specific subject or skill. They allow participants to gain skills and knowledge in a pretty short timeframe, and they don’t require the financial investment of a full degree program. They can be taken individually or stacked to gain in-depth knowledge and job skills, and can supplement corporate learning and development efforts.
Are continuing education credits required to maintain a certificate?
No, continuing education credits aren’t required to maintain a certificate after it’s awarded.
Does having a certificate mean you’re certified?
No, certificates do not mean you’re certified, but they can help prepare for other certification exams based on your professional development goals.
Can you get financial aid for certificate programs?
Yes, you can get financial aid for some certificate programs, but not all. Federal options like Pell Grants and student loans are only available if the program is federally approved and meets certain requirements like program length, instructional hours, and accreditation through an eligible school. It’s also worth checking out scholarships, veteran benefits, and employee assistance programs (EAPs) offered through your employer’s corporate training program.
Certification
What is a certification?
A certification is a credential earned by passing a standardized exam, completing training, or demonstrating prior work, and it shows that someone has met industry standards for knowledge, skills, or experience in a specific field. They’re awarded by professional associations, companies, organizations and offered in virtually every industry, ranging from accounting and food safety to project management, lactation counseling, and everything in between.
Does a certification mean you’re certified?
Yes, passing a certification exam means you’re certified in that specific area. However, maintaining certification status depends on meeting ongoing education requirements.
Can a certification expire?
Yes, most certifications expire and typically need to be renewed every 1 to 3 years. Most certifying bodies require continuing education (CE) credits to keep a certification active and valid. CE credits help professionals stay current and build new skills that support individual learning and development as well as long-term industry improvement.
Are you licensed if you earn a certification?
No, being certified doesn’t mean you’re licensed. While some professional certifications may be required by employers in certain fields, they do not grant the legal authority to practice a regulated profession like a license does.
Does earning a degree mean you’re certified?
No, earning a degree doesn’t certify you. A degree shows you’ve completed an academic program, while a certification shows that you’ve met industry standards in a specific skill or field. However, they can complement each other, since a degree may help you qualify and the credential can build on and update what you learned in your degree program, which can be especially helpful in a competitive job market.
Are certification exams taken online?
Yes, online certification exams are common because they open the exams up to a larger audience and provide convenience for test takers. Many organizations remotely proctor certification exams to prevent cheating and support test takers throughout the process.
Do you receive a certificate after earning a certification?
After earning a certification, individuals typically receive a digital or physical document, but it’s a distinct document from the one awarded for completing a certificate program.
Licenses
What is a license?
A license provides individuals with the legal authority to work in regulated professions and are issued by state licensing boards after candidates complete the required training and pass an exam.
Licensure can also include additional requirements, depending on the type and state, such as:
- Earning a degree, professional certifications, and/or certificates
- Completing apprenticeship programs
- Relevant work experience
Does a license mean you’re certified?
No, a license does not necessarily mean you’re certified.
Can you take online licensing exams?
Yes, high-stakes licensing exams can be taken online when remote proctoring is used to protect exam content and academic integrity.
Do licensure requirements vary based on the state?
Yes, requirements can vary from state to state due to different laws, regulations, and standards set by each state’s regulatory bodies or licensing boards.
For example, lawyers and teachers may need to meet different requirements to be licensed in other states. However, some transfer automatically, or the process may be adjusted for those who are already licensed elsewhere through reciprocity agreements or endorsement.
Certificates, certifications, and licenses are different, but each one plays a role in professional education, employee training, and ongoing career development. But certifications and licensure programs, in particular, require high-stakes exams and/or performance-based tasks to assess whether candidates actually have the necessary skills and knowledge.
The outcomes of these programs can impact careers, companies, industries, security and privacy, and even public trust. Proctored certification and licensure exams protect integrity and confirm that the results are valid and credible.