Certificate vs Certification

[sanantone]

I've been trying to network with people in the tech industry, but it seems like most don't know the difference between a certificate and certification, and it's driving me crazy. No, a LinkedIn Learning certificate of completion is not a certification that certifies that you know anything. No, the undergraduate certificate in Cisco networking at your community college is not a Cisco certification.

[dfrecore]

I've been trying to network with people in the tech industry, but it seems like most don't know the difference between a certificate and certification, and it's driving me crazy. No, a LinkedIn Learning certificate of completion is not a certification that certifies that you know anything. No, the undergraduate certificate in Cisco networking at your community college is not a Cisco certification.

I find this odd.  My husband has worked in IT for 25 years, and certifications are a way of life.  Everyone is always studying for the next cert. Companies are looking for people certified in certain things to maintain status to be able to sell products (like, you have to have x number of people with an XYZ cert in order to be a preferred provider of XYZ software).  Every job requires certifications in something or another.

My husband has been asked to get a specific cert many times over the years just for his company to maintain their status.  He's not expected to go to school, he's expected to go study for a cert, pass the exam, and tell his boss so they can have the right number of people with it.  They all keep a database of who has what and how many people they have with certs so that if/when someone gives their notice, and they may go below the count, they immediately task someone with getting whatever cert that person is taking away.

[bjcheung77]

Yes, some people get a little bit confused as to what you're asking them sometimes. When you ask if they have any IT certificates or certifications, they may just be thinking too quickly and thought you meant one thing when you meant another. Interpretation may be different for people, someone beside you may understand exactly, the person across from you may think differently.

I'm usually direct in asking someone if they have any certificates from a college or any vendor specific certifications, so they would understand which I am referencing. I usually get the "correct" feedback, especially when I ask them if they have ABC Certification instead of asking if they have a certificate in ABC. I'm not that great in getting my points across so I like to ask more...

[Kal Di]

Certifications are usually required to work in specific industries. Certificates are usually for general use and more abundant in the education marketplace.

A certificate can be a certificate of completion (you completed the course) or certificate of attendance (you attended a seminar). Certificate of completion may be worth more, but it still depends on other variables. In general, university certificates have more value than other types of certificates.

A certification certifies one to do something. There are industries (e.g. IT, TESOL) that require professionals to have these certifications for their jobs. All certifications are either in the form of a digital badge and/or certificate.

[ifomonay]

They both mean the same thing. They're used interchangeably.

[jsd]

They both mean the same thing. They're used interchangeably.

Not at all.

[Ideas]

Yes, that's annoying.

Similarly, some people will devalue university certificates (especially undergraduate level certificates), thinking that they were just MOOCs.

[Vle045]

I have a bunch of Saylor Academy Certificates. I don’t think that makes me certified in anything at all. But it sure does show that I completed a course…… and that is all.

[sanantone]

Yes, some people get a little bit confused as to what you're asking them sometimes.  When you ask if they have any IT certificates or certifications, they may just be thinking too quickly and thought you meant one thing when you meant another.  Interpretation may be different for people, someone beside you may understand exactly, the person across from you may think differently.

I'm usually direct in asking someone if they have any certificates from a college or any vendor specific certifications, so they would understand which I am referencing.  I usually get the "correct" feedback, especially when I ask them if they have ABC Certification instead of asking if they have a certificate in ABC.  I'm not that great in getting my points across so I like to ask more...

I'm not asking them anything. They're asking people which certification they need to get started, and they'll give a list of certifications and certificate programs they're looking at. I usually sit back in horror as people confuse the concepts of certificates and certifications. At this point, I don't have the energy to explain the differences every other day, so I just let them be wrong.

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They both mean the same thing. They're used interchangeably.

Exhibit A

[dfrecore]

They both mean the same thing. They're used interchangeably.

I think you made her point.