A school certificate records educational completion
A certificate generally records completion of a school’s course or program. Its length and content vary. It is not automatically a professional certification or permission to work in a regulated occupation.
An industry certification comes from an issuer
A certification may require an exam, work experience or renewal. Training providers may prepare you for it without issuing it. Check the issuer’s own rules and whether an exam voucher is included in tuition.
A license is permission from the relevant authority
Licensing requirements depend on the occupation and jurisdiction. Check the authority for the state where you plan to work; do not assume an out-of-state or online course satisfies those requirements.
Accreditation and approval have their own scopes
Institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation, state school authorization and occupational approval are separate checks. Match the campus, program and status to the claim being made.
Original sources and further reading
Use the relevant provider or public authority for current program-specific decisions. Read how we source and maintain the guide.